Sports coaches and referees need liability insurance to protect themselves from financial hardship if someone files a claim or lawsuit against them.
All sports come with the risk of injury. Likewise, all coaches (and referees) have some level of responsibility for the players. If something goes wrong, liability insurance is designed to act as a safety net, like the safety netting around a Major League Baseball field.
What Is Liability Insurance for Coaches and Referees?
Liability insurance is your financial safety net, designed to keep you from falling into debt due to liability claims and lawsuits. It protects you and your business if a player gets hurt, someone’s property is damaged, or you’re named in a lawsuit.
Here’s a quick look at what coach and referee liability insurance covers:
- The costs of physical injuries and other harm done to others
- Costs to repair or replace property damage done to others
- Legal defense costs like attorney’s fees, court costs, and settlements
Why Do Sports Coaches Need Insurance?
If you work with the general public, you need liability insurance, because accidents can still happen even when you do everything right.
You can’t guarantee every game will be a win, just like you can’t guarantee no one will ever get hurt, and nothing will ever go wrong. If something happens during a game or practice, an athlete tears a muscle or a stray ball cracks a windshield, you could be blamed. If you’re blamed, you could be held responsible for paying medical or property damage costs.
Sports coach liability insurance is designed to keep you from paying for things like these out of your own pocket. If a claim turns into a lawsuit, liability insurance may also help pay your legal fees.
Not only does liability insurance provide financial support in the event of claims or lawsuits, it also gives you additional credibility with potential employers. It shows you’re prepared and professional. Plus, many organizations require you to have your own coverage before hiring you.
Think of it this way: Liability insurance is just another part of a smart and thorough game plan.
Why Sports Referees Need Liability Insurance, Too
Referees make a lot of split-second decisions in high-emotion environments that could end up having long-term consequences. This is one of the reasons referees are often criticized for their calls, or blamed for things when they don’t go the way people wanted.
Even when injuries and outcomes aren’t your fault, players, spectators, parents, and others might still insist you are at fault. This could lead to official, and costly, claims and lawsuits. Referee liability insurance is designed to help you cover those costs.
The Real Risks of Coaching and Officiating Sports
Risk is part of the game, and some things will always be out of your control. Sports coaches and officials at any level can end up dealing with things like:
- Physical injuries to players during practice or games
- Allegations of negligence, improper instruction, or inappropriate behavior
- Parent or participant lawsuits
- Accidental damage to others’ personal property
- Damage to rented or borrowed facilities
One injury claim can turn into an expensive lawsuit. Even false or inaccurate claims still cost time and money, too.
If you’re caught on the receiving end of a claim or lawsuit without liability insurance, you risk both your reputation and your financial security now, and in the future. Stealing home base might be worth it, risking your livelihood? We don’t think so.
What Sports Coaching Insurance Covers (In Plain English)
Sports coaching insurance is designed to cover “third-party bodily injury and property damage claims.” What that means in plain English: Harm you cause others or damage you do to others’ stuff, unintentionally.
Insurance Canopy coach and referee insurance includes the following types of coverage.
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Professional liability |
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Remember, coach liability insurance covers others. It does not cover:
- Physical injury or other harm to you
- Physical injury or other harm to anyone who works for you
- Injury, property damage, or other harm you cause on purpose
Illegal acts
In addition to the above coverages, Insurance Canopy offers several additional add-on options. These optional coverages help fill gaps in your coverage, depending on your specific needs.
- Sexual Abuse and Molestation Coverage (SAM): Coverage for defense costs if you’re wrongly accused of sexual harassment or improper conduct
- Gear and Equipment Coverage: Also known as inland marine insurance, this coverage applies to the gear you own and use for work in case something is broken or stolen
- Cyber Liability Coverage: Coverage that helps with the consequences of data breaches and other cybercrimes, like the cost of recovering client data
- Additional Insureds: When a facility, league, or other business entity asks to be added to your insurance, you list them on your policy as an additional insured
- Diet & Nutrition Coverage: Coverage for nutrition-related services you may provide
Insurance Canopy coaching policies also go where you go: multiple facilities, public parks, at home and away games. So your coverage doesn’t change just because your location does.
Why Insurance Canopy Works for Sports Coaches and Referees
Insurance Canopy provides comprehensive liability insurance for coaches and officials that’s both affordable and easy to manage. Our online dashboard makes it simple to get your proof of insurance, add or update coverages, and add additional insureds at any time.
While other insurance companies sell general and professional liability coverage separately, we include both in our base policy, saving you time and money. Our optional add-on coverages also allow you to tailor your policy to your needs.
Look at it this way: if you catch a rogue hockey puck to the face, it’s going to cause a lot more damage without a face mask. Similarly, if you catch a claim or lawsuit without liability insurance, your bank account is going to take a lot more damage.
Liability insurance is like your safety equipment. It might not stop something from hitting you entirely, but it definitely protects you from the worst of the impact.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sports and Referee Insurance
How Much Does Sports Coaching Insurance Cost?
Sports coach and referee insurance costs as little as $15/month or $159/year with Insurance Canopy. For comparison, here’s a quick look at some potential claims costs:
- The average urgent care visit: $180
- The average ER visit: $1,000-$2,000
- Average attorney rates: $200 or more per hour
- Real cost of a lawsuit for an incident the coach was not at fault for: $61,045
Even one quick trip to an urgent care could easily cost you more than a year’s worth of liability insurance. One trip to the ER = six years of liability insurance, plus whatever reputational harm goes along with these visits.
Do Part-Time or Volunteer Coaches Need Liability Insurance?
Yes. Even if you only work part-time or volunteer, you could still be held responsible for accidents that happen during practice or matches. With insurance, you won’t have to fend for yourself financially when paying claims costs.
Do Referees Need Insurance if They Work for a League?
It depends on the league, but in most cases, yes, you need to have your own liability insurance. Many leagues require you to show proof of your own liability insurance before they’ll hire you.
Proof of insurance may also be referred to as a Certificate of Insurance (COI) or an ACORD Certificate of Insurance.
What Kind of Insurance Do I Need as a Coach or Referee?
You need at least general liability and professional liability insurance to cover the most common types of claims. These cover things like slips, trips, and falls, along with other physical injuries, property damage, and negligence claims.
What’s the Difference Between General and Professional Liability for Coaches and Refs?
The primary difference between general and professional liability insurance is the scope of coverage they provide, or the kinds of incidents they cover.
General liability applies to accidents and physical harm, like injuries and broken physical items, that are caused by your regular business operations.
Professional liability applies to physical and non-physical damage related to your instructions and advice, like mistakes or errors you make. It also applies to negligence.
How Do I File a Claim?
You can file a claim online directly from your user dashboard by following these steps:
- Log in to your online user account
- Locate the “Manage Policies” section
- Click “Claims” and/or “File A Claim”
- Provide the required information
- Submit your claim
Learn more about the claim process and what to expect.
