Insure4Sport PTs, Coaches & Instructors Insurance Frequently Asked Questions
Explore the Insure4Sport PTs, Coaches & Instructors Insurance frequently asked questions. If you are looking to get in touch, please visit our contact page
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Where you are participating or coaching the following Sports you must meet the following conditions.
Exclusions may also apply to specific Sports and are shown in the Endorsements below.
GYMNASTICS AND TRAMPOLINING
It is a condition of this insurance that the following coaching requirements are complied with:
- You must be qualified to a minimum:
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- Level 2 British Gymnastics or IGA qualification. All Level 1 assistant Coaches must be supervised by a coach qualified to a minimum of Level 2.
- NRG Coaching Award 1
- All coaches must be qualified to the level of performance of the participants in the specific discipline of the sport
- A maximum of 8 participants to any apparatus/station/trampoline
It is a further condition of this insurance that in respect of trampolining:
- All coaches must hold a current recognised trampolining qualification for the level and skill set they are coaching
- An experienced spotter, of suitable size to the participant, must be in place at each trampoline
- A maximum of 1 individual person/participant should be on a trampoline at any time;
- Operation of trampolines must be carried out in accordance with British Gymnastic guideline
FOOTBALL/SOCCER
It is a condition of this insurance that all coaches must be FA Qualified and that Level 1 coaches or those who have completed the Introduction to Coaching Football must be supervised at all times by a Level 2 FA coach, otherwise they must have a minimum of 3 years practical football coaching experience.
BOXING
It is a condition of this insurance that all coaches must be qualified for the level they are coaching and comply with ABAE/England Boxing standards.
POLE FITNESS/POLE DANCING
It is a condition of this insurance that
- Coaches/Instructors must be qualified to the level of performance being instructed
- The poles are purchased from a professional manufacturer and installed as per the manufacturers guidelines
- The instruction is part of a fitness regime only
Cover excludes parties, shows, or other pole dancing for entertainment purposes. This does not apply to parties where the class is taught as a beginner pole dancing instruction class with a set format including warm-up/cool down, set moves to learn and a short choreography (all with at least one foot on the floor).
Cover excludes any liability arising out of the sale of any goods/products designed, specified, formulated, manufactured, constructed, installed, treated, serviced, altered or repaired by You.
AERIAL ACTIVITIES
It is a condition of this insurance that
- Coaches must be Qualified to the level of performance being instructed.
- All rigging and equipment must have been purchased from a professional manufacturer and installed as per the manufacturers guidelines.
- For aerial activities where the lowest part of the body will be above a height of 1.5m a crash/safety mat with a minimum depth of 10cm, safety net or safety harness is required.
Height Restrictions are in place for the following activities:
- Aerial Silks: 5meters
- Aerial Hoop: 4meters
- Aerial Hammock: 3meters
MOUNTAINEERING
It is a condition of this insurance that for any mountain above 1,500meters there is a maximum ratio of 01:06 for coaches/instructors/guides to participants.
All Coaches/instructors/guides must have at least 5 years practical experience of mountaineering.
What is not covered
Any claims occurring on mountains above 2,000meters unless agreed by us in writing
Any claims occurring on the following mountains:
- Annapurna
- K2
- Nanga Parbat
- Kangchenjunga
- The Eiger (North Face)
- The Matterhorn
- Mt Everest (above base camp)
- Denali
- Baintha Brakk
- Trango Towers
CLIMBING
It is a condition of this insurance that all Coaches/instructors/guides must have at least 5 years practical experience of coaching. All equipment must be purchased from a professional manufacturer. Professional ropes and safety equipment must be used for all climbs.
