Yes, for programs that meet the state’s definition of a youth skill camp. New Hampshire law under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 170-E:55 and § 170-E:56 requires youth skill camps, a category that includes sports programs, to maintain a written background check policy and certify that policy to the Department of Health and Human Services.
What New Hampshire’s Background Check Law Requires
New Hampshire takes a different approach than states that specify exactly what a check must include. Instead, it requires a youth skill camp to write its own background check policy, specifying both the frequency of checks and the sources used, and to certify that policy to the state. State guidance narrows the skill camp definition to curricula delivered over three or more consecutive days.
Who the Law Covers
A skill camp is any program running eight or more hours a year to teach a skill, which the statute’s language is broad enough to include sports instruction. Guidance from the state narrows that further to programs whose curriculum runs three or more consecutive days, which is the detail that determines whether a given youth sports program falls under the law.
What the Check Includes
Because New Hampshire does not dictate a specific check format, the compliance burden falls on the organization to design a defensible policy: who gets checked, how often, and through which sources. That written policy, and the certification to the Department of Health and Human Services, is what a New Hampshire program produces to demonstrate compliance.
How New Hampshire’s Law Compares to Other States
New Hampshire is one of thirteen states with a youth sports background check statute, and it is unusual in leaving the specific check requirements to each organization’s own written policy rather than dictating them by statute. See our breakdown of which states require background checks for youth sports for how New Hampshire’s approach compares to states with more prescriptive requirements.
What This Means for Your Youth Sports Organization
Since the law hinges on having a written, certified policy rather than a single mandated check, New Hampshire programs benefit from starting with a documented background check process for coaches rather than improvising a policy the first time the Department of Health and Human Services asks for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does New Hampshire require background checks for youth sports coaches?
Yes, for programs that meet the state’s youth skill camp definition. New Hampshire law (N.H. Rev. Stat. § 170-E:55, § 170-E:56) requires youth skill camps to maintain a written background check policy and certify it to the Department of Health and Human Services.
What counts as a youth skill camp under New Hampshire law?
Any program running eight or more hours a year to teach a skill, including sports, though state guidance narrows this to curricula delivered over three or more consecutive days.
Does New Hampshire specify exactly what a background check must include?
No. New Hampshire requires each youth skill camp to write its own policy specifying the frequency and sources of its background checks, rather than mandating a single statewide format.