Are Your Volunteer Coaches Covered If Something Goes Wrong?

She had coached the team for three seasons without a single problem. Then one Saturday morning, a player collided with another child during warmups and broke his collarbone. The parents were upset. They wanted answers. And suddenly, this volunteer coach found herself wondering if she could be held personally responsible for what happened.

Coaches and volunteers are the heartbeat of youth sports. They give up weekends, weeknights, and vacation days to help kids learn teamwork, build confidence, and fall in love with the game. Without them, most leagues and tournaments simply could not exist.

But here is the truth that keeps many league presidents up at night. Those same generous volunteers may have no idea how exposed they are. And if something goes wrong, the league could face legal and financial consequences all because they did not have the proper sports insurance to protect the players, coaches, volunteers, and spectators watching the game.

At Bene-Marc Youth Sports Insurance, we believe the people who give their time to serve young athletes deserve real protection. After 53 years of working with leagues, camps, and tournaments across all 50 states, we have learned what it takes to keep leagues safe. Here are six ways to make sure the people who show up for your program are covered.

1. Make sure your general liability policy covers volunteers

This sounds basic, but it is the most important step you can take. Not all insurance policies automatically extend coverage to volunteers. Some insurance only covers the coaches in the league and does not extend to volunteers.

Before your next season starts, pull out your policy and read it carefully. Does it specifically include volunteers and coaches, acting on behalf of your organization? If the language is unclear, call your insurance provider and ask directly.

At Bene-Marc Youth Sports Insurance, our general liability policies are designed to protect volunteers, coaches, and league members who are working within the scope of your program. When a volunteer is running drills, managing the scoreboard, or setting up the field, they should be covered. Period.

2. Understand what general liability actually protects

General liability insurance is powerful, but it does not cover everything. Knowing what it does and does not protect helps you set realistic expectations within your league.

General liability covers claims of bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury arising from your operations. If a spectator trips over equipment your volunteer set up and breaks an ankle, general liability responds. 

General liability insurance is designed to protect the league if sued. There are many other types of coverage that leagues may purchase to cover them as well. 

3. Consider Directors and Officers insurance for your board

If your league or organization has a Board of Directors, those volunteer leaders face a unique set of risks. Directors and Officers insurance, often called D&O coverage, protects the people making decisions on behalf of your organization.

Imagine a board member is accused of mishandling league funds, making a wrongful employment decision, or failing to follow proper procedures. Even if the accusation is unfounded, defending against it costs money. D&O insurance helps cover legal fees and potential settlements, so your volunteer leaders are not putting their personal assets on the line.

This coverage matters most for nonprofit leagues, booster club programs, and any organization with formal governance. It gives your board members confidence that stepping up to lead will not cost them everything if something goes sideways.

4. Provide clear training and written guidelines

Insurance is essential, but it is not the only way to protect coaches and volunteers. One of the best things you can do is set your volunteers up for success from the start.

Create written guidelines that explain what is expected of coaches and volunteers. Cover topics like appropriate interaction with players, proper supervision ratios, emergency procedures, and how to handle conflicts with parents. Make sure every volunteer reads and signs off on these expectations before the season begins.

Training does not have to be complicated. A one-hour orientation meeting can cover the basics and give volunteers a chance to ask questions. When everyone understands the boundaries, mistakes are less likely to happen.

This is also where prevention comes in by doing the following. Running background checks for every coach and volunteer. Implementing written policies with clear guidelines for one-on-one interactions with children. Making sure the league adopts these policies and posts them on their website for parents, coaches, and volunteers. These steps protect kids, and they also protect your coaches and volunteers in case of a claim.

5. Create a culture where coaches and volunteers feel supported

Here is something that does not show up on any insurance policy but matters just as much: the importance of how your organization treats the people who give their time.

When coaches and volunteers feel supported, they communicate more openly. They ask questions before problems become crises. They report concerns instead of hoping issues resolve themselves. And they stick around season after season, building experience that makes your whole program stronger.

Check in with your coaches regularly. Ask how things are going, not just with the team, but with difficult parents or confusing situations. Make it clear that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

At Bene-Marc Youth Sports Insurance, we have seen how organizations that invest in their volunteer culture tend to have fewer claims and better outcomes when problems do arise. Taking care of your people is good for everyone.

6. Work with an insurance provider that understands youth sports

Not all insurance companies are created equal. Some providers offer generic policies that technically cover sports but miss the nuances of what youth leagues actually face.

When you work with a company that specializes in youth sports insurance, you get more than a policy. You get guidance from people who understand your world. They know the difference between a tackle football league and a flag football program. They understand why tournament host insurance is different from travel team coverage. They can explain how excess accident medical insurance protects families when a child gets hurt.

At Bene-Marc Youth Sports Insurance, we take a personalized approach to every organization we serve. We ask questions about your specific program, your facilities, your volunteer structure, and your budget. Then we design coverage that fits your actual needs, not a one-size-fits-all package that leaves gaps.

And if we are not the right fit for your organization, we will tell you. We have been known to send potential clients to competitors when another provider can serve them better. Doing the right thing matters more to us than making every sale. That is how we have built trust with leagues across the country for over five decades.

The people who show up deserve your protection

Think about the volunteers in your organization. The coach who leaves work early to make practice. The parent who spends every Saturday in the concession stand. The volunteer who handles registration paperwork late into the night.

These people are not doing it for the money. They are doing it because they love kids, they love sports, and they want to give back to their community. The least we can do is make sure they are protected while they serve.

Take time this season to review your insurance coverage. Have honest conversations with your volunteers about what is and is not covered. Invest in training that sets everyone up for success. And partner with an insurance provider that genuinely understands what you are trying to accomplish.

When you call Bene-Marc Sports Insurance, a real person picks up the phone.  You will speak with a  licensed agent who can answer your questions and help you figure out the best path forward.

Call us at 800-247-1734 or click here to request a free risk assessment. We will review your program, identify any gaps in coverage, and help you build a plan that protects the volunteers who make your organization possible.

Play hard, rest easy, knowing you are covered.