Phill Rainbird, aged in his 50s, began coaching the New Norfolk Junior Football Club under 14s earlier this year as a volunteer.

The former horse trainer was sentenced to four years' jail for raping a 16-year-old girl in 2009.

Mr Rainbird managed to get a coaching role with the club despite the introduction of Tasmania's working with children scheme last year.

A Justice Department spokeswoman confirmed Mr Rainbird was not registered and had never even completed an application.

Club officials said Mr Rainbird had told them he was in the process of getting registered.

The Examiner understands he may have shown them documentation for the scheme's online registration process.

Asked if the system needed tightening the spokeswoman said the laws in Tasmania were similar to those on the mainland.

Anyone who has commenced but not completed the process of application must be supervised at all times by a person holding registration. It is the organisation's responsibility to ensure that this occurs.

The department has liaised with AFL Tasmania in relation to this issue and they will be working with associations and clubs to check the registration of all the relevant volunteers over the next few weeks.

The spokeswoman said organisations should go beyond making sure volunteers are registered and "should also have protective policies in place".

The Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Act contains a number of offences and penalties relevant to individuals and organisations who fail to adhere to the registration requirements, she said.