Sports Insurance for Leagues

Sports insurance is incredibly important for sports leagues. If you’re running an amateur or youth sports league, you and your employees face a lot of liability risks. It’s crucial to keep your league and its participants safe.

What Does Sports Insurance Cover?

• Accident. If a participant is injured, accident insurance assists with paying the medical bills. This is important for any sport, especially contact sports. This may also reduce the likelihood of a lawsuit due to the injury.
• General Liability. General liability covers bodily injury or property damage that occurred due to negligence of the league. It helps cover legal costs in case of claims.
• Directors & Officers Liability. Directors and Officers provides coverage in case claims are filed against a director or officer employed by your league. Claims can involve inappropriate conduct or discrimination.
• Property Protection. The league’s training facilities will need insurance to protect against weather, theft and vandalism. Property protection can help pay to repair the damages.
• Equipment Coverage. Sports equipment can be expensive. If it’s lost, damaged or stolen, equipment coverage can help replace it.
• Crime. Crime insurance protects the league when an employee or volunteer embezzles money.
• Workers Compensation. Most operating businesses are required to have workers compensation. Workers compensation provides money for medical expenses and protects in case of a claim due to employee injury. While some volunteers and contractors aren’t required to have workers compensation, it’s up to the league owner’s discretion.

How to Prevent Legal Claims in a Sports League

1. Interview and vet coaches carefully. Background checks are important to ensure you’re hiring coaches and volunteers that are safe and trained. Also consider investing in sexual misconduct liability insurance.
2. Train coaches in basic safety. In 2016, only 29% of coaches knew basic CPR and first aid. Only 32% were trained in general safety/injury prevention and 30% in concussion management. Providing training to coaches can help prevent injuries and insure injured participants get the help they need faster.
3. Take safety measures. Each league has its own unique risks. A football league should invest in sturdy helmets, leg and shoulder pads, mouthguards, etc. Although soccer players wear less padding, they should still have athletic cups, chest protectors and shin guards to protect them. This isn’t an extensive list of what league participants should have for protection and protection necessities vary per sport.
4. Defuse rowdy situations. If kids are growing rowdy and starting to rough house, break it up before it causes injury. Also train coaches and volunteers to step in.
5. Have strict safety measures. Having strict safety measures the participants must follow will make it easier to keep them safe. Participants should remove all jewelry before participating, stretch before workout and have a firm understanding of proper techniques to avoid injury.
6. Have an emergency plan. Along with participants following safety measures, make sure they all know the process of an emergency plan. Have a safe place to go in case an emergency occurs that all participants know and can reach when needed.