Hockey League Insurance: What Commissioners Need to Know

Hockey is a contact sport. People get hurt. Equipment breaks. Sometimes there are fights. As a league commissioner, you need insurance—not just because it's required, but because one serious incident without coverage could end your league and expose you personally.

This guide explains what coverage you need, where to get it, and what to do when something goes wrong.

Key Takeaways

USA Hockey membership includes baseline insurance—but it may not be enough

General liability protects the league; participant accident protects players

You personally may need protection through proper organizational structure

Document everything, always

Why Insurance Matters

The Worst-Case Scenarios

**Scenario 1**: Player takes a hard hit, suffers concussion, misses 3 months of work. Medical bills: $45,000. Lost wages: $25,000. Who pays?

**Scenario 2**: Parent slips on wet floor at rink, breaks hip. Sues league for unsafe conditions. Legal defense: $50,000+. Settlement: unknown.

**Scenario 3**: Player fights, other player loses teeth. Injured player sues attacker AND the league for "failing to maintain safe environment."

Without proper insurance, these scenarios could bankrupt your league and potentially you personally.

Personal Liability

If your league isn't properly structured, YOU could be personally liable. That means your house, savings, and assets are at risk.

Types of Insurance Coverage

1. General Liability Insurance

**What it covers**: Third-party claims for bodily injury or property damage.

**Examples**:

Spectator hit by puck

Parent slips on ice in lobby

League equipment damages rink property

**Typical limits**: $1 million per occurrence, $2 million aggregate

**Who needs it**: Every league, without exception

2. Participant Accident Insurance

**What it covers**: Medical expenses for registered participants injured during league activities.

**Examples**:

Player breaks leg during game

Goalie takes shot to unprotected area

Player injured in collision

**Key distinction**: This is NOT health insurance. It's supplemental coverage that pays after the player's primary insurance.

**Typical coverage**: $25,000-100,000 medical expense limit

3. Directors & Officers (D&O) Insurance

**What it covers**: Claims against league leadership for decisions made in their roles.

**Examples**:

Player sues board for "unfair" suspension

Team claims discrimination in scheduling

Financial mismanagement allegations

**Who needs it**: Any league with a formal board structure

4. Crime/Fidelity Coverage

**What it covers**: Theft or fraud by league officials or volunteers.

**Examples**:

Treasurer embezzles registration funds

Equipment manager sells league property

**Who needs it**: Leagues handling significant funds

USA Hockey Insurance

What's Included

Every USA Hockey registered player, coach, and official receives:

**General Liability**: $1M/$5M coverage

**Participant Accident**: $25,000 excess medical

**Catastrophic Coverage**: $1M lifetime max for serious injuries

What's NOT Included

Coverage for non-registered participants

Property damage to your equipment

Higher liability limits

D&O coverage

Registration Requirements

Coverage only applies when:

All participants are registered with USA Hockey

Activity is sanctioned (games, practices)

Rules are being followed

Proper supervision is present

**Warning**: If an unregistered player gets hurt, USA Hockey coverage doesn't apply. The league may be fully exposed.

Getting Additional Coverage

When You Need More

Consider additional coverage if:

Your rink requires higher limits (common: $2M)

You have significant assets to protect

Your league handles large sums of money

You operate programs beyond standard games/practices

Where to Get It

**Sports insurance specialists**:

Sadler Sports Insurance

K&K Insurance

Marsh McLennan Agency

**What to expect**: $500-2,000/year for a typical recreational league

What to Ask For

When shopping for coverage:

General liability with your rink as additional insured

Participant accident with adequate limits

D&O coverage for board members

Sexual abuse/molestation coverage (often required)

Coverage for tryouts, camps, and off-ice events

Certificates of Insurance

What Rinks Require

Most rinks require a Certificate of Insurance (COI) showing:

Rink named as "Additional Insured"

Minimum liability limits (often $1-2M)

Coverage dates matching your contract

Your league as the named insured

Getting Your COI

From USA Hockey:

Log into USA Hockey registration system

Navigate to "Certificates of Insurance"

Add facility as additional insured

Download certificate

Timeline: Allow 2-3 weeks before season

When Incidents Happen

Immediate Steps

**Ensure safety**: Get injured person appropriate care

**Document everything**: Photos, witness names, timeline

**Complete incident report**: Same day, while memories fresh

**Notify insurance**: Within 24-48 hours for serious incidents

**Don't admit fault**: Be helpful, not apologetic in legal sense

Incident Report Essentials

Your report should include:

Date, time, location

Names of all involved parties

USA Hockey numbers

Detailed description of what happened

Witness information

Photos if applicable

Actions taken

When to Report to Insurance

**Always report**:

Any injury requiring medical attention

Any property damage

Any altercation or ejection

Any threat of legal action

**Don't wait** to see if it "becomes a problem." Late reporting can void coverage.

Protecting Yourself Personally

Organizational Structure

Form a legal entity (LLC or nonprofit) to create separation between the league and you personally.

**Sole proprietorship or informal league**: YOU are the league. Personal assets at risk.

**LLC or Corporation**: The entity is the league. Personal assets generally protected.

Consult an attorney for your specific situation.

Best Practices

Never commingle personal and league funds

Document all decisions

Follow your own rules consistently

Carry appropriate insurance

Have signed waivers from all participants

Waivers and Releases

What They Do

Waivers ask participants to:

Acknowledge inherent risks of hockey

Agree not to sue for those inherent risks

Release the league from certain liability

What They Don't Do

Waivers generally cannot protect against:

Gross negligence

Intentional misconduct

Minors' claims (parents can't waive children's rights in most states)

Statutory violations

Waiver Best Practices

Have attorney review your waiver

Collect from EVERY participant, EVERY season

Store securely for 7+ years

Include specific hockey-related risks

Get parent/guardian signature for minors

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is USA Hockey insurance enough?

A: For most recreational leagues, yes—if everyone is registered and you follow the rules. But check your rink's requirements; they may require higher limits.

Q: What if a player isn't registered and gets hurt?

A: You have a serious problem. USA Hockey coverage won't apply. Your league may be fully liable. This is why roster verification matters.

Q: Do I need insurance for summer skates or informal activities?

A: If it's under your league's name, yes. "Informal" doesn't mean "uninsured." Either get coverage or make clear it's not a league event.

Q: What about volunteers who get hurt?

A: Volunteers should be registered with USA Hockey to have coverage. Consider adding volunteer accident coverage to your policy.

Q: How do I handle a parent threatening to sue?

A: Document the threat, notify your insurance immediately, and don't engage further without guidance from your insurer.

Annual Insurance Checklist

**Before season**:

[ ] Verify all participants registered with USA Hockey

[ ] Obtain COI for rink (name as additional insured)

[ ] Review coverage limits vs. rink requirements

[ ] Confirm D&O coverage for board

[ ] Collect signed waivers from all participants

**During season**:

[ ] Verify new players registered before playing

[ ] Report all incidents promptly

[ ] Maintain incident report files

[ ] Update COI if schedule changes

**After season**:

[ ] Archive all waivers and incident reports

[ ] Review any claims or incidents

[ ] Evaluate coverage for next season

Conclusion

Insurance isn't exciting. But it's the foundation that lets everything else happen. One uninsured incident can destroy years of work building your league.

Get proper coverage. Verify registrations. Document everything. And hope you never need to use it.

For more league management guidance, see our [complete commissioner guide](/hockey-league-management-software) or [first season checklist](/blog/how-to-run-your-first-hockey-league-season).