Is Sports Insurance Required for Intercollegiate Athletes?

Is Sports Insurance Required for Intercollegiate Athletes?

Intercollegiate athletes and their organizations face a lot of danger day to day. While sports insurance is not generally required by any state or federal law, but your district may require your intercollegiate sports organization to carry certain amounts of coverage. 

Intercollegiate athletes do not generally carry their own sports insurance although it is recommended, so it is important to offer coverage to protect all players involved. 

What Sports Insurance Do I Need? 

Sports insurance options for intercollegiate athletes may include: 

General Liability Insurance 

General liability insurance covers bodily injury, property damage and personal or advertising injury. If an athlete or other party is injured on your organization’s property, such as the football field, general liability insurance can help pay for the related medical expenses. This insurance can also cover lawsuits against your organization. 

Accident Insurance 

Accident insurance is crucial for any organization that hosts sports. Intercollegiate athletics is especially important as the participants are bigger, stronger and more likely to participate in risky maneuvers that could lead to drastic injuries. 

Equipment Insurance 

Equipment insurance covers the physical equipment owned or used by an intercollegiate athletic program. Sports equipment can include concession equipment, scoreboards, uniforms, fences, bleachers, playing equipment and more. This insurance covers against damages caused by fire, wind, hail, lightning, smoke, theft, vandalism and other incidents. If your organization doesn’t carry this insurance, damages to sports equipment can lead to claims of negligence which result in expensive lawsuits and even more financial loss than the insurance would cost. 

Directors and Officers Insurance 

Directors and officers insurance protects your organization’s management in case of claims related to their activity while leading the organization. Claims may come from players, bystanders, investors, employees both current and former, and more. These insurance policies may often include Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI), which covers claims concerning discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful firing or hiring, failure to promote and more. 

Be sure to ask an insurance agent about the right coverage to protect your intercollegiate athletics program. Coverage limits, deductibles and types of coverage can vary depending on your needs. If your players participate in a high contact sport, for example, your sports insurance policy may need higher limits for accident insurance. 

Although sports insurance may not be required by any state or federal law, protecting your program’s athletes and everyone else participating is your number one priority. One bad uncovered accident could cause an injured player’s family financial and emotional stress as well as put your program at risk in the face of a lawsuit. 

Should Athletes Carry Their Own Insurance? 

If an athlete has health insurance through their parents, work or an individual policy, some of their injuries while participating in sports activities may be covered. Group insurance is typically recommended for student athletes. There are also school supplied health insurance plans and health insurance plans available through government assistance. Before playing, intercollegiate athletes should be sure to discuss their options with their insurance agent, coaches and loved ones when it comes to coverage. 

How Much is Sports Insurance for Intercollegiate Athletics? 

The cost of sports insurance varies depending on several factors, including: