Sadler Sports & Recreation Insurance

09/01/2026

Can a volunteer board member be sued personally for what happens in the league? Most boards count on two shields: the belief that nobody sues a volunteer, and the volunteer immunity laws on both the federal and state levels. Both shields have holes in them. I wrote about where the holes are, and the four questions worth bringing to your next board meeting.

Most youth sports board members assume they cannot be sued personally for what happens in their league. They count on two shields: the belief that nobody sues a volunteer, and the volunteer immunity laws on both the federal and state level. Both shields have holes in them. Over my 35+ years insuring...

08/19/2026

Your written proposal should tell you in plain language what is not covered. If you are guessing about that today, start here:

A good sports insurance policy is not something you buy off a shelf. It is something a specialist builds for you. Over 35+ years I have watched the difference between a league that simply bought “insurance” and one whose agent built the coverage to fit what it actually does, and the difference s...

08/13/2026

𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁? 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Smart organizers go a step further by using contractual transfer—a key risk management strategy that helps shift liability and clarify responsibilities.

From waivers to insurance requirements, the right agreements can:
✔ Reduce legal exposure
✔ Encourage safer participation
✔ Strengthen your overall protection

📘 Learn how to build a stronger liability shield: https://www.sadlersports.com/tournament-hosts-supercharge-liability-protection-with-contractual-transfer-101/

Don’t Just Rely on Insurance—Leverage Contracts to Minimize Risk Many tournament organizers mistakenly believe their own sports insurance policy is all the protection they need. However, overlooking the power of contractual transfer can leave them vulnerable to costly liabilities. What Is Contra...

08/11/2026

What does "broader coverage" actually mean? Not a policy with no exclusions, because no honest insurance person will promise you that. It means a policy built to fit your operation, with the dangerous exclusions left out and the protections that matter available to add. And where a coverage is not included, the written proposal should say so in plain language, so you are never guessing. The seven buy-backs I would check first:

A good sports insurance policy is not something you buy off a shelf. It is something a specialist builds for you. Over 35+ years I have watched the difference between a league that simply bought “insurance” and one whose agent built the coverage to fit what it actually does, and the difference s...

07/23/2026

A good sports insurance policy is not something you buy off a shelf. It is something a specialist builds for you. Most organizations need all of the core protections in some form; what varies is which ones are missing from the policy you have right now. Here are seven worth knowing by name before your next renewal.
https://www.sadlersports.com/blog/sports-insurance-coverage-buy-backs/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=buybacks-blog

A good sports insurance policy is not something you buy off a shelf. It is something a specialist builds for you. Over 35+ years I have watched the difference between a league that simply bought “insurance” and one whose agent built the coverage to fit what it actually does, and the difference s...

07/15/2026

🌡️ 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻.

As temperatures rise, so does the risk of heat-related illness—but with the right preparation, many of these emergencies are preventable.

Our latest blog breaks down practical, evidence-based strategies every youth sports organization should know, including:
🏃 Recognizing the factors that increase an athlete's risk
🌡️ Using Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) to guide activity decisions
💧 Hydration best practices before, during, and after activity
🚨 How to respond quickly and effectively to heat stroke, including the importance of cold water immersion

Whether you're a coach, league administrator, volunteer, or parent, understanding heat illness prevention can help create a safer environment for every athlete.

📖 Read the full article here:
https://www.sadlersports.com/riskmanagement/sports-insurance-heatillness.php

How does your organization prepare for extreme heat during practices and games? Share your best tips in the comments! 👇

07/06/2026

𝗕𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗺 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆—b𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀.

Did you know nearly 10,000 bleacher-related injuries occur each year? Regular inspections and proper maintenance can make all the difference in protecting your spectators.

From guardrails to structural supports, understanding what to look for helps reduce risk and liability.

👉 Learn how to keep your facility safer: https://www.sadlersports.com/bleacher-risk-management/

06/25/2026

𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝗹𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗜𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲—𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 🔥

Dehydration. Heat exhaustion. Heat stroke.

These aren’t just buzzwords—they’re dangerous realities facing athletes, especially during pre-season practices and summer training. 😓

Our blog breaks down:
✅ The stages of heat illness and how to spot them
✅ The power of WBGT over heat index
✅ Hydration and acclimatization tips
✅ How to implement life-saving protocols like cold water immersion

📚 Read now → https://www.sadlersports.com/riskmanagement/sports-insurance-heatillness.php

06/25/2026

𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲… 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼.

Lease agreements often include 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 that can shift liability onto your organization—even if you’re not at fault.

⚠️ That means you could be responsible for:
• Injuries to players or spectators
• Property damage
• Legal defense costs

Not all clauses are created equal:
✔️ Limited Form = fair
⚠️ Intermediate Form = increased risk
❌ Broad Form = avoid completely

Take time to review, negotiate, and verify your insurance coverage before signing.

👉 Learn what to look for in your next lease: https://www.sadlersports.com/riskmanagement/sports-insurance-lease.php

06/05/2026

𝗥𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀—𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴?

From food vendors to photographers, third-party partners can expose your organization to serious liability risks. That’s why collecting **Certificates of Insurance (COIs)** isn’t just paperwork—it’s protection.

✔️ Covers bodily injury & property damage
✔️ Helps shield your organization from lawsuits
✔️ Ensures vendors meet proper insurance standards

Real claims happen more often than you think—like foodborne illness, trip hazards, or even faulty equipment causing damage.

👉 Learn what to require, what to look for, and how to stay protected: https://www.sadlersports.com/riskmanagement/sports-insurance-collect.php