Tournament Liability

[Dan]

Just curious as to what those of you who have run tournaments do for insurance. If you run or set up a tournament what kind of liability do you have? Can you lose the farm if someone were to get hurt in one of your tournaments? Our Tear Drop group has liability insurance that our membership pays for, but I was wondering what everyone else does.

[djkimmel]

Get them to join the TBF and you'll be covered very well under the TBF insurance for club functions and events.

You could be sued for a zillion dollars at any time by anyone, but odds are good if no one doe anything crazy, you'll be okay in the long run. You do have to make sure you have individual and club liability for a significant amount nowadays.

[Roy Randolph]

Another suggestion is to have your group incorporated this way if someone does sue they can only sue the corporation

[Dan]

Hey Dan,
What is the coverage with TBF. I know I am a member, but I don't remember what it cost to join?  We might be able to drop our insurance we now have if we make the guys join TBF. We have incorporated so that part of our liability is taken care off so we don't lose our own homes. Just how deep do you think the liability goes as far as who would be liable. Just the tournament director or his lackies as well?

[ronhuntfish]

My understanding is that the B.A.S.S. liability insurance covers all events that a B.A.S.S. affiliated club cunducts.  That's what our club uses for our open.

[Roy Randolph]

The only way your BASS Insurance will work for open tournaments is if all contestants are BASS members in good standing not just the people running the tournament.

[djkimmel]

Check out www.michigantbf.com for general information.

State TBF of Michigan dues are $15 per member. National TBF dues are also $15 - $30 total to join - that money all gets sent to the state and we forward the national share.

Plus, you need to be an FLW Outdoors member - you join that on your own just like BASS general membership. It is $25 per year although this year they have been offering a 25% discount for new members if they say or enter federation.

The insurance coverage matches or exceeds the coverage BASS provides to their fed nation clubs/federations. I can get the details this weekend. I have them here because we got them for our state championship for the ramp reservation. I remember the Ottawa County requirements were fairly stringent and we met them all with our coverage.

I'm not an insurance expert and I know someone who sues may try to sue everybody and everything. I know I've been told you need group/corp coverage and personal because of this. I think barring personal negligence, the club would be most likely to be sued and held accountable somehow and this insurance is for that. We are all always at some risk when we put on events that involve other people.

Just have waivers, rules, guidelines, and follow them well. Make sure everyone knows their part and the risk if the do something really stupid. And hope everyone has good coverage in case the unexpected happens.

[Dan]

Thanks all good advice!  I have recently turned my involvement as a tournament organizer over to a younger and very able tournament director. I have the teardrop web page, but it is my web site and I just do it for the fun of it and it is not any part of the Tear Drop Trail. I just glommed the domain name while it was available. Maybe looking at what Lt. Dan has done I may be able to at least get some product for review and something to pay the site costs and  maybe make a little gas money to boot.