What is not covered
- Solo Climbing or Soloing
- Free Climbing (where no ropes are used)
- Big Walling
PARAGLIDING/HANG GLIDING
It is a condition of this insurance that
- All Coaches/instructors must be Qualified and licenced with the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association
- You must comply with the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association rules and standards for flying
What is not covered
Paramotoring, powered hang gliding or similar flights where a motor is used for power
SHOOTING
It is a condition of this insurance that
- You must hold a current Shot Gun Certificate (Section 2, Firearms Act 1998) and/or Firearms Certificate (FAC) where it is required by law
- You must comply with the safekeeping conditions as set out in the Firearms Rules 1998
What is not covered
Game shooting, pest control or similar shooting activities which involve the shooting of live quarry
OFF-PISTE
It is a condition of this insurance that
- Off-piste is limited to recognised and authorised areas only.
- When skiing or snow-boarding off-piste there must be a minimum of 2 persons (no solo skiing/boarding), due care and diligence should be taken at all times and any areas where the avalanche warning system is 3 or higher must be avoided.
- All Coaches/instructors/guides must have at least 5 years practical experience off-piste or back country skiing/snowboarding.
SAILING
It is a condition of this insurance that the cruising range for any sailing vessel is not more than 12 nautical miles offshore.
We cannot cover activities on vessels over 26feet (8meters) in length.
WATER DEPTHS
It is a condition of this insurance that the following maximum water depths must be observed:
Adults (15 and over)
- Non-certified divers – 40feet (12meters)
- Dives 3 and 4 of Open Water Training – 60feet (18meters)
- Open Water Certified Divers – 60feet (18meters)
- Experienced Certified Divers, or Divers with Advanced/ Deep Training--130 feet (40meters)
Under 15’s
- Aged 8 to 14 and/or Non- Certified – 12feet (4meters)
- Aged 10 to 11 and Certified – 40feet (12meters)
- Aged 12 to 14 and Certified – 60feet (18meters)
- Aged 12 to 14 with Advanced certification – 70feet (21meters)
It is a further condition of this insurance that the following age restrictions apply:
- Cover is not available to anyone under the age of 8.
- Coaches/instructors or guides have a participation age restriction of 8 and subject to the depth restrictions above.
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The criteria set out by our underwriter states that you must have either:
A coaching qualification that is recognised by a UK governing body for the sport you wish to teach
or
At least 3 years practical coaching experience
If you do not have any coaching qualifications you may still be able to get insured with us if you have at least 3 years practical coaching experience for the sport you wish to teach.
If you are not qualified, and do not have 3 years experience in coaching, we unfortunately would not be able to provide any cover for coaching/instructing.
Please be aware that the following sports have endorsements requiring you to hold specific qualifications or experience:
- Gymnastics and Trampolining
- Football/Soccer
- Boxing
- Pole Fitness/Pole Dancing
- Aerial Activities
- Mountaineering
- Climbing
- Paragliding/Hang Gliding
- Shooting
- Off-Piste
- Sailing
- Water Depths (Scuba Diving)
Please check the endorsements section of our Insurance Booklet if you need cover for any of the sports listed above.
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If you are not yet qualified as a coach, instructor or personal trainer you may still be able to get insured with us if you have at least 3 years' practical coaching experience for the sport you wish to teach.
If you are not yet qualified, and do not have 3 years' experience in coaching, we unfortunately would not be able to provide any cover for coaching/instructing.
Please be aware that the following sports have endorsements requiring you to hold specific qualifications or experience to be covered by our policy:
- Gymnastics and Trampolining
- Football/Soccer
- Boxing
- Pole Fitness/Pole Dancing
- Aerial Activities
- Mountaineering
- Climbing
- Paragliding/Hang Gliding
- Shooting
- Off-Piste
- Sailing
- Water Depths (Scuba Diving)
Please check the endorsements section of our Insurance Booklet if you need cover for any of the sports listed above.
The requirements to hold a coaching qualification only apply to coaches, instructors and personal trainers. If you are simply a participant looking for cover to participate in a sport, then no qualification is required.
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To be covered for any coaching/instructing under our policy, as standard you normally need to have a qualification that is recognised by a UK governing body, OR have at least 3 years’ experience in coaching the sport you wish to teach which must be evidenced, this can be with payslips, tax returns etc.
