Become a Coach
Coaching for Oakland Recreation is a fun and rewarding experience. There are 3 simple requirements necessary to be a coach:
- Sit the Rutgers SAFETY Program
- Background check
- Watch a 45 minute concussion training seminar from your computer
Below is the easy information for completing and getting credit for these 3 steps.
1. RUTGERS S.A.F.E.T.Y. PROGRAM
If you have already taken the seminar outside of Oakland you must give a copy of your card to either Commission Chairman Mike Guadagnino or Recreation Secretary Rosa Kilpatrick so you may be certified for Oakland.
The Oakland Recreation Commission will conduct Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. (Sports Awareness For Education Today's Youth) Clinics for all volunteer coaches.
If you have not taken the class yet you must email Recreation Secretary Rosa Kilpatrick by clicking here in advance to be registered. If taken in Oakland, the class is free for Oakland residents.
According to New Jersey's Little League Law (2A:62A-6), in order to be eligible for the civil immunity protection, volunteer coaches are required to attend a "safety orientation and training skills program." The Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. Clinic is based upon the "Minimum Standards for Volunteer Coaches Safety Orientation and Training Skills Programs" (N.J.A.C.5:52) and has been tested in court as having met the standards. The training session is free to Oakland Recreation Coaches. There is a $45.00 registration fee for all out of town coaches. All Head coaches and Assistant coaches must complete the Rutgers SAFETY Clinic prior to the start of their coaching season.
NEXT SESSION IN OAKLAND: Friday, May 3, 2024 from 6PM - 9PM at the Senior Center located at 20 Lawlor Drive. You must attend the whole time to receive your certification.
To register for the Rutger's Class, please click here to email Rosa Kilpatrick and include your Name, Address and Cell Phone number to confirm you will be attending the clinic. (There is no fee for Oakland Coaches.) IF YOU CAN'T MAKE OUR CLASS....
******* CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF OUT OF TOWN RUTGERS SAFETY COURSES. ****** (Once on the site click on box in upper right corner that says: Volunteer Coaches' S.A.F.E.T.Y. Clinic Schedule.)
2. Background Check
Follow instructions below for getting your background check as well as reimbursement procedures.
*There is no longer a form, it is all done electronically as of February 17, 2020
Instructions to Complete Your Background Check Application
- To register for an appointment online go to http://uenroll.identogo.com
- Service Code is 2F1J3Y for volunteers (COACHES)
- Service Code is 2F1J2G for employees (Camp Counselors, etc.)
- *** IMPORTANT***The VRN in Box 7 online is B07001 (Contributor's Case #) - If you do not enter this number we will NOT receive your results!
- For payment reimbursement you must drop off your confirmation ASAP and receipt to the Recreation Office located in the Oakland Senior
Center and complete a voucher to receive reimbursement for the $26.98 in 4-6 weeks. IF YOU ARE PAYING MORE AND ARE DOING YOUR CHECK IN NJ, YOU HAVE ENTERED SOMETHING WRONG. *** IF YOU CHOOSE TO GO OUT OF STATE FOR AN APPOINTMENT YOU WILL ONLY BE REIMBURSED UP TO $26.98. LOCATION FEES WILL NO LONGER BE REIMBURSED.*** - Individuals WILL NOT be reimbursed for charges related to a missed appointment or out of state fingerprinting fee.
The Recreation Office hours are Monday - Friday 9am - 4:30pm or email recsec@oakland-nj.org with your address and a voucher can be mailed to you.
* Volunteers will only hear back from the Police Department if a criminal record is returned as disqualified at which time you will have 30 days from the receipt of notice to petition an appeal hearing with the Police Chief to site reasons substantiating the review.
* The Recreation Approved Coach list on the website will list all Coaches who have completed the Rutger's S.A.F.E.T.Y Certification and passed the current Criminal Background check. Click here for the list.
If you have any questions, you can email Rosa by clicking here.
Because it is an Oakland ordinance:
2-19.3 Requests for Criminal Background Checks; Costs.
a. The Borough of Oakland requires that all employees and volunteers of a youth-serving recreation organization request through the Oakland Police Department that the State Bureau of Identification in the Division of State Police conduct a criminal history record background check on each prospective and current employee or volunteer of the organization. There shall be a thirty (30) day grace period for each new employee or volunteer of the youth-serving organization to make application for this criminal history record background check. All coaches must have their fingerprinting and applications completed by the end of the thirty (30) day grace period.
b. The Borough shall conduct a criminal history record background check only upon receipt of the written consent for the check from the prospective or current persons with direct unsupervised access to minors.
c. The Borough of Oakland shall bear the costs associated with conducting a criminal history background check in accordance with the fees established by the State Bureau of Identification in the Division of the State Police and in accordance with N.J.S.A. 15A:3A-2(d).
d. The Division of State Police shall inform the Oakland Police Department whether the person’s criminal history record background check reveals a conviction of a disqualifying crime or offense specified in subsection 2-19.4 of this section. Any information received by the Oakland Police Department shall be confidential.
e. Any person who, by virtue of his/her occupation, is required by statute to undergo a Federal and State criminal history record background check similar in nature to the requirements contained herein, and who can provide proof of the results of such background check, is exempt from the requirement hereunder until three (3) years has elapsed since the most current background check.
(Ord. #06-CODE-528, §3)
3. Concussion Seminar
As per the borough's insurance and the BOE insurance policies all coaches must now be certified in concussion training. Please click here to be taken to the online course (approximate 45 minutes long).
Once completed please mail or email the Certificate-of-Completion to:
Rosa Kilpatrick,
Recreation Aide
Borough of Oakland
20 Lawlor Drive
Oakland, NJ 07436
P: (201) 337-8111, ext 2068