As we hope you are all aware, in order to comply with new requirements from the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (“USOPC”), USA Hockey will be implementing a national level background screening policy. Beginning on April 1, 2020, background screening will be conducted by our national background screen vendor, NCSI, and information on background screening will be included following your registration.
All new screens submitted through the new NCSI national screening program after April 1, 2020 will be valid for two seasons. For example, a screen submitted and approved on April 15, 2020 will be valid through the end of the 2021-22 season, which is August 31, 2022.
Background screens through NCSI under the national program will cost $30 for all domestic screens. For international screens (members who have lived outside of the US for six consecutive months in any one county during the past 7 years) the flat rate fee in $150. If that country is solely Canada, the flat rate fee is $75.
You will be required to register with USA Hockey for a Background Screening. Registration begins for the new season April 1st and the season begins September 1st.
USA Hockey Registration https://membership.usahockey.com/
When you register with USA Hockey you will receive a confirmation email and there will be a link for the Background Screening. You will need to use the USA Hockey Confirmation Number in the process where it asks for your USAH Number. Before requesting a screening please check the LOEAHA “Good to Go” list to confirm that you already have a valid screening or if you need a new screening. As you can see the cost of a screening to an individual can be significant. LOEAHA has been paying for the screenings, the average cost has been about $20 dollars per screening. This season LOEAHA will be billed $30 for your screening.
This is the Link to the "GOOD TO GO LIST" for the 2022-2023 season.
The names on this list in RED must complete a new screening for the 2022-2023 season.
Background screening is mandatory for:
The LOEAHA and/or local programs may require that additional persons be screened.
Please read "USA Hockey Criminal Background Screening Frequently Asked Questions" on the next page.
If you have any questions or concerns about the screening process, please contact:
Terrence Firman
LOEAHA Risk Manager
LOEAHA SafeSport Coordinator
at nmsafesport@gmail.com
7-9-2022
USA Hockey Criminal Background Screening Frequently Asked Questions
General Screening Information
Q: Who is NCSI?
A: NCSI, known as the Gold Standard provider of background screening programs for youth serving
organizations, is the authorized provider for USA Hockey’s national screening program. NCSI has been a
trailblazer in youth protection for nearly two decades and is recognized by the National Council of Youth
Sports for its pioneering work. NCSI provides services to the United States Olympic & Paralympic
Committee, as well as to more than 60 national governing bodies in sport. NCSI is accredited by the
Professional Background Screeners Association and has offices in Cleveland, Ohio and Marietta, Georgia.
Q: Who do I contact if I have questions about my criminal background screening?
A: Please reach out with any questions or concerns you may have. We’re happy to assist you. NCSI can
be reached via e-mail: support@ncsisafe.com or by calling 866-996-7412, select 2 for client services.
NCSI’s normal business hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Eastern Time. We will
typically respond to you the same day or within one business day.
Q: How much time will it take for my background screening to be completed?
A: Generally, background checks are completed within 3-5 days. However, delays are possible, so please
plan accordingly. If you have an international search component that is needed as part of your screen,
please allow at least 2-4 weeks for completion.
Q: Who must complete the background screening?
A: All USA Hockey Coaches, Officials and Volunteers over the age of 18 must successfully complete
criminal background screening. Individuals who have not completed the criminal background screening
do not meet the eligibility requirements to participate with USA Hockey.
Q: What information is needed to process my background screen?
A: The background screening application requires the submission of full legal name, address, date of
birth and social security number. All of the required fields are marked with an asterisk. We are unable to
complete the background screening if any of the required information is not provided. A government
issued ID needs to be uploaded as you submit your background screen.
Q: How do I upload my ID and why is this required?
A: A government issued ID will be required to be uploaded at the time of registration. You can upload a
digital image of your ID (driver’s license, passport or non-driver state ID). Please have a jpg, pdf, bmp,
gif, tif or png file that is less than 4MB on your computer prior to beginning your registration.
Q: Is the information supplied to NCSI secure?