If you are not yet qualified you may still be able to get insured with us if you have at least 3 years' practical coaching experience for the sport you wish to teach.
If you are not yet qualified, and do not have 3 years' experience in coaching, we unfortunately would not be able to provide any cover for coaching/instructing.
Please be aware that the following sports have endorsements requiring you to hold specific qualifications or experience:
- Gymnastics and Trampolining
- Football/Soccer
- Boxing
- Pole Fitness/Pole Dancing
- Aerial Activities
- Mountaineering
- Climbing
- Paragliding/Hang Gliding
- Shooting
- Off-Piste
- Sailing
- Water Depths (Scuba Diving)
Please check the endorsements section of our Insurance Booklet if you need cover for any of the sports listed above.
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To be covered for any coaching or instructing under our policy, as standard you normally need to have a qualification that is recognised by a UK governing body, OR have at least 3 years’ experience in coaching the sport you wish to teach which must be evidenced, this can be with payslips, tax returns etc.
If you are not yet qualified you may still be able to get insured with us if you have at least 3 years' practical coaching experience for the sport you wish to teach.
If you are not yet qualified, and do not have 3 years' experience in coaching, we unfortunately would not be able to provide any cover for coaching/instructing.
Please be aware that the following sports have endorsements requiring you to hold specific qualifications or experience:
- Gymnastics and Trampolining
- Football/Soccer
- Boxing
- Pole Fitness/Pole Dancing
- Aerial Activities
- Mountaineering
- Climbing
- Paragliding/Hang Gliding
- Shooting
- Off-Piste
- Sailing
- Water Depths (Scuba Diving)
Please check the endorsements section of our Insurance Booklet if you need cover for any of the sports listed above.
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You can view the maximum ratios for instructors to participants in any one class on our insurance scope which can be found using the relevant link below.
The ratios shown in the insurance scope are set by our underwriter and cannot be increased.
Important Documents: Important Documents
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When it comes to the age of your clients and your cover for coaching, you are covered up to the level that you are qualified or experienced. Provided that there are no age restrictions on your qualifications, there is no age restriction for who you can train.
For example:
If your qualification states that you can only coach persons over 16 years of age, this is what you are covered for.
If your qualification does not have any restrictions on who you can teach, then you are covered to coach all ages provided that the client is old enough to follow your instructions in training.
As standard you normally need to have a qualification that is recognised by a UK governing body, OR have at least 3 years’ experience in coaching the sport you wish to teach which must be evidenced, this can be with payslips, tax returns etc.
Please note that an exception to this is our cover for scuba diving coaches and you cannot coach any persons under 8 years of age as stated in the endorsements section of our Insurance Booklet.
You can find our Insurance Booklet and other important documents using the relevant link below.
Important Documents: Important Documents
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Under our standard policy you are covered to work anywhere in the UK that you have permission. This includes training your clients in different gyms or venues, in a home gym or even in outdoor spaces.
This is extended to Worldwide for 180 days out of the year if you have included the Worldwide cover option.
Please be aware that you must be a UK resident living in the UK for at least 6 months out of the year and all clients being instructed must be UK residents also.
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You are insured to train anywhere that you have permission to and is safe to do so. On our policies you are insured to train or coach in the UK as standard. If you wish to train overseas, you will need to include Worldwide cover.
If you have selected Worldwide cover then the territory covered is extended from the UK to Worldwide, with the maximum time covered abroad being 180 days out of the year. You must be a UK resident to insure with us.
Please note that our Worldwide cover is not Travel Insurance so our policy would not cover medical bills, rescue or repatriation.
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You are insured to train anywhere that you have permission to and is safe to do so. On our policies you are insured to train or coach in the UK as standard. If you wish to train overseas, you will need to include Worldwide cover.
If you have selected Worldwide cover then the territory covered is extended from the UK to Worldwide, with the maximum time covered abroad being 180 days out of the year. You must be a UK resident to insure with us.
Please note that our Worldwide cover is not Travel Insurance so our policy would not cover medical bills, rescue or repatriation.
