Youth sports volunteers are subject to safety measure

By Nick C. Sortal

December 24th, 2007

She's more than happy to be a team mom for her sons, so Angela Walker is willing to participate in the latest attempt by cities to keep the fields safe.

She wears an ID badge, showing that she has cleared a criminal background check. So does every coach and anyone else who comes into contact with the children.

"It gives you a sense of security to know they're in good hands," said Walker, whose sons play football, basketball and baseball. "You can't just allow anybody and everybody around your child."  Riviera Beach joins West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and other cities that started ID badge programs this year. Hollywood began requiring ID badges for its more than 600 volunteer coaches more than two years ago.

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