Does USA Softballs $35 umpire fee provide liability insurance?
- Thread starter SEPATOPTEN
- Start date
When I coached my kids Little League teams we had to do trsining where they told us that the League was responsible for any injuries caused by physical plant (eg dugout collapses) but that we could be held personally liable for any decisions/ instructions that we give our players (eg practicing in the rain and a kid rips up knee or not getting players to shelter in lightning).
They even showed us how to use a cpr defibrillator and that there was one at each field., and since we knew there was one there, had been instructed on how to use, and if we failed to act quickly enough to prevent a tragic player death, the League said we would need to lawyer up on our own to defend ourselves. They then warned that since we live in a pretty well off community that "most players parents have a lawyer on speed dial" so be prepared. It was a sobering reality check.
Since the ump makes the weather related calls it seems to me you'd better have some coverage. I can't see how a licensing organization would be willing to expose itself to possible suits based on decisions made by an individual not in their employ. Be smart and safe!
They even showed us how to use a cpr defibrillator and that there was one at each field., and since we knew there was one there, had been instructed on how to use, and if we failed to act quickly enough to prevent a tragic player death, the League said we would need to lawyer up on our own to defend ourselves. They then warned that since we live in a pretty well off community that "most players parents have a lawyer on speed dial" so be prepared. It was a sobering reality check.
Since the ump makes the weather related calls it seems to me you'd better have some coverage. I can't see how a licensing organization would be willing to expose itself to possible suits based on decisions made by an individual not in their employ. Be smart and safe!
Either the people in that league didn’t read their policy very well or they had a really crappy policy….the league’s policy should protect coaches as well as directors and officers of the league, that’s what it’s there for. They should also buy a separate policy to cover injuries to the kids.
I don't know about that, I just remember thinking: oh crap, not only am I about to volunteer to give up a ton of my time for the pleasure of coaching my kids and their friends, but I'm goimg to have to deal with parents (expected), volunteer to umpire a game a week for the age group below them (unexpected and a real rat f_ck), but now I also need to worry about lawsuits?
Maybe they were just trying to scare us into being super careful, or maybe they were talking civil suits, but the "lawyer on speedial" has stuck in my brain forever. I loved coaching my kids. In todays world I wonder if I'd do it again.....
A) ask your league, not us.
B) no matter what they tell you, get umbrella insurance.
I too loved coaching…even with all the BS involved.
Biggest challenge moving forward is officials for all youth sports. Parents are driving officials away. Terrible behavior from parents. Nobody should be subjected to that crap.
If you are a parent you better police it yourselves or your kids won’t be playing and only practicing. As an ex-official I would not do it anymore because parents, in general, are out of control. Terrible example for the kids.
If you are a parent you better police it yourselves or your kids won’t be playing and only practicing. As an ex-official I would not do it anymore because parents, in general, are out of control. Terrible example for the kids.
its exceptionally hard. Thankfully the national coaches associations offer policies with membership.
I already have NASO insurance for another sport. I am asking Umpires because an Ump made that claim to me.
I already have coverage through
NASO for another sport I am just curious to the accuracy of what a baseball ump told me.Nobody should be assigning or officiating games without insurance.
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