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There is nothing in our policy wording to prevent you from training clients with medical conditions. We simply expect you to continue delivering the same high standard of duty of care you already provide.
If a client shares a medical condition and you’re unsure about training them, you’re welcome to ask for a fit note from their GP or doctor confirming they’re safe to train. This isn’t a requirement of our policy, but it can give you extra confidence and clarity.
You would be covered to coach these clients up to the level your qualification allows, as long as the correct sport or category is selected on your policy. Just make sure all clients follow your usual onboarding steps, for example, completing a PARQ form, and continue carrying out any additional checks you normally include in your risk assessments.
One important thing to remember: our policies don’t cover medical treatments, therapies or anything similar. Your cover applies to the sport, fitness class or personal training session you provide.
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Absolutely, many coaches, fitness instructors and personal trainers work with clients who’ve been referred by their GP, and our policy doesn’t prevent this at all.
There’s no dedicated section in the policy wording about GP referrals, but you’re covered as long as you have the relevant qualifications or experience. To be insured under our policy, you must either:
- Hold a coaching qualification recognised by a UK governing body, or
- Have at least 3 years’ coaching experience in the sport you’re teaching.
One important thing to note is that some of the sports we cover have specific endorsements regarding the qualifications or experience required to insure with us for coaching. Check out this article for more info: How do I know if my qualification is sufficient?
You’re covered to coach up to the level your qualification allows, as long as you’ve selected the correct sport or sport category on your policy. Our policies don’t cover medical treatments, therapies or anything similar. Your cover applies to the sport, fitness class or personal training session you provide.
All clients must go through your normal onboarding procedure i.e. PARQ form completed, and you should continue to conduct any additional checks you usually complete as part of your risk assessments.
You can always contact your qualification provider if you are unsure.
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Coaching pre and post natal clients can be a fantastic and fulfilling part of your work, and the great news is that you can be covered to train them, it all depends on the type of class you’re offering and the qualifications you hold.
If you’re running a dedicated pre and post natal fitness class, you’ll need to make sure you have the appropriate qualifications or experience to teach this group. If your current qualifications already include pre and post natal training, then you’re ready to go and can start coaching these sessions straight away.
If you’re teaching a general class, for example, a standard yoga session, and pre or post natal clients want to join, there’s nothing in our policy that prevents you from working with them. You simply need to continue applying the same level of care, attention and professional judgement you use with all your clients. And if you ever feel unsure about training someone with specific needs, you can always ask them to provide a note from their doctor confirming they’re fit to take part. It’s not required by our policy, but it can give you extra peace of mind.
This approach helps you support your clients safely while staying fully aligned with your policy cover.
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When it comes to the age of your clients and your cover for coaching, you are covered up to the level that you are qualified or experienced. Provided that there are no age restrictions on your qualifications, there is no age restriction for who you can train.
You can always contact your qualification provider if you are unsure.
For example, if your qualification states that you can only coach persons over 16 years of age, this is what you are covered for. If your qualification does not have any restrictions on who you can teach, then you are covered to coach all ages provided that the client is old enough to follow your instructions in training.
Please keep in mind that the clients still need to be old enough to follow your instructions so we would not be able to provide any cover for liability towards infants or babies who are not able to follow your instruction of the class.
Please be aware that for scuba diving coaches, you cannot coach any persons under 8 years of age as stated in the endorsements section of our Insurance Booklet.
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If you hold a Coaches, Instructors or Personal Trainers policy, all/only the named coach(es) listed on your policy are covered. This gives you protection while training your clients and allows you to work with any number of individuals or teams, your cover isn’t tied to just one group.
Public Liability Cover
If your policy includes Public Liability insurance, you’re protected if a claim is made against you for causing injury to a third party, including to a participant or student, or for damaging third party property. This includes cover for solicitor fees, court fees and compensation.
For example, if you’re running a class and an accident occurs due to your negligence as the coach, and a participant is injured and decides to sue you, this would fall under your Public Liability cover (subject to the usual terms and exclusions).