A: NCSI is aligned with industry best practices regarding data security, including high level encryption to
protect information submitted online. Internal security measures ensure that your personal information
is only viewed as needed to process your screen by qualified personnel who are trained in handling
confidential data. NCSI is PCI-compliant and does not share any personal information with third-parties.
Q: Is USA Hockey and/or NCSI completing a credit check when processing the background check
information?
A: No, USA Hockey and/or NCSI are NOT processing a credit check on anyone going through the
background screening process. As a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA), NCSI is compliant with the Fair
Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), but a credit check is not being conducted.
Q: Will the background screen I’ve completed previously with NCSI qualify for this season?
A: USA Hockey requires that all members have a valid background screen that has been completed
within the previous season. If you have a cleared screen from 2019, you will not need to complete a
screen this year. If your screen was prior to the 2019 season you will need to submit another screen.
Please note that NCSI is the only background check accepted by USA Hockey, and as a matter of policy,
we cannot accept screening results from another agency. Each organization that conducts background
screening uses a unique set of criteria and number of years that are being searched, as well as diverse
re-screen policies.
Q: How will I know if there’s a problem with my background check or if NCSI needs information from
me?
A: If more information is needed to complete your background screen then NCSI will notify you via
email.
Q: What can I do if I think my report is incorrect?
A: You will be provided an opportunity to alert NCSI of any questions or potential errors on your report.
Email will be our primary way of communicating with you, so be sure to provide an accurate email
address and check it regularly until your screen is complete.
Registration for Screening
Q: Can I register using my cell phone?
A: NCSI’s registration process is best completed using a desktop or laptop. While it may be possible to
complete your registration on a cell phone, the experience will be easier on a desktop or laptop.
Q: Do I need to have an active email address?
A: Yes. An active email address is required in order to complete your background screening. NCSI’s
primary form of communication with you is via email. It is VERY IMPORTANT that you provide an email
address and that you check it frequently following your initial application. Please add ncsisafe.com to
your accepted email domain list to receive notifications from NCSI.
Q: I tried to complete my background screening with NCSI and their system “timed out”. What do I
need to do?
A: NCSI’s system is set to time-out after 30 minutes without activity. Please have all information ready in
advance to avoid a time out event. In the event of a time out, the information you entered is not stored
or transmitted, so you will need to start the process over by logging back into your USA Hockey profile.
You will know the process is completed when you receive a confirmation page with your 16-digit
registrant ID number.
Q: The NCSI page is asking for an “8-digit individual ID number”, where do I obtain this number?
A: For security purposes, the NCSI website is programmed to log out a user who has sat idle or has been
on a page for too long. When this occurs, the page will ask for an 8 digit individual number. There is NOT
an 8-digit number for USA Hockey members to enter, therefore the member must re-login from the USA
Hockey website and begin the background screening registration again.
Q: Can a non-citizen of the United States without a social security number complete the background
screening requirement?
A: Yes, individuals with or without a social security number can submit their background check screening
using the same submission instructions. However, the processing time may be longer, and the
processing fees may differ from a domestic screen due to the need to conduct an international search.
Q: My background screening certification has expired what do I do?
A: The process to re-certify your background screening is the same as when you originally applied. USA
Hockey recommends that you begin the re-screening 4-6 weeks prior to your background screening
expiration date.
Costs and Payment
Q: What is the cost of the domestic criminal background screening?
A: The cost of the background screening is $30.00 flat rate fee. Payment is made on NCSI’s website at
the end of the background screening process by the registrant if the USA Hockey Affiliate is not covering
the cost. MasterCard and Visa are accepted.
Q: I received an error when processing my credit card payment with NCSI. Why did this happen and
what do I need to do?
A: NCSI is fully compliant with all online transaction regulations and has the highest level of fraud
protection available. Transactions are processed using PayPal services. This protection requires certain
data to match in order for the transaction to process correctly. Please verify the billing address for the
card and be sure to have all of the information correct before attempting to process again. If you submit
your payment information without a correct match, the transaction will attempt to go through and fail.
Sometimes you may see multiple line items on your bank account. However, you will not be
double-billed for NCSI’s services.
Q: Is an international search required?
