Baseball is a multi season sport with year round play for many youth and adult teams, leagues, camps, and tournaments. But the start of any season is not just fun and games – over 100,000 baseball-related injuries send players to emergency rooms each year.
For coaches, administrators, and facility managers, this means potential lawsuits and the related worry that could derail a great season.
Don’t wait until your first practice—review your insurance and risk management plans now.
“In my 35 years helping baseball organizations, I’ve seen it all— the expected routine spectator and participant injury claims as well as death claims from unexpected sources.” – John Sadler
Top Risks in Baseball (and How to Mitigate Them)
1. Player Injuries: Due To Lack Of Supervision, Instruction, Facility Problems, Child Abuse, And Lightning
- Be sure to maintain adequate youth supervisor to player ratios and prevent roughhousing.
- Require coaches to be trained or certified by reputable organizations keying in on the needs of youth athletes and proper baseball instruction.
- Be sure to inspect the playing field for defects and maintenance problems prior to every practice and game.
- Implement child abuse / molestation risk management programs which includes criminal background checks and written policies and procedures to help to prevent an incident.
- Be sure to follow lightning safety rules and postpone and/or cancel events when necessary.
2. Spectator Injuries: Premises Hazards, Overthrown Balls, Holes In Screening
- Be sure to use a checklist to inspect premises and spectator areas for defects prior to every practice and game.
- Make sure that players warm up in safe zones where spectators are not vulnerable to overthrown balls.
- Check protective screening for holes.
Other Catastrophic Risks Our Baseball Clients Have Experienced:
- Drownings at team outings
- Electrocutions from shorts in light poles
- Bleacher collapse
- Auto fatality resulting from sponsor signage blocking view of driver
Check out our blog about Horror Stories On What Can Go Wrong which outlines actual claims paid by Sadler Insurance on behalf of our clients.
Sadler Sports Insurance: Your Baseball MVP
For over 50 years, Sadler Sports Insurance has helped baseball organizations stay protected with affordable, tailored coverage for teams, leagues, tournaments, camps, and individual instructors.
- One stop shop for General Liability, Accident, D&O Liability, Equipment and Crime.
- We offer instant online quote / pay / printing of proof of coverage docs and certificates for facility owners.
- Our portal allows self issuance of COIs 24/7.
- Custom coverage enhancements including sex abuse and non owned and hired auto liability.
- Access our best in industry free risk management content which addresses waiver/release, sex abuse, concussion protocols, sudden cardiac arrest, heat illness, lightning safety, bleacher collapse, etc.
Get a Free Quote Now or call 800-622-7370.