When a claim wouldn’t be covered
If an accident happens and you weren’t negligent in causing the injury/damage, then there’s no grounds for a claim against you.
Optional Extras
You can also add Personal Accident, Loss of Earnings, Employer’s Liability and Sports Equipment cover for the named coach on the policy, giving you even more protection while you work.
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Participant to participant liability insurance covers your legal liability if one of your players/participants injures another player/participant.
This cover is available for any high impact sports including Rugby Union, Rugby League, Association Football, Gaelic Football, Gridiron, Australian Rules Football, Boxing, Martial Arts and all other contact sports where the rules permit physical contact by undertaking tackles, scrums, mauls or throws between players or participants.
You can add this cover to your policy/quote when selecting Public Liability cover for any high impact sports.
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As a specialist sports insurer, our policies are designed to cover activities directly related to sport and fitness coaching. Because of this, we’re not able to provide insurance for nutritional advice or diet plans on their own, as these aren’t classed as sports activities.
However, if you’re properly qualified to offer nutritional guidance, you can include this as part of your regular Personal Training, coaching or instructor sessions, and it will be covered within your policy.
This way, you can continue offering a well rounded service to your clients while staying safely within the scope of your cover.
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We can provide cover for Sports Massage under our coaches, instructors or Personal Trainers policies. This would provide cover for you to offer Sports Massage as a service to your clients.
Please be aware that we can only provide cover for Sports Massage and the policy would not cover any other types of massage or holistic massage services.
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We offer online training for those teaching category A sports such as fitness, dance and personal training. To see if your sport is in category A please see our insurance scope using the relevant link below.
Assuming your sessions are two way i.e. you can see each participant and they can see you. You can have up to 30 people in one class or the ratio limit on your insurance scope whichever is the lower. For example a Zumba class would be maximum 30 participants but a Post Natal Fitness class would be 10 people. To see the coach to participant ratio for your sport/class please see our insurance scope using the relevant link below.
We will also provide cover for pre recorded videos, however this must only be available to your clients and cannot be publicly posted on platforms such as YouTube.
Your clients should have been onboarded by you as if they were a normal face to face client i.e. PARQ form completed if you do this usually and any other additional checks you complete as part of your risk assessment.
Clients need to be UK residents unless agreed by us. If you have selected Worldwide cover as part of your policy for face to face training, this will not extend your cover to cover non UK residents unless agreed by us.
Before an online class starts you should ensure:
- Participants have checked the area they are working in and have ensured there are no obstacles or hazards
- Participants are fit and well to complete the class
- Any equipment being used by participants is being used in line with manufacturers guidelines
- Please note: We would not cover the following moves or exercises if being taught online:
- Any exercises or moves which require physical contact e.g. throws, kicks, tackles with other participants in the class.
- Any exercises where participants are suspended above the floor i.e. aerial hoop, rings - this does not apply to pole fit/dance where additional requirements apply.
- Any exercises where participants are completing gymnastic moves such as handstands, cartwheels and somersaults - this does not apply to Acrotrix which does have its own conditions please see our requirements for Acrotrix if you coach this sport.
Important Documents: Important Documents
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- Coaches must be a current member of Acrotrix
- Teaching only up to Level 4 of the Acrotrix Syllabus (excluding “Roundoff to flat back” and “Side Aerial with support”)
- Only teach through Zoom video conferencing platform
- All participants are to have their video on during the lesson
- All participants are to conduct all movements within view of the camera lens
- Conduct an online risk assessment every session, including:
- Ensuring full supervision of a parent / guardian (the "supervisor") throughout the lesson
- Ensuring maximum ratio of 1:16
- Asking the supervisor to show the area of the lesson including a full 360* view before the lesson starts, and ensuring any hazards are removed from the area, before the lesson starts
- Teacher must record each lesson from start to finish (and notify supervisors before the lesson of this). Teachers are allowed to delete the lesson after 48hrs if no incident has occurred
- Teachers are to encourage participants to record the lesson where possible
- Ensuring the participant is using some form of gym mat
- Participants must remove all jewellery and/or watches, and be in appropriate activewear
- All lessons must include a warm-up (including mobility, stretching and injury-prevention exercises) sufficient to the level of the class
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All instructors to obtain and keep a record that the students have read and agreed to the disclaimer below. We don’t want these measures to replace any other controls that you may already have in place, these are to supplement existing measures and provide maximum protection for you.
