MIAA background checks summary and how-to
The MIAA requires background checks for all officials working high school meets in Mass. Please follow the directions below. There are deadlines for each season so please read the instructions carefully.
As we all know, times have changed and things evolve. Anyone who works with children, in any capacity, has been witness to these changes. If you are a teacher, or school volunteer, you are now required to do fingerprinting. Background checks are far more common now also. You may have had a CORI check with another organization, but it is not valid for MIAA because information from CORI’s cannot be shared among organizations.
The MIAA has joined with 27 other states in requiring background checks for all officials working high school games/competitions/meets. The MIAA is using two companies to compile and manage the list of background checked officials. PeopleTrail will be conducting the background check while Arbiter Sports will be where the officials will register for both the background check and MIAA.
What do you need to do?
To be able to work any Massachusetts high school meets, you must be registered and background checked first. Each commissioner/assignor will have access to the approved Arbiter Sports list.
Registration will begin July 1. Any time after that you may go to:
click: Register
Click: sport (track/field/XC)
There will be a welcome statement and then it will ask for personal info.
(At this time, you will be asked for your email address so it can reference whether you already are an Arbiter member.)
If you have never been on Arbiter, this is where you will create a user name and password.
There will be a list of state Track Boards. You click MTFOA.
Payment info: credit card and then a receipt will be emailed to you.
When do I need to do this?
Each season will have registration deadlines.
Cross Country deadline: July 31, 2018
Winter Track deadline: Oct. 1, 2018
Spring Track deadline: Jan. 1, 2019
Because all three of these sports fall under MTFOA, you only need to register once a year.
How much does it cost?
The background check only has to be done every three years. But each official must use Arbiter Sports to register with the MIAA each year.
For now, plan on:
Year 1: Background check and MIAA registration = $45.00
Year 2: MIAA registration = $10.00
Year 3: MIAA registration = $10.00
If you have any questions, please email Peter Meagher at pmeag21103@aol.com.