Assault in Salt Lake
Ricardo Portillo loved soccer – to play it, to ref it. He worked in La Liga Continental de Futbol, a recreational league for Hispanic children in the suburbs of Salt Lake City. Unfortunately, Portillo passed away a week after having sustained a serious brain injury as the result of an in-game punch to the head. His assailant was a 17-year-old player unhappy with a call.
Officiating insurance
Did you know only 22 states have passed legislation protecting sports officials from assault? The National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) reports that an incident of physical abuse against an official is reported about once a week . Given the increasingly violent environment that plagues our current sports scene, it has become more important than ever for athletic officials associations to purchase Accident Insurance in addition to their General Liability policies.
Governing bodies and coverage options
Most officiating organizations recognize the safety risks imposed on their officials and offer officiating insurance as a benefit of their membership dues. Examples of coverage are as follows:
- Medical Expenses (Accident) – limits of $25,000 to $250,000 are available
- General Liability – limits of $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 available
- Cost if purchased for the entire association is as low as $8.45 per official
For program details and instant quotes, please visit our page for Amateur Sports Insurance Program for Teams/Leagues.
We encourage all officials to ensure their protection with Officiating Insurance each and every time you step onto the field.