“I accept that I am responsible for providing all of my own equipment including but not limited to the pole (which must be purchased from a professional manufacturer and installed as per the manufacturer's guidelines), safety mat, clothing and footwear and the instructor will not accept any liability arising out of defective equipment. I acknowledge that the instructor is not present with me and cannot make an adequate assessment of the area where I am exercising and it is my responsibility to ensure the area is clear, safe and free from any hazards which may cause injury to me or to others.
I acknowledge that I am responsible for exercising within my own skill and fitness levels. If at any time I feel the moves I am completing are above my current skill level I will cease immediately. Likewise if I feel any discomfort, pain, sickness or dizziness I will immediately stop the activity.”
This disclaimer is to be signed by the participant and must be completed before the first class and again if the participant begins a new area of coaching. You can copy this disclaimer into an email and receive confirmation from the client they have read it, you must retain the response.
In addition to the disclaimer the following conditions also apply:
- Coaches are only allowed to instruct existing students who have completed face to face training up to the relevant level for the activity being undertaken.
- Coaches must hold on file a completed PARQ form for each participant
- The ratio is limited to 1 instructor to 10 participants – where inverted manoeuvres are being instructed the ratio must not exceed 1:6
- The participant’s lowest part of the body must be no more than 1 metre above the floor at any time.
- The poles must be purchased from a professional manufacturer and installed as per the manufacturer's guidelines. The instructor does not accept any responsibility for faulty/defective equipment or incorrect installation
- All participants are to conduct ALL movements within view of the camera lens
- Heels/Exotic classes are only allowed where the participant holds a valid certification or has a minimum of five years’ experience. The instructor does not accept any responsibility for injuries caused by defective footwear.
Conduct an online risk assessment for every session, including:
- Coach must record each lesson from start to finish (and notify participants before the lesson of this). All recordings must be kept for 30 days assuming the class ran smoothly with no incidents, falls or injuries. If any incident did occur then recordings should be kept for a minimum of 24 months from the date of recording (best practice would be to retain all recordings for 24 months and we would recommend coaches do this if at all possible)
- Participants must remove all jewellery and/or watches, and be in appropriate activewear. All lessons must include a warm-up (including mobility, stretching and injury-prevention exercises) sufficient to the level of the class
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Yes, our online training cover included as standard with all coach, instructor and Personal Trainer policies does include cover for providing pre-recorded training videos under Professional Indemnity. However, you must only send them to your clients who normally train with you and have already gone through your normal onboarding process.
Videos should not be posted in a public domain where anyone could train from them without your approval and where you have not assessed the suitability of the class for them or completed your usual onboarding process.
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You can stream a class on platforms such as Facebook and YouTube however they must be a private group only which cannot be accessed by members of the public who you do not normally coach and have not gone through your normal onboarding process. Streaming on these platforms will generally mean you cannot see the people you are streaming to so there is no limit on the number of people who watch/participate.
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Yes we can cover leased equipment that you are responsible for under the Sports Equipment section of the policy provided that you have a lease agreement in place for the equipment you are insuring.
We are unable to name any interested parties on the policy however if you require a note from us confirming the cover please do get in touch with the details of your leasing agreement.
Contact Us: Contact Us
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Our policies do not offer any cover for the hosting or organising of events.
As a coach, you can instruct teams or individuals taking part in an event or take part in an event yourself.
As a team or individual participant, you would be covered to take part in an event related to your named sport but not to host or organise an event.
If as a coach you have students who want to be covered for event participation, they can always purchase an individual