Safe Play FAQs

Q: What is Safe Play and the Safe Play Approval process?
A: The USTA Safe Play Program is the USTA’s comprehensive athlete safeguarding program. The Safe Play Approval process consists of three steps: (1) Personal Information; (2) SafeSport training & Acknowledging the Safe Play Policies; and (3) Criminal Background Screening.

The SafeSport training and Safe Play Policy Acknowledgment are annual requirements. The training is a four-part cycle that consists of the US Center for SafeSport’s 90 minute “Core Center for SafeSport Training” and 30-minute “Refresher 1”, “Refresher 2” and “Refresher 3” courses. The cycle will start again with the Core Center for SafeSport Training the calendar year following the completion of Refresher 3. The criminal background screening is required every two years.

2. What type of offenses are being screened for?
The following offenses are a sampling of what is being screened for when a background screen is performed. The USTA does not include an Applicant’s credit information in its background screen.

The USTA reserves the right to consider additional crimes should it determine, in its sole discretion, that it would be in the best interest of the sport. Reportable convictions for, disclosure of convictions for, and pending dispositions for, any of the offenses listed below, or registrations will prompt a determination that a Participant does not meet the USTA Safe Play criteria.

Any background check that results in a report of a disposition or resolution of a criminal proceeding, other than an adjudication of not guilty, for any of the below criminal offenses will be subject to the USTA’s policies and procedures to determine the individual’s level of access and involvement:

Any felony. A felony shall refer to any criminal offense punishable by imprisonment for more than one year.
Any misdemeanor involving:

a. All sexual crimes, criminal offenses of a sexual nature to include but not limited to; rape, child molestation, sexual battery, lewd conduct, possession and distribution of child pornography, possession and distribution of obscene material, prostitution, indecent exposure, public indecency, and any sex offender registrant;

b. Any drug related offenses;

c. Harm to a minor and vulnerable person, including but not limited to, offenses such as child abandonment, child endangerment/neglect/abuse, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and DUI with a minor;

d. Violence against a person (including crimes involving firearms and domestic violence);

e. Stalking, harassment, blackmail, violation of a protection order and/or threats;

f. Destruction of property, including arson, vandalism, and criminal mischief; and

g. Animal abuse or neglect.

Criminal offenses include "Attempted Crimes" in the above classifications.

*Please see the USTA Safe Play Policy for the most current criteria screened for*

3. Who conducts the background screens for Safe Play?
The National Center for Safety Initiatives provides a secure website for individuals to submit their background information for screening. The National Center for Safety Initiatives is designed to ensure adherence with federal rules and regulations regarding background screening. In order to protect the confidentiality of sensitive information, the background screen process must be completed online.

4. During the background screen process I must provide my social security number. Why?

The social security number provides the necessary information (along with your name and date of birth) to produce the most thorough and accurate background screen. Screening based on name, date of birth, address history and social security number is standard throughout the industry. The Fair Credit Reporting Act is the federal statute that outlines the basic laws and regulations that govern the background screening industry. Please note, that the National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI) will not share your social security number with the USTA or any other entity.

If you do not have a social security number, you can select this option on the first screen of the NCSI application.

5. What if I previously had a background check performed through another organization or agency?
You will still be required to have a background check performed through the USTA. The USTA is unable to rely on information compiled by another organization or agency. As various organizations, businesses, and agencies use different criteria to determine eligibility for approving an individual’s background screen, the USTA cannot rely on those results.

6. What happens if the National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI) needs additional information from me?

NCSI will send a notice to you via e-mail with the relevant instructions. This notice will come to you from Compliance@ncsisafe.com in the days following your initial application. It is very important that you check your e-mail and respond promptly to this request, since your background screening will be on hold until you respond. Please add ncsisafe.com to your accepted email domain list to receive notifications from NCSI. Additionally, you will be able to see that additional information is needed by checking your status at NCSI's website.

If additional information is needed, NCSI will contact you (via a secure email) with two notices:

First Notice - generally sent within first three (3) days of your application, requesting additional information or asking you to contact NCSI.

Second Notice - sent three (3) to five (5) days after First Notice if response is not received, requesting additional information or asking you to contact NCSI.

NCSI will send you a confirmation notice once your information is received and processed. Processing of this additional information may take up to two business days.

During the course of the background screening process, there may be times that NCSI will request identification verification in order to complete the review. Generally, this will occur if there is conflicting information relating to the name(s) and/or date of birth provided, compared with that sourced through the investigative process. If additional information is needed, you will be required to present a valid form of identification, such as a driver's license, birth certificate, or passport in order to verify your information. NCSI respects your personal privacy and only requests information that is reasonable and related to the issue being verified.

7. My background screen is still pending. How can I check the status?

You can check the status of your background screening by emailing support@ncsisafe.com or calling 866-996-7412.

NCSI may need to contact you to verify information submitted on your application. Please check your email inbox for messages from the secure NCSI server: support@ncsisafe.com.

8. How do I receive a copy of my results?

During the application process, please make sure you check the box that indicates you want the report sent to you upon completion. If this box is not checked during the application process, you can request a copy of your report by contacting NCSI via email at support@ncsisafe.com or by phone at 866-996-7412.

9. What should I do if my screening returns incorrect or inaccurate criminal information?
There will be times, particularly if you have a very common name, when a background screening will return information that doesn’t belong to you. When such information results in a "negative" initial screen, you will be advised of the negative information by the National Center for Safety Initiatives and the following guidelines will apply to dispute the initial screen:

The National Center for Safety Initiatives will notify you by e-mail of the finding and provide you the opportunity to dispute the negative information.

In order to maintain the confidentiality of your screen results do not contact anyone at the USTA. You must work with the National Center for Safety Initiatives to dispute information.

The National Center for Safety Initiatives will generally respond by telephone or via email within 24 hours to discuss the concern and gather the necessary information to research the question.

In order to research disputed information in a background screen, the National Center for Safety Initiatives must perform a physical search of records in the county reporting the disputed information. Depending on the county and state, this search could take up to 30 days.

10. What if my primary residence is outside of the United States?
Please contact the USTA.

11. Who can I contact with questions?
For all questions related to the background screen system, please contact:
The National Center for Safety Initiatives
Phone: (866) 833-7100
Email

For all policy-related questions, please contact:
United States Tennis Association
Email

**Please be advised that the background screening program is subject to change without notice at the sole discretion of the USTA.**