Risky Business: Waivers, Insurance, and How to Protect Your Club

By Forza Advisory

Intro

Youth sports come with risk and playing soccer is no exception. From concussions to broken arms, volunteer injuries to van rides, your club is exposed every time players engage in club related soccer activities (on and off the field). If you don't take the right steps, when things go wrong, your board, staff, and even volunteers could be held legally responsible. The good news? You can protect your club by putting the right risk management tools in place — starting with waivers and insurance.

1. Why Liability Waivers Matter

Liability waivers aren’t just paper-pushing. A well-drafted waiver can significantly reduce your legal exposure by making sure players and parents acknowledge the inherent risks of soccer participation. Not all waivers are enforceable. If yours is vague, incomplete, or poorly written, it may not hold up in court. Anytime a player takes part in a club sponsored activity, from tryouts to games, risk exists for the player - and accordingly, it exists for the club.

2. What to Include in Your Waivers

Strong waivers should, at the minimum:

• Be clearly written and specific to your sport and club

• Be signed annually by all players/parents;

• Acknowledge known risks (e.g., injury, transportation, weather)- Include emergency medical authorization; and

• Include media release and behavior expectations (optional).

Always consult legal counsel to ensure your waiver meets your state’s standards.

3. The Right Insurance Coverage for Clubs

Even with waivers, you need proper insurance. At a minimum, your club should carry:

• General liability coverage

• Participant accident insurance

• Directors & Officers (D&O) insurance

• Sexual misconduct/molestation liability

• Property or equipment coverage (if applicable)

  
  

Be sure to list your league, facility, or state association as ‘additional insured’ when required.

Many associations offer secondary injury insurance and may offer D&O insurance, but often, those are minimal and limited. Clubs need to be proactive and ensure they are properly insured to be protected from a catastrophic event that could impact the entire club, if not planned for.

4. Don’t Forget Independent Contractors

If you hire referees, coaches, or trainers as independent contractors, some things to make sure of:

• They carry their own liability insurance (especially for training sessions);

• You retain a copy of their certificate of insurance (COI);

• You define insurance expectations in your contractor agreement.

5. Incident Reporting and Documentation

When something happens — an injury, a fight, a weather evacuation — document it immediately.

• Use an incident report form

• Include statements from those involved

• Store securely with your board secretary or club administrator This helps protect your club if claims arise months (or possibly years) later.

Risk Management Is Not Optional

You can’t eliminate all risk in youth sports, but you can manage it. By combining strong waivers, smart insurance coverage, and good documentation practices, your club can protect its people and its mission.

Need help reviewing your waiver language or verifying your club’s insurance coverage?

Forza Advisory helps soccer clubs protect themselves while focusing on what matters: developing players.

📩 Contact us today or explore our membership options.