How to Insure a Youth Sports Team in 6 Easy Steps
You are starting a new season. Registration is open. Parents are signing up their kids, and coaches are planning practices. And somewhere on your to-do list, buried between ordering uniforms and reserving field time, sits one big task: insure your youth sports team.
If you are a league president, treasurer, or camp director, you already know insurance matters. However, knowing it matters and knowing how to get the right coverage are two very different things.
The good news? It does not have to be complicated. At Bene-Marc Youth Sports Insurance, we have helped thousands of youth sports programs get covered since 1973. So here is a simple six-step process to insure your youth sports team before the first whistle blows.
Step 1: Know what coverage your youth sports team needs
First, learn the two core coverages most youth sports programs need.
General liability insurance protects your organization against claims for bodily injury to third parties, property damage, and personal injury. In fact, most venues and municipalities require it before they will let you use their facilities.
Excess accident medical insurance covers medical expenses for participants who get injured during practices or games. It supplements the family’s health insurance, and if a participant has none, it can serve as primary coverage. The typical deductible is $250.
Depending on your program, you may also want sexual abuse and molestation coverage (strongly recommended for any youth-serving group), equipment coverage, and directors and officers insurance. For a closer look at one piece, see how youth sports insurance covers volunteers.
Step 2: Know your program details
Next, gather the basics before you request a quote. Note what sports you offer, how many participants you have, the age range of your players, and your season dates. Your provider needs this to give you an accurate quote.
For reference, Bene-Marc Youth Sports Insurance covers youth football (tackle, flag, and 7-on-7) for participants up to age 15, and all other sports for participants 18 and under.
Step 3: Get quotes from youth sports specialists
General agents can write a policy for almost anything. However, youth sports insurance has specific nuances that generalists may miss. A specialist knows the risk profile of your sport, the requirements of your venues, and the needs of your youth sports team.
When you compare quotes, compare the same coverage types and limits. After all, a lower premium is not a better deal if the coverage is thinner.
Step 4: Request your certificates of insurance
Once your policy is active, request certificates of insurance (COIs) for venues, parks departments, and anyone who requires proof of coverage. Moreover, many facilities will ask to be named as an additional insured on your policy.
This is one area where Bene-Marc Youth Sports Insurance really stands out, because our turnaround on certificates is fast. As Douglas Murphy, one of our clients, put it, “When we had an emergency and needed a new certificate in literally like 10 minutes, they came through.”
Step 5: Tell your coaches and parents
Once you are insured, make sure your people know it. Tell coaches what coverage is in place and what to do if someone gets injured. Tell parents that excess accident medical coverage is part of the program, and explain how it works. If an injury does occur, our guide on what to do when a player gets hurt lays out the steps.
As a result, you build trust with families, and your coaches feel supported if something goes wrong.
Step 6: Review your youth sports team coverage each season
Your program changes from year to year. Maybe you added a sport. Maybe your numbers grew. Maybe a facility now requires higher limits. So before each season, review your policy with your provider to make sure it still fits.
At Bene-Marc Youth Sports Insurance, we make this easy. Our agents know your program and can adjust your coverage as your needs evolve.
A quick note on tournaments
If your league hosts a tournament, that is a separate coverage need. Tournament host insurance covers the event itself, usually for one to four consecutive days. By contrast, if your teams travel to compete in someone else’s tournament, your existing league policy already covers them, so you do not need extra coverage for travel.
Why insuring your youth sports team matters
Say you are a league president with 12 teams and a season starting in six weeks. You have put off the insurance piece because it feels overwhelming. But here is the reality: getting covered can happen in a single phone call. In fact, we have helped league directors go from a first conversation to a fully active policy in less than a day.
As Michael Ricci, one of our long-time clients, shared, “The service she provides is outstanding. She makes the process of renewing my insurance easy and simple. I would recommend Bene-Marc Youth Sports Insurance to anyone.”
Get started today
At Bene-Marc Youth Sports Insurance, we have protected youth sports teams since 1973. We work with “A+” rated A.M. Best companies, and our licensed agents bring over 150 years of combined experience. We are in all 50 states. Best of all, a real person answers the phone when you call.
Call us at 800-247-1734 or click here to get started.
Play hard, rest easy, knowing you are covered.
For more on youth sports participation and safety, visit the Aspen Institute’s Project Play.
