Youth sports programs are a great way to teach kids about teamwork, get exercise, and learn how to navigate the emotions of winning and losing graciously.
Most sports also carry a not-insignificant chance of injury. Highly competitive environments, particularly where athletic performance has financial stakes in the form of scholarships, can contribute to pressures that lead to physical and psychological injuries.
In today’s litigious climate, that means that youth sports programs face increasing liability risks.
Reducing liability frequently boils down to reducing risk. Here are some ideas and best practices that can help youth sports programs reduce liability.
See how you could save on insurance
Conduct thorough background checks
Every adult who will be working with a youth sports team should be interviewed, provide references, and undergo a criminal background check.
Do not skip any of these steps, and make sure that files are retained. Verify all references, even if you know the individuals personally. Applicants should not work with children until all of these steps have been satisfactorily completed.
Have clear policies in place
There are a whole host of policies that are becoming necessary for youth sports. Codes of conduct for both the student athletes *and* their parents, which govern everything from appropriate behavior before, during, and after events, and also anti-bullying provisions (in-person and online).
Dealing with inclement weather, injury reporting, and facility/equipment use are all aspects of youth sports that should be included in policies.
Of course, policies are only useful if they are read, understood, and enforced. Requiring signatures that indicate parents have read policies and expected behavior is one step you can take. Make certain that all adults on the coaching/training side read and understand the rules too—as they will be expected to enforce the rules.
And on that note, equitable enforcement is essential. If the policies state players can be suspended from play for unsportsmanlike conduct, that goes for everyone—including star players.
Training is important
In this case, it’s training those who will be working with young people, to recognize signs of injury, anxiety, bullying/hazing behavior, and more. Adults will likely need to be trained on basic first aid, and recognizing signs of a concussion.
Understanding the league rules and expectations is a given. However, with people volunteering their time, it’s important to regularly offer refreshers on the basics.
Depending on the performance level and age of the young people involved, you may need to consider how state and federal laws can directly or indirectly impact youth sports. Training on these topics can help to clarify whether there’s anything the team needs to consider.
You may also need to include training on recognizing signs of child abuse and neglect and understand the reporting requirements mandated by your state.
Make sure parents or guardians fill out all necessary forms
There are a lot of forms required for youth sports, and the sports program is legally responsible for making sure that they are filled out every year, and kept on file. Here are some of the types of forms a sports team typically requires:
- Consent forms – This form explains the risks of playing a sport, and the parent/guardian is asked to sign as an acknowledgment that injuries are possible.
- Health forms – Health forms provide up-to-date information on the youth player’s health, any prior injuries, and health insurance information. This may also include authorization for the team to address injuries when needed in an emergency situation.
- Liability waiver – This form waives liability for the sports organization in the event of an injury or loss.
- Emergency contact information – It is crucial to keep emergency contact information up-to-date.
There may be other forms that make sense for your sporting organization to have on file. And, you may also be provided with additional forms that you will need to keep on hand, such as parent custody agreements, restraining orders, and other legal documents. Consult your organization’s legal counsel for additional guidance about your duties and responsibilities in these types of situations.
Check all equipment and playing fields
This seems basic, but to reduce the risk of injury make sure that any activity, from drills to practices to games, is conducted with properly working equipment on safe surfaces.
Make equipment and field safety checks part of the routine. Do this every time, and take any damaged or broken equipment out of play and replace it quickly.
This also goes for any safety or protective gear. Check and make certain that helmets (and other safety equipment—pads, masks, braces, etc.) are properly secured.
Supervise
Being attentive and actively supervising the young people in your care can go a long way to preventing injuries. This includes making sure that locker rooms and weight rooms are supervised, team bus trips have an adequate number of chaperones, and so on.
Have the right insurance policies
Youth sports carry a lot of different types of risks, and it is important that the sports organization offering a team sport carry the right blend of insurance policies.
General liability insurance is a core policy to have, along with Directors and Officers liability. General liability will protect your organization from claims related to property damage or personal injuries. If a member of the golf team slices the ball and cracks a spectator’s windshield, general liability coverage kicks in.
Directors and Officers liability protects against losses associated with events such as discrimination claims and wrongful firings.
You may also need specialized vehicle coverage for team travel, and property insurance to cover expensive sports equipment.
Player accident insurance can help to offset the costs associated with injuries that aren’t covered by a player’s health insurance—and, some of these types of policies can also include coverage for coaches, assistants, and trainers, who can also sometimes sustain injuries during practices or games.
If you want to learn more about insuring your youth sports program, contact the experts at Rate Insurance. With access to a wide range of insurance providers, they’ll find the right coverage to protect your youth sports organization.
Find the right coverage
Disclaimer:
All information provided in this publication is for informational and educational purposes only, and in no way is any of the content contained herein to be construed as financial, investment, or legal advice or instruction. Rate Insurance does not guarantee the quality, accuracy, completeness or timelines of the information in this publication. While efforts are made to verify the information provided, the information should not be assumed to be error free. Some information in the publication may have been provided by third parties and has not necessarily been verified by Rate Insurance. Rate Insurance, its affiliates and subsidiaries do not assume any liability for the information contained herein, be it direct, indirect, consequential, special, or exemplary, or other damages whatsoever and howsoever caused, arising out of or in connection with the use of this publication or in reliance on the information, including any personal or pecuniary loss, whether the action is in contract, tort (including negligence) or other tortious action.
