Aug 2009 INSURANCE COVER FOR COACHES AND CLUBS

The mystery that is club insurance and coach insurance has finally been resolved. John Peters, convener of the Borders Badminton Group spoke at length with Richard Davis from Griffiths and Armour Insurance Brokers Limited, the company that provides insurance cover for BADMINTONscotland, registered coaches and affiliated badminton club members.

John's findings were presented to Hilary Atkinson from BADMINTONscotland who further clarified one particular aspect concerning Instructors and UKCC L1 coaches. A summary of John's interpretation was read by Richard Arthur and Hilary Atkinson and is printed below.

Insurance has always been a concern for anyone involved in coaching and has been a topic of conversation at recent Border Badminton Group Meetings in connection with the proposed CPD system. 

'Who' was covered and under 'what circumstances' was never crystal clear and John agreed to approach BADMINTONscotland on behalf of the Borders Group. Not receiving a full and satisfactory explanation from his initial enquiries with BADMINTONscotland, Griffiths and Armour were contacted.

INSURANCE - SUMMARY

Conversation with Richard Davis (Griffiths and Armour Insurance Brokers Limited, July 2009)

Richard was asked to explain the fundamental differences between the two insurance policies a) for affiliated clubs, b) as a BADMINTONscotland approved coach on the coaches register.

This is my interpretation of Richards response.

1. The Insurance Company would have difficulty supporting a liability claim for someone ‘coaching’ under the affiliated club insurance scheme whilst not covered by the coaches register insurance policy.

2. To be covered for liability under the affiliated club insurance policy, everyone must be a member of the affiliated club.

3. Posters or documents stating ‘you partake/play at your own risk’ etc. are worthless in terms of liability. If someone has brought together a group of people / kids or provided facilities for an activity, that person is responsible and has a duty no matter what is said to the contrary.

4. Both holders of the UKCC Level 1 award and the Instructors award can join the coaches register but there is a difference with regards to insurance. Instructors, (which is a full coach qualification), receive cover when coaching. The UKCC Level 1 award is an assistant coach qualification and holders of this award are covered only when assisting a fully qualified coach i.e. Instructor, Club, Advanced or UKCC Level 2 status coach.

CONCLUSION

1. Your are insured to coach only if you are on the coaches register. As a member of the coaches register, you are entitled to Public Liability Insurance when coaching.

2. UKCC Level 1's (or Leaders Award holders pre 2007) can join the coaches register but are only insured when assisting an Instructor, UKCC L2, Club Coach or Advanced Coach.

3. An instructor is classed as a full coach qualification and if on the coaches register, they are insured to coach / organise coaching sessions.

4. Affiliated club insurance only applies to club members (everyone must be a member). Affiliated club insurance does not provide cover for coaching. If a person is responsible for a group of kids / adults on a club night and no approved/insured coach is present, better to label them as supervising or as a supervisor not a coach as the 'club policy' does not provide cover for formal coaching.

5. If a casual volunteer or person not on the coaches register is taking a group of kids or adults during school hours or on an evening (outwith a club night), and even if that person is a member of an affiliated club that holds club insurance, they are not covered by the club policy to ‘coach’ badminton.

6. Where someone is coaching or in charge of a group of kids within school premises during school hours – the ‘club policy’ certainly does not apply as they are there as individuals – it’s not a club night as such and the kids are not members of the club. If however they were an approved coach they would be covered by the Coaches Register Insurance Policy.

7. Disclaimers (you partake / play at your own risk) are worthless in terms of liability.

8. An affiliated club must subscribe to a Public Liability Insurance policy (available through BADMINTON scotland), insurance is not included simply by being affiliated. What is covered by this policy?

NB! For liability – read ‘negligence’.

PLEASE NOTE

Contrary to what has been posted elsewhere on the Internet, an individual may still coach badminton in schools or other locations such as church halls / games halls even though they are not a member of BADMINTONscotland's coaches register.

Individuals still have the option to coach badminton or most other sports with or without appropriate insurance and the associated risks must be assessed by each individual concerned.

Alternatively, if those coaching do not qualify for BADMINTONscotland sponsored insurance, personal liability insurance is available through most insurance brokers.