Every season, millions of amateur athletes take to fields and courts, offering opportunities to compete, coach, and socialize. While amateur sports provide many benefits, recreational and competitive sports come with unique liabilities that make amateur sports insurance essential for leagues, camps, and tournaments.
The benefits of sports such as soccer, swimming, and pickleball are well-documented, and they start early. According to the National Youth Sports Strategy, young people who engage in regular physical activity have healthier weights, improved bone health, stronger muscles and cardiorespiratory fitness, and a reduced risk of depression.
But where there’s play, there’s risk. In 2024, 4.4 million people were treated in emergency rooms for sports and recreational injuries, according to the National Safety Council. In addition, one in three children who play team sports are injured seriously enough to miss practice or games.
From contact injuries to property damage, sports league liability insurance is not just crucial for players - but also coaches, volunteers, drivers, and those who run venues. With so much to protect, your clients need a carrier that knows the niche and is simple to work with.
“At Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY), we’re all about ease of doing business,” says Robert Wilder, PHLY Assistant Vice President of Underwriting. “We make sure that every part of your relationship with us is easy.”
Here are three factors that make PHLY the first call for amateur sports insurance.
One Carrier, Total Coverage from Field to Fleet
Those who run amateur sports programs, camps, and leagues face legal liability at almost every stage of the game, from faulty equipment to spectator injuries. The claims speak for themselves:
$50,497 for a slip and fall in an arena parking lot following freezing rain
$156,728 for a nose fracture and ocular injury after a hockey game spectator was struck in the face by a puck
$30,865 when a claimant fell on bleachers and tore a ligament, requiring surgery
PHLY targets small to mid-sized amateur sports organizations, and provides the coverage they need in one place. We offer:
General Liability coverage up to $1M per occurrence / $3M aggregate, including Premises Liability to cover injuries or damages at facilities, Participant Legal Liability to protect organizations when participants are injured during play, and Professional Liability for participants who are hurt while directed by a coach or trainer. (Note that concussion controls, such as the CDC’s HEADS UP to Youth Sports, must also be in place).
Property coverage for facilities such as arenas, courts, and pools, extends to participant property and improper maintenance, use, or care of equipment or facilities. This coverage can cover scenarios such as a lightning strike that rendered HVAC wiring inoperable and resulted in a $21,853 claim. PHLYSENSE, our property monitoring sensor system, provides 24/7 water and temperature alerts at no additional cost to policyholders with property coverage.
Automobile coverage to protect owned, non-owned, and hired vehicles used to transport participants to and from practice and matches. Fleet monitoring with PHLYTRAC can further help manage transportation risks.
Abuse and Molestation coverage, available as an option for youth-serving organizations. (A single claim involving a tennis professional charged with sexual abuse of a student resulted in a $1M loss). PHLY policyholders with this coverage also gain access to an Abuse Prevention System that includes training on screening and background checks, available through our partnership with leading abuse prevention experts, at no additional cost.
Optional coverage add-ons include Umbrella Liability Coverage for protection beyond existing limits and Participant Accident Insurance available via a separate PHLY policy.
PHLY’s no-cost risk management solutions for policyholders, including sexual abuse awareness training, suicide prevention training, the PHLYSENSE water and temperature sensor system, and the PHLYTRAC fleet monitoring system, bolster protection for everyone in an amateur sports ecosystem.
Fast Amateur Sports Insurance Estimates With Zero Guesswork
Time matters in this niche. That’s why PHLY created our Amateur Sports Premium Indication Tool so agents can get quick estimates.
How it works: Agents access the tool under Online Quotes in their MyPHLY account and answer a few quick questions about location, exposure, and coverage. After submission, a PHLY team member will reach out for a supplemental application and, upon receipt, provide a formal quote.
The tool is designed for specific amateur sports leagues, camps, and tournaments under $15,000 in premium, as well as:
Leagues of fewer than 3,000 participants
Camps with fewer than 10,000 total camper days
Up to three league sport types or three camp, clinic, or tournament types
The tool provides a Premium Indication, not a bindable quote, but gives agents the numbers they need to move forward with confidence.
The PHLY Difference: The Stability of an Established Partner
When a claim arises, your clients need to know their carrier will be there. And we’ve proven time and again that we are. PHLY carries an A++ (Superior) rating by AM Best, the highest rating available, backed by a 96.7% claims satisfaction rating.
What also sets PHLY apart is how we work: Agents speak directly to the underwriter during the application and/or change process, and claims are handled by in-house examiners, never a managing general agent (MGA).
That’s The PHLY Difference, and it’s why agents who need amateur sports coverage - including Participant Accident Insurance and Sports Coach Liability Insurance - know to make PHLY their first call.
Ready to get a quote? Try the Amateur Sports Premium Indication Tool in your MyPHLY portal, contact your local office, or call 800-873-4552 to get started.