How to Insure a 7-on-7 Football Event: 6 Easy Tips

7-on-7 football season is here, and so is the planning. You are hosting a 7-on-7 football showcase this summer. You have teams registered, fields reserved, and referees lined up. The energy is building. But before anyone takes the field, there is one thing you need to get right, insurance.

7-on-7 football has grown fast. What started as an off-season passing drill has turned into a full competitive circuit, with showcase events drawing travel teams from across the state and beyond. As a result, the risk has grown too, both on the field and off.

At Bene-Marc Youth Sports Insurance, we have been protecting youth sports programs since 1973. So here are six things every 7-on-7 football organizer should know about insuring their event.

First, understand the split. If you are hosting a 7-on-7 football event, you need tournament host insurance. This covers the event itself, typically one to four consecutive days. It protects you as the organizer against claims for bodily injury and other liabilities that arise during your event.

Teams traveling to play in your event are generally covered under their own league policy. They do not need to buy separate coverage for your tournament. However, as the host, the responsibility for the event falls on you.

Next, general liability insurance covers claims for bodily injury to third parties, property damage, and personal injury arising from your event operations.

In fact, most facilities and parks departments will require proof of general liability before they let you use their fields. Without it, you may not be able to hold your event at all. For a closer look at how coverage fits a youth program, see our guide on how to insure a youth sports team.

Excess accident medical coverage helps pay for a participant’s medical bills when they get hurt during a covered activity. It fills the gap beyond what the family’s health insurance covers. If a player does not have health insurance, it can step in as the primary payer.

In a fast-paced 7-on-7 football setting, soft tissue injuries, jammed fingers, and collisions happen. As a result, knowing that participant injuries are covered gives families peace of mind and protects your event’s reputation. For the response side, our guide on what to do when a player gets hurt walks through the steps.

A certificate of insurance (COI) is the document that proves you have coverage. Your venue, municipality, or parks department will almost certainly ask for one, often with their organization named as an additional insured.

Do not wait until the week before your event to request one. The earlier you start, the smoother the process. That said, if you do find yourself in a last-minute situation, Bene-Marc Youth Sports Insurance is known for fast turnaround. As client Douglas Murphy shared, “When we had an emergency and needed a new certificate in literally like 10 minutes, they came through.”

Any event involving minors should carry sexual abuse and molestation (SAM) coverage. It protects your organization in the event of allegations or claims. For youth sports events, this coverage is not optional, it is essential.

Pair this coverage with background checks for all coaches, referees, and volunteers. Prevention and protection go hand in hand.

Finally, not every 7-on-7 football event is the same. Some are single-day showcases. Others are multi-day invitational tournaments with dozens of teams. Therefore, your coverage should match the size and scope of your event.

At Bene-Marc Youth Sports Insurance, our licensed agents have over 150 years of combined experience. We cover over 75 sports and recreational activities across all 50 states. And when you call us, a real person answers the phone, not a recording. No jargon, no pressure. If we are not the right fit, we will tell you.