February 4, 2010

Dear WSA Coaches, Assistant Coaches, Managers and Commissioners:

As we approach the spring 2010 soccer season, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your hard work and dedication to the WSA Rec and Travel soccer programs this past fall. With close to 2,000 kids playing soccer through the WSA each season, we could not run our Rec and Travel soccer programs without your help.

As important as our volunteer coaches, managers and commissioners are to the WSA, the safety of all kids in our program is of even greater importance. Therefore, the WSA has strictly adhered to the parent volunteer requirements mandated by the Town of Westport Parks & Recreation Department and by the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (CJSA). These mandatory volunteer requirements include maintaining membership in the National Youth Sports Coaches Association (NYSCA) for all coaches and assistant coaches and completing the CJSA background check for all volunteers.

As of January 1, 2010, the (CJSA) has instituted a new mandatory on-line background check procedure for all youth soccer volunteers 18 years or older. Therefore, for the spring 2010 soccer season, all WSA Rec and Travel volunteers (coaches, assistant coaches, managers and commissioners) are required to complete the new mandatory on-line background check. You must complete the new on-line background check even if you have previously completed a written background check for previous volunteer positions.

To complete the on-line background check, please log onto the CJSA website at www.cjsa.org and click on the "CJSA Background Check" prompt to the right of the web page. Follow the prompts to complete the background check and MAKE SURE YOU SELECT WESTPORT WHEN PROMPTED TO "SELECT YOUR ORGANIZATION". The organizations are not listed alphabetically and you will need to scroll down about halfway to locate Westport. If you do not register under Westport, the WSA will not receive confirmation of your background clearance. The on-line background check takes 2 to 3 minutes to complete, is free to all WSA volunteers, and the background clearance is good for 3 years.

The CJSA contracts with ChoicePoint, a LexisNexis Company, to conduct the on-line background checks. Information regarding privacy and security concerns may be found on the CJSA web site as you go through the process (before you enter personal information) or by contacting the CJSA directly at 860-676-1161. The WSA is notified monthly by the CJSA of those individuals who have successfully completed the on-line background check. If there is an issue with the background check you will be notified directly and confidentially by the CJSA Director of Risk Management.

No individual will be allowed to serve in a WSA volunteer position unless and until the WSA receives notice that the on-line background check has been successfully completed. Therefore, please do not delay in completing the on-line background check.

The WSA appreciates the assistance of all our volunteers in helping to ensure the continued safety of all kids in our program.

Wes Malowitz

WSA President