Spirit Academy

Thank you for your interest in a position with Spirit Academy Athletics, JustPlay OC, B4Sports Leadership Academy.  Spirit Academy Athletics, JustPlay OC, B4Sports Leadership Academy expects all of its coaches and its volunteers with unsupervised access to children to model the same values and lifestyle that it seeks to instill in its players. As an applicant for such a position, in the capacity of coach or a volunteer with this program, you agree to the expectations and code of conduct outlined in this application.

To the Applicant: 

The National Child Protection Act of 1993 (NCPA), Public Law (Pub. L.) 103-209, as amended by the Volunteers for Children Act (VCA), Pub. L. 105-251 (Sections 221 and 222 of the Crime Identification Technology Act of 1998), codified at 42 United States Code (U.S.C.) Sections 5119a and 5119c, authorizes a state and national criminal history background check to determine the fitness of an employee, or volunteer, or a person with unsupervised access to children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities. 

Pursuant to the VCA, the entity (a) to which you have applied for employment or to serve as a volunteer; (b) by which you are employed or serve as a volunteer; or (c) which provides care to someone to whom you have or may have unsupervised access, may request a background check. 

Your rights and responsibilities under the VCA are as follows: 

• Provide a set of fingerprints. 

• Provide your name, address, and date of birth as they appear on a document made or issued by or under the authority of the United States Government, a State, political subdivision of a State, a foreign government, a political subdivision of a foreign government, an international governmental or an international quasi-governmental organization which, when completed with information concerning a particular individual, is of a type intended or commonly accepted for the purpose of identification of individuals. 18 U.S.C §1028(d)(2). 

• Provide certification that you (a) have not been convicted of a crime, (b) are not under indictment for a crime, or (c) have been convicted of a crime. If you are under indictment or have been convicted of a crime, you must describe the crime and the particulars of the conviction, if any. 

• You are entitled to (a) obtain a copy of any background check report and (b) challenge the accuracy and completeness of any information contained in any such report and obtain a prompt determination as to the validity of such challenge before a final determination is made by the state government agency performing the background check. Such request for a copy of your criminal history record and any challenge to the accuracy of such record should be addressed to the California Department of Justice. 

• Prior to the completion of the background check, the entity may choose to deny you unsupervised access to a person to whom the entity provides care. The government agency shall access and review state and federal criminal history records and shall make reasonable efforts to make a determination whether you have been convicted of, or are under pending indictment for a crime that bears upon your fitness to work with children, the disabled, or the elderly and shall convey that determination to the qualified entity. The government agency shall make reasonable efforts to respond to the inquiry within 15 business days. 

I understand that in connection with my application for employment, volunteer services, and/or for continuous employment/volunteer services, Spirit Academy Athletics, JustPlayOC, B4Sports Leadership Academy, their agents, assigns or any other authorized third parties (collectively, the “Investigators”) may be performing, requesting, obtaining or conducting a background check on me. This background check may include an inquiry into my employment history, education, general character or reputation, work experience, volunteer experience, driving, and/or criminal history (collectively, the “Information”). However, unless my position involves handling money or having access to monies and/or other transferable monetary instruments, my credit history will not be checked. 

I understand that Spirit Academy Athletics, JustPlayOC, and B4Sports Leadership Academy may rely on any part or all of the Information in determining whether to extend an offer of employment/volunteer duty to me. I further understand that if any adverse action is taken by Spirit Academy Athletics, JustPlayOC, B4Sports Leadership Academy, or if Spirit Academy Athletics, JustPlayOC, B4Sports Leadership Academy chooses not to extend an offer of employment/volunteer duty to me based upon the information, that I will be provided a copy of such information along with a summary of my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. 

I understand that the background check, which may be performed by Investigators, is being performed as part of the process to evaluate me prior to employment/volunteer assignments, and is not conducted for any purpose other than in connection with my application for employment/volunteer status and/or my eligibility for continued employment/volunteer duties. 

I have read this Pre-Employment and Continued Employment/Volunteer Disclosure and by signing below, hereby authorize Investigators to conduct a background check as described herein in conjunction with my application for employment/volunteer duties. I hereby release any and all Investigators, including Spirit Academy Athletics, JustPlayOC, B4Sports Leadership Academy and its agents from any and all liability related to the procurement or disclosure of any information provided by me or obtained about me in connection with my application with Spirit Academy Athletics, JustPlayOC, B4Sports Leadership Academy. I further direct and authorize Investigators to conduct a background check and further authorize any third parties who may be the custodians of or in possession of the requested Information, to disclose such Information to Investigators in connection with this background check. 

