Cheer Gym Insurance Vs. Competition Cheer Squad Insurance

Cheerleading, as we know it today is no longer just a group of girls on the sidelines of a ball game. Cheerleading has exploded in the past 10+ years with nationally televised cheer competitions and big screen movies specifically about cheerleading. This expansion has lead to competition cheer squads that go head to head just for recreation as well as cheer gyms that are actual businesses that teach cheerleading and build cheerleading groups for big competitions.

One of the biggest confusions that we have when reviewing cheer insurance applications, is whether or not it is simply a competition cheer squad or a cheer gym. It is vitally important that the correct insurance coverage is written for the organization and what exposures they actually have.

The six questions that we always have to ask are:

• How often are the membership dues paid (ex: monthly, once per season, etc.)?
• What type of facility does the organization use (own, long term lease, private, etc.)?
• Who is the organization cheering for (ex: one team, competition squad, etc)
• How are the coaches compensated?
• Is the organization a 501c3 Non-Profit?
• Does the organization have a Board of Directors that oversees and runs the organization?

While we understand that not all of the applicants are going to fall into a clear competition squad category or a clear cheer gym category, these questions, along with other sources, do allow us to make an educated assessment of the needs of the organization in order to make sure that we provide the correct cheer insurance coverages.

As a standard, a cheer squad will pay once per season, use school / local facilities, cheer just as a squad or for another sport at their games (football, basketball, etc.), and the cheer coaches are volunteers. A cheer gym usually pays dues monthly, owns or has a long-term lease for a facility, cheers strictly in competitions and the cheer gym coaches/assistant coaches are paid.

Although there is a difference in premium between the cheer squad insurance and the cheer gym insurance, it is for good reason. The worst thing next to being uninsured is being under-insured. Sometimes this is the most frustrating since you know you have paid premium and think that a claim should be paid. Therefore, it is vitally important that coverage is purchased for the exposure that you actually have and not just to have “something” in force.

The typical cheer squad will have the exposure of injury to participants. They also have the exposure of volunteers working in the capacity of cheer coach. Coverage is provided for the cheer squad itself as well as for the volunteers.

The cheer gym as a standard has a much greater risk of exposure than a cheer squad. The exposures do not just end with injury to a participant.

• The operation or long-term use of a facility creates a property exposure for anyone that comes onto the property and sustains a premises related injury (ex: slip and fall).
• Some of the cheer gyms provide extra services outside of just the cheerleading squad such as private lessons, birthday parties, after school programs and/or softplay areas.
• Because they are run as a business the coaches of cheer gyms are considered to be “experts” in the sport of cheerleading, therefore, increasing the standard of care that is owed to the participants and thus increasing the bodily injury liability exposure as a result.
• In addition, a professional liability exposure may result if the participant of a cheer gym sues over not being offered a college scholarship, etc. due to improper coaching instruction.

The owner/trainer can lose personal assets, lose future earnings and even lose their business in the event that a lawsuit does arise and the correct coverage are not in force.

The question is, should cheer gym owners take the risk of losing everything in the event of a devastating injury and resulting lawsuit in order to save a few dollars on premium.

Please visit our website for more information on Cheer School & Cheer Gym Insurance and Cheer Squad Insurance.

SEC Referee Will Not Face Discipline for Gamecock Tackle

According to the South Carolina based newspaper The State, Wilbur Hackett, Jr, will not face any disciplinary action for his take down of the Gamecocks Quarterback, Garcia, in last Saturday’s game.

… the SEC office believes Hackett was protecting himself and plans to take no disciplinary action on the veteran official. Rogers Redding, the conference’s coordinator of football officials, reviewed the tape of the play and thought it was inadvertent contact.

“Garcia changes his direction just a tad, which ties up the umpire just a tad and makes it look a lot worse than it really was,” SEC spokesman Charles Bloom said.

The incident didn’t seem to have any bearing on the outcome of the game as the Gamecocks went on to score shortly after.  Accident or no accident….. We think you still have it, Hackett!

Former All Star Linebacker Turned Referee Tackles Quarterback

Former All Star Linebacker Turned Referee Tackles South Carolina Gamecocks Quarterback Steven Garcia — During the game!  Only in Gamecock country could we see this happen!  Knowing that we just wrote a blog on Sports Officials Under Assault makes this even more funny.  Did this interference effect the outcome of the game? We will never know.  Did referee, Wilbur Hackett, Jr, tackle Garcia on purpose. From watching the video it looked like pure instinct. What would you expect from a guy that according to his high school website, was a three year starter at linebacker at the University of Kentucky and made more than a few All-Star teams in the 60′s. What’s even more crazy is that 40 years later, he’s tackling with no pads!

Marathon, Triathlon, Walkathon- Expect the UnExpected

Reenactors Preserve History of America

In the wake of the Civil War Re-enactor being accidentally shot in the leg, several questions were asked about what exactly re-enactors do. According to Wikipedia the definition of a historical reenactment is a type of role play in which participants attempt to recreate some aspects of a historical event or period.  After seeing several reenactments in person and also seeing them online such as the video below of the Battle of Olustee in Olustee, FL, I can tell you that these individuals should be commended for the service that they are doing for the American people in order to preserve the history of our country. No history book can give you the image and detail that is given at these events. It isn’t simply men on the battle field, many have women in period dress and even children in the period dress playing instruments. If you haven’t seen one as of yet, search for one in your local area.

Cheerleading Causing Catastrophic Injuries

Cheerleading has now moved well past the days of “rah, rah, rah, GO TEAM!!” It has quickly become one of the most dangerous sports among young women. In a special report Cheerleading Causes Most Severe Sports Injuries in Young Women it is shocking to see the catastrophic injuries that are taking place in this growing sport. We have seen an increased number of squads that are not just cheering for the local team, they are in competition for themselves. And often “BRING IT” more than the average football team. It is always important to make sure that the participants are well trained, not only in the how to do stunt, but to do them in ways to protect themselves and their squad members.