A: An international search is required for U.S. citizens who have lived outside of the United States for six
consecutive months in any one country, during the past seven years.
Q: What is the cost for an international search?
A: The cost for an international search is $75 for Canada and $150 for any other country.
Q: How do I obtain a receipt from my criminal background check screening?
A: Go to NCSI’s website: www.ncsisafe.com and click on “Status Check” in the upper right corner. Look
yourself up using the search tools and then select “Invoice Details”. You can print your receipt directly
from this page.
Status and Results
Q: How do I check the status of my background screening?
A: You can check the status of your background screening by going to www.ncsisafe.com and clicking on
“Status Check.” NCSI does not provide verbal status of background screenings to registrants.
Q: Why is my background screening taking longer than another registrant that submitted a
background screen at the same time?
A: NCSI performs one or more county court searches and federal district court searches as part of the
background screening. These involve getting information directly from the courts in question. Some
courts may return information to NCSI the same day, while others can take longer. Once NCSI has
information back from the courts, it is processed right away. Other delays may result when NCSI
requests additional information from you. You can check your status online by visiting
ncsisafe.com/status. In addition, check your email regularly for communication from NCSI regarding
your background screening.
Q: How will I be notified if NCSI needs additional information or payment from me?
A: NCSI will send a notice to you via email with relevant instructions if we need to search internationally.
This notice will come to you in the days following your initial application if your group or affiliate is not
paying for your background screen. It is very important that you check your email and respond promptly
to this request, since your background screening will be on hold until you respond.
Q: What information is provided to USA Hockey from my criminal background screening?
A: USA Hockey can be made aware of the content provided on a background screening report. Limited
staff members of USA Hockey designated by the safe sport department may have access to the
screening report.
Q. What is a Clear/Green Light result?
A: A “Clear/Green Light” indicates criminal record information relating to USA Hockey’s criteria was not
sourced or reportable in the process and therefore a “Clear/Green Light” report was issued to USA
Hockey.
Q.: What is a Flagged/Red Light result?
A: A “Flagged/Red Light” indicates that criminal record information relating to USA Hockey’s screening
criteria was sourced in the process and therefore a “Flagged/Red Light” report was issued to USA
Hockey for review.
Q: Will I know if my background screening report is Flagged/Red Light?
A: Yes. If NCSI sources criminal history information relating to USA Hockey’s screening criteria, you will
be notified and provided information for your review. Pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you will
be provided an opportunity to alert NCSI of any questions or potential errors on your report. Email will
be our primary way of communicating with you, so be sure to provide an accurate email address and
check it regularly until your screen is complete. Please be sure to respond immediately if NCSI contacts
you for additional information.
Q: Can I appeal participation decisions made by USA Hockey?
A: USA Hockey will use the report provided by NCSI to determine an individual’s eligibility for
participation with USA Hockey in accordance with the USA Hockey established policies. Registrants have
the right to appeal to a USA Hockey’s Review Panel, pursuant to the procedures outlined in USA
Hockey’s Criminal Background Screening Policy.
Q: Can I request a copy of my criminal background screening results?
A: Yes, simply go to www.ncsisafe.com and click “Status Check.” Once there, fill in the identifying
information and the option to receive your report will be available.
Q: When does the criminal background screening expire?
A: A screen completed in the first quarter of the year is valid until 8/31 of the following year. If it is
completed during the second through fourth quarters, then it is valid until 8/31 plus two years. Notice
Regarding Annual Re-screening: One of the features provided by our background check program is an
annual recheck. For the period that your background check authorization is valid, this recheck will
automatically occur on or about the anniversary date of your background check submission date. This
recheck keeps our program current and up to date without the need for you to re-register with NCSI
every year. If you choose to leave USA Hockey during this period and you want to stop the recheck, you
must notify USA Hockey’s Member Services Department in writing that you have resigned your
membership with USA Hockey. We will discontinue the annual recheck within 30 days following receipt
of your notice of resignation. It is possible, depending on your scheduled annual recheck and your date
of resignation, that the recheck may occur following your notice of resignation.