Although furnishing your Social Security Number is not optional, it shall be used for NO other purpose than to make the process for conducting a background search more accurate. It shall not be sold, or in any way transferred to a third party except for the express purpose of conducting the background check. 

Thank you for coaching in our sports program. We ask that all coaches read through the expectations, and agree to abide by them.

Dress Code

The following Dress Code is applicable at all Spirit Academy Athletics, JustPlay OC, B4Sports Leadership Academy Functions and Events including, but not limited, to practices, games, ceremonies, meetings, etc.  We appreciate your respect for Spirit Academy Athletics, JustPlay OC, B4Sports Leadership Academy, and adherence to these rules. 

1. Modest attire at all times, please.  No undergarments showing, i.e. boxers, briefs or braziers. Not including sports bras.

2. Athletic attire is required at all practices, including proper shoes.

Practice and Games:  Commit to being at all scheduled practices and games. 

Show up on time for every practice. Practice varies by sport. However, it is fixed for the season. Every minute of practice time should be planned and focused for the individual player and collective team.  Coaches must be at practice on time to ensure team unity and consistency. Coaches set the example for the players to follow. Plan your time properly to be there.  

Please begin and end practice on time.  Practices and games end at specific times. However, for safety reasons, we cannot leave the premises until all the players have been picked up. Life happens and there are times when you will need to miss a practice/game due to illness or some other valid reason.  Please inform the Athletic Director and other coaches when you will be missing a practice or game. Please make sure your practice/game is covered by another coach.

Be sure to clear your schedules for the games. You will be given a skeleton schedule as soon as the dates are finalized for the games.  Please make every effort to be at all games. As mentioned above, life happens and if you know you will be missing a game, be sure to give your other coaches and the Athletic Director at least a few days notice (preferably a week) in advance.. Parents will be asked to volunteer for specific assignments and it will be up to the head coaches to know who is responsible for game/practice duties. 

Game Conduct

During the games, please be sure to encourage your players.  Use the bench and other coaches to provide instruction to avoid taking away from the game. Passions do rise during the heat of competition. However, please remember that we represent Christ, and we strive to be a good example for players, fans, and officials. Do not harass the game officials or make negative comments about them.  They are human and are subject to making mistakes and not seeing things. Please inform the Athletic Director immediately after a game if you receive a technical. Three or more technicals in a season will require training and coaching. We are all on the same team. 

Assess the strengths and weaknesses of each player on your team.  Provide opportunities for the players to grow individually and as a team. Playing time is mandatory for 14U teams and below. Players must have a minimum of eight minutes for 14U and 12 minutes for  10U/12U. JV and Varsity (15+) does not have a minimum playing time requirement. However, please do your best to rotate in all players. Coaches know the role of each player and what is  best for the entire team.  Please communicate with your players before the game about rotations, playing time, starting five, etc.

Refrain from engaging in negative banter with opposing coaches, players, or fans.  If you invite guests to a game, please be sure that they abide by the guidelines above.  Above all else, please remember that this is a game and everyone should be having fun participating in the activities.

Should you need to discuss with the player or parent items related to the player, please do so outside of the context of a practice or game.  Please go to the player or parent first with any concerns and if you do not get resolution there, then you can come to the Athletic Director.

Code of Conduct:

Spirit Academy has a NO TOLERANCE policy regarding the consumption of illegal drugs, or any other ‘controlled substance.’ Coaches that are found to have participated in activities where these substances were used or consumed will be immediately and permanently removed from coaching responsibilities.  Any coach who is asked to resign, will not receive any agreed upon compensation. If the coach has a player participating on a Spirit team, the player will be allowed to continue, but any fees that were compensated for coaching, will be due immediately upon the coach’s exit from the team.

Spirit Academy Athletics, JustPlay OC, B4Sports Leadership Academy has a NO TOLERANCE policy regarding sexual harassment.  Coaches that are found to have engaged in sexual harassment activities will be immediately and permanently removed from coaching responsibilities.  Any coach who is asked to resign, will not receive any agreed upon compensation. If the coach has a player participating on a Spirit team, the player will be allowed to continue, but any fees that were compensated for coaching, will be due immediately upon the coach’s exit from the team.

Spirit Academy Athletics, JustPlay OC, B4Sports Leadership Academy is a Christian sports program and as such there will be prayer before every practice and every game.  Coaches are encouraged to lead prayer or invite players to pray to maintain team unity.  We realize that not all Christians are comfortable praying out loud in front of a group of people. Therefore, we ask that coaches conduct prayer/devotionals is a way that honors God and follows the Biblical model of prayer.