The PA Package is the Protect Youth Sports (PYS) background check package for Pennsylvania. Each check runs a national search, a Pennsylvania statewide criminal search and a Pennsylvania Child Abuse Registry clearance, which the volunteer completes after PYS emails them instructions.
Applies to: Org admins · PYS Background Check module with the PA Package (all plans) · Youth Registration, Youth & Adult Registration and Team Registration plus Roster programs
Where: Reports > Report Dashboards > Background Checks (results); TeamSideline Support sets up your package
What the PA Package includes
| Search | How it runs |
|---|---|
| National search (the same search as the Basic package) | PYS runs it automatically. |
| Pennsylvania statewide criminal search | PYS runs it automatically. |
| Pennsylvania Child Abuse Registry clearance | The volunteer requests their certificate with the instructions and code PYS emails them. |
How a PA Package check works
- A volunteer registers on your site for a role with a background check and completes the Background Check Information section.
- TeamSideline sends the request to PYS within a few minutes. For the PA Package, the request includes the volunteer's email address so PYS can contact them.
- PYS runs the national and Pennsylvania statewide criminal searches.
- PYS emails the volunteer instructions and a code for getting their Child Abuse Registry certificate.
- The volunteer completes the certificate request. If they don't, PYS closes the report.
- When PYS receives the certificate, it updates the report and notifies your organization.
- Open the report from the Background Checks dashboard and confirm the Child Abuse Registry certificate is included.
- Record your decision with the icons on the check's row: Mark as Passed, Mark as Failed or Mark as Needs Review.
If it doesn't work
- The certificate isn't in the report. Contact the volunteer and ask them to finish the Child Abuse Registry request and send the certificate to PYS. PYS updates the report when it arrives.
- The volunteer didn't get the PYS email. PYS uses the email address on the volunteer's account when the request is sent. Check that address (Customers > Account Management > Search), and ask PYS to resend the instructions.
- The check has been pending for more than 5 business days. Contact PYS for a status update: support@protectyouthsports.com or 877-319-5587.
Why does the PYS email ask whether the volunteer already has a clearance certificate?
PYS can't remove this question. Pennsylvania lets a Child Abuse Registry clearance stay valid for five years, so the question is for volunteers who already have a current certificate.
Good to know
- TeamSideline Support sets your organization's package (Basic, Plus or PA Package) in your site's background check settings. Admins can't change it.
- In TeamSideline, how long a check counts follows your organization's validity setting (1, 2 or 3 years), not the five-year clearance period. Once it runs out, the volunteer is asked for a new check the next time they register.
- PA Package checks often take longer than others, because the volunteer has to act. See How long do PYS background checks take, and how do I check a pending one? for the dashboard statuses.
- Your organization is responsible for meeting Pennsylvania's requirements. Ask PYS about what the law requires.