BABE RUTH/CAL RIPKEN LEAGUE BACKGROUND CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS

Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken leagues require a specific set of background checks, child abuse clearances, and abuse prevention trainings for volunteers who have consistent and direct contact with players through league sanctioned activities every 2 years.  Because our league is in Pennsylvania, you must complete the Pennsylvania requirements in addition to the Babe Ruth League requirements.

Below you will find the links and instructions to obtain your background checks. Please be aware it takes up to 5 business days for your submitted clearances to be reviewed by Babe Ruth League. The cost for clearances is $25.50, however the league will provide a discount code to cover this.

STEP 1 - PENNSYLVANIA BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIREMENTS

Be sure to electronically save the following three documents as you receive them. You will need them all for Step 2 (Babe Ruth Requirements)

PA Child Abuse History Clearance (free): 

• Form found at www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis 
• Click the link for an “Individual Login” or “Create Individual Account” if you do not have one.

PA Criminal Record Check (free): 

• Form found at https://epatch.state.pa.us (Click “New Record Check Volunteers Only”)
• If there is no record, you will receive a downloadable document indicating “no record.”  If there is a criminal record, your results may take a couple weeks.

Disclosure Statement or FBI Fingerprint Clearance:

One of these two options must be completed even if clearances came from another organization: 

• Option 1: If you have been a resident of the Commonwealth of PA for AT LEAST the past 10 YEARS, complete, sign and submit the “Disclosure Statement for Volunteers” form which can be downloaded and printed by clicking here. 
• Option 2: If you have NOT been a resident of the Commonwealth of PA for AT LEAST the past 10 YEARS, you will be required in accordance with PA Law to obtain an FBI federal background clearance (Criminal History Record Information (CHRI)) which involves fingerprinting. The cost is $18.  To complete this process, use the following website and follow the steps: https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks. You will need to obtain your fingerprints first. You can identify the nearest FBI fingerprint location here by entering your zip code. https://www.edo.cjis.gov/#/org/USPS

By completing the above requirements, you will have a clearance to volunteer with children in Pennsylvania for five years.

STEP 2 - BABE RUTH LEAGUE CLEARANCES

You will need to follow this link to start the Babe Ruth Background Screen Registration: 

https://baberuthsafety.sportngin.com/register/form/277089265

If you do not already have a SportsEngine account, you will need to create one by clicking the “Create an Account” link at the bottom of the page. Advance through this process by clicking the green continue buttons on the page as you fill out your information. 

Pa. Ripken is in the Mid Atlantic Region, and you will need to select your league in the long list under Mid Atlantic Region. 

Scroll to the bottom of the page where it asks if you volunteer in Pennsylvania. Select "YES" and upload your three documents from STEP 1 above. Continue answering the questions and clicking the green Continue or Review button at the bottom of the page until you complete the process. 

Once you complete the registration process, you will be asked to complete the abuse prevention training, which consists of videos and a quiz. If you have taken this training from other organizations, you may be able to skip the videos and just answer the quiz questions. If you have not gone through the training, you will need to watch the videos and complete the quiz questions. You will receive a score immediately after completing the quiz. You must pass the quiz to complete the training. 

After you have completed the steps above it will take Babe Ruth up to 5 business days to review your background checks and get your name cleared to volunteer. If there are any issues with your background check, you and your league President will be contacted.

Your Babe Ruth League clearances are good for 2 years.

More resources are available at: https://www.baberuthleague.org/child-protection-program.aspx