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RISE Flag Football Head Coach and Assistant Coaches

 Who needs volunteer clearances?  Adults (age 18+) applying for or holding an unpaid position as a volunteer with a child-care service, a school or a program, activity or service, as a person responsible for a child’s welfare or having direct volunteer contact with children. • Adults (age 18+) applying for or holding a paid position with an employer that participates in a program, activity or service that is an internship, externship, work study, co-op or similar program with a school and whom the employer and the school identify as the child's supervisor and the person responsible for the child's welfare while the child participates in the program.

Which clearances are required? All applicable prospective PA-resident volunteers, and all non-resident volunteers who will be volunteering in PA for more than 30 days in a calendar year, must submit the following clearances/information prior to approval and commencement of service: 

1) PA Child Abuse History Certification from DHS (PA Child Abuse)
2) Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Record Check (PSP); and either 
3) (a) DHS fingerprint-based Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal History Background Check (DHS FBI), if the prospective volunteer has not been a resident of PA for the entirety of the previous 10-year period or has not obtained a DHS FBI since establishing residency in PA; or(b) A written statement swearing and affirming that they are not disqualified from service pursuant to section 6344(c) of the CPSL or have not been convicted of an offense similar in nature to those crimes listed in section 6344(c) of the CPSL under the laws or former laws of the United States or one of its territories or possessions, another state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or a foreign nation, or under a former law of PA, if the prospective volunteer has been a resident of PA for the entirety of the previous 10- year period or has received a DHS FBI since establishing residency in PA. 

 How do volunteers obtain the clearances? The PA Child Abuse, PSP, and DHS FBI can each be applied and paid for electronically. The DHS FBI also requires a fingerprint submission. All necessary instructions and links to apply for these clearances can be found the DHS Keep Kids Safe “Clearances” webpage:

Child Abuse Clearances | Department of Human Services | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

See link below for more information:
kks-volunteers-faq_2024-08-23.pdf

Coaches Protocol PREVIEW

South Hills RISE Flag Football – 2026 Coaches Protocol

Introduction

As a volunteer head coach, your job is to keep kids safe, promote fair play, and set a positive example. You must complete all required Pennsylvania clearances child abuse and disclosure statements before coaching. Always work with assistant coaches to maintain a safe, respectful environment.

Player Safety

  • No‑Contact Rules: No tackling, blocking, diving, stiff‑arming, or flag‑guarding. Teach safe flag‑pulling.
  • Injury Response:
    • Stop play for injuries.
    • Minor: RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation).
    • Serious: Call 911, notify parents.
  • Concussions: Remove player immediately if suspected and notify league.
  • Equal Participation:
  • Rotate players fairly across positions.
  • Celebrate effort and teamwork, not just skill.
  • Share rotation plan with assistant.
  • Every player must get the opportunity to catch/run the football.

Child Protection (On‑Site Conduct)

  • Clearances Required:
    • PA Child Abuse History Clearance
    • PA State Police Criminal Record Check
    • Signed Disclosure Statement - Disclosure Statement for Volunteers
    • FBI Fingerprint Check (required if have lived outside Pennsylvania in the last 10 years)
    • Provide all required PA state‑mandated clearances to South Hills RISE Flag Football
  • On‑Site Conduct:
  • Never be alone with a player.
  • At least two cleared adults always present.
  • Maintain 1:10 coach‑to‑player ratio.
  • Verify assistant coaches/volunteers have valid clearances.

Sportsmanship & Fair Play

  • Coaches & Players: Respect officials, opponents, players, and parents. Praise effort, not just results.
    • Only 2 coaches on sideline; head coach is the only to communicate with officials.
  • Spectators: Address disruptive behavior calmly. Escalate to league if needed.
  • Enforcement:
  • Verbal warning → benching → disqualification if repeated.
  • Reward positive behavior with weekly “Player of the Week Nomination”

 Coach Acknowledgment

I, ____________________, agree to follow this protocol during all Rise Flag Football activities.

Signature: ____________________
Date: ________________

southhills@riseflagfootball.com
412‑848‑5835
Revised: November 2025

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