5 Reasons Your Youth Sports League Needs Insurance (And What It Actually Covers)
A player slides into second base. A parent trips on the bleachers. A volunteer coach gets named in a lawsuit. These things happen every season, in leagues all across the country. The question is: when it happens to your league, will you be protected?
For over 53 years, we have been helping youth sports leagues in all 50 states answer that question with confidence. Along the way, we have learned what keeps league presidents and treasurers up at night, and what gives them peace of mind. Here is what you need to know.
1. Lawsuits happen more often than you think
In our experience working with thousands of youth leagues, we have seen it all. And here is the honest truth: lawsuits happen because it is Tuesday. They really do.
A parent gets upset about playing time. A child gets injured during a game. A coach makes a decision someone disagrees with. Any of these can turn into legal action, even when nobody did anything wrong. General liability insurance protects your league, your board members, your coaches, and your volunteers from claims of bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury.
Most venues, parks departments, and municipalities require liability coverage before they will let you use their fields. Without it, you cannot play. With it, you can focus on what matters: the kids.
2. Excess accident medical insurance protects families
Here is something most parents do not realize: when their child gets hurt playing youth sports, their personal health insurance deductible kicks in. For many families, that deductible can be $5,000, $7,500, or even $10,000 on some plans.
That is a lot of money for a broken arm at baseball practice.
Excess accident medical insurance fills that gap. If a participant gets injured during a league activity, this coverage helps pay the costs beyond what their personal health insurance covers. In most cases, the family is only out of pocket around $250, not $10,000.
For families with lower means, this can be the difference between a minor inconvenience and a financial hardship. And if a participant does not have health insurance at all? The excess accident medical coverage becomes their primary protection.
3. Not all insurance is priced the same
Here is a real example. Some national organizations charge around $666 per team for youth football coverage. At Bene-Marc Youth Sports Insurance, we offer comparable coverage for youth players 12 and under at approximately $240 per team.
Why the difference? It comes down to loss history and how rates are calculated. Organizations with high claim rates end up paying more. That is why safety protocols, concussion awareness, and proper training matter. They protect kids and keep your insurance costs manageable.
We encourage every league to invest in safety education. Resources like the CDC’s HEADS UP program provide free concussion training for coaches and parents. Better safety leads to fewer injuries, fewer claims, and better rates for everyone.
4. You deserve an insurance partner who does the right thing
This might sound strange coming from an insurance company, but we would rather lose your business than be dishonest with you.
About 15% of the inquiries we receive get referred to other providers. Why? Because we are not always the right fit. If your league needs coverage we do not specialize in, we will tell you and point you in the right direction. We will not take your money knowing someone else can serve you better.
That is what “doing the right thing” means to us. It is one of our core values, and it guides every decision we make. When you call us, a real person answers the phone, usually within three rings. We listen, we educate, and we help you find the right coverage for your specific situation.
5. Your league insurance covers more than you might expect
Many league presidents do not realize that their standard league policy already includes playoff coverage. You do not need separate insurance for your championship tournament at the end of the season as long as all teams are part of your league. It is built in protection to protect your organization.
Depending on which policy your league needs, Bene-Marc Youth Sports Insurance offers additional coverage options that meet the requirements of your league.
Sexual abuse and molestation coverage: Essential protection for any organization working with children
Directors and officers insurance: Protects board members from personal liability
Equipment coverage: Covers gear, uniforms, and league property
Hired and non-owned auto: Protection when volunteers drive for league activities
The right coverage depends on your league’s size, sports, and specific needs. That is why we take the time to understand your situation before recommending a policy.
A story about what matters most
When the pandemic hit in 2020, our company lost 87% of our revenue. Youth sports shut down. Special events cancelled. Everything we insured stopped happening overnight.
We had a choice to make. We could let our team members go, or we could use the savings we had set aside for emergencies to keep everyone employed and their benefits paid.
The decision was easy. We kept all of our dedicated team members who had no control of the sports and events industry closing down.
Why does this matter to you? Because it shows you who we are. We believe in doing the right thing for our clients, our teammates, and our community, even when it costs us. Especially when it costs us.
When you work with Bene-Marc Youth Sports Insurance, you are working with people who care. About your league. About your families. About your kids.
Ready to protect your league?
Getting a quote takes just a few minutes. Call us at 800-247-1734 and a real person will answer. Or click here to learn more about our coverage options for youth leagues.
We have been protecting youth sports for over 53 years, serving thousands of leagues in all 50 states. We would love to help you play hard, rest easy, and know that you are covered.
Play hard, rest easy, knowing you are covered.
