Coaching Requirements
As an organization, the Cranford PAL's goal is to offer programming for our kids that is safe, smart, and trusted. In that effort, all of our coaches must be screened through a criminal background check prior to the season beginning. Additionally, our coaches are trained on best practices for youth coaching through Heads Up and Rutgers University.
If you are interested in becoming a coach, please inquire with the listed Program Director who will guide you through the process. In the case where try-outs and teams selections occur, coaching staffs will not be determined until after the try-outs have concluded and teams have been selected.
All coaches must submit to a criminal background investigation before coaching. The Cranford PAL contracts with the National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI) and makes coaching determinations based on the following criteria which was adopted by the PAL Board of Directors on September 7th, 2016:
1. Applicants will be denied if they have a criminal incident in their history within ten (10) years of applying to coach.
2. Applicants who have a history of an indictable (felony) conviction in their record will be dismissed no matter when the incident occurred in the past.
3. Applicants who have any arrest or conviction for a crime involving/against a child will be denied permission to coach.
4. Applicants who have a criminal history for a lesser offense (disorderly persons offense, or misdemeanor) occurring over ten (10) years in the past will be granted a case by case application review by the PAL Board of Directors.
5. Any misleading, false, or omitted information in the application process is grounds for immediate application denial.
Finally, if there is not a coaching vacancy at the time of your request, there are still many opportunities to become involved with your child's team throughout their respective season. Please speak with the Program Director or the PAL Executive Director to see which opportunities exist.