Sports Insurance for Coaches, Part 1

Sports Insurance for Coaches, Part 1

Sports are an inherently risky leisure activity or profession for the participants, including the athletes, coaches, personnel, and spectators. Broken bones, fractures, and a whole host of other injuries are the norm for playing sports. So, if that’s common sense, then why don’t more people understand the importance of having sports insurance to protect against general negligence, bodily injury, and property damage. Are most people unsure of whether they’re covered or not while playing or coaching in matches or at practice?

In this article, we’ll take a brief look at some ways that athletes and coaches may be lacking in coverage while participating in sport, whether on or off the field.

Coaches and Instructors

If you are participating in a risky activity, you are putting your personal assets at risk should something go wrong without liability coverage. The same remains true for coaching and instructors. Most schools and universities have coverage through their teaching/coaching organizations for coaching personnel, but there may be limits to coverage. For example, if you coach on the side outside of your high school football team for another amateur league, you must make sure that you have liability coverage should an accident occur that you are held at-fault for. This is especially true for sports camps and clinics.

Sports Camps and Clinics

Off-season sports camps and clinic are common nowadays for student and amateur athletes who wish to remain competitive year-round. Often, before the coach/instructor is allowed to participate in these camps, the landlord/owner of the facility, city property, or school will typically require a commercial general liability insurance policy. Sometimes these are provided as part of the fees associated with participation; other times, they are excluded and up to the responsibility of the participant.

Most insurance companies can offer a simple liability insurance program for coaches to purchase for these activities. Often, these are offered under a variety of names (ex. “sports/camps and clinics insurance”), so it helps to consult an insurance advisor to shop around on your behalf to find the most comprehensive and affordable policy so you can focus on coaching, not the what-if’s.

Camp vs. Clinic

Note that insurance companies make a distinction for insuring camps and clinics. In an insurer’s eyes, a camp generally is defined as might be an event that is longer in nature, whether it is an overnight camp with dormitories or a weeklong event at a university from 9am to noon.

On the other hand, clinics are typically defined as a one-day, two-day, or short-term event.

As you might imagine, each has its own distinct insurance concerns and exceptions which vary by the insurer.

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Every coach wants to hone the talents of their athletes and watch them go on to success, but knowing if you’re covered can go a long way to ensuring that you coach worry-free.

That’s how having an insurance advisor on your side can mean the difference between sliding into home base or striking out! Contact the insurance advisors at RiskBlock  and keep your eyes on the ball.

In part 2,  we’ll take a look at some more things that coaches and athletes should be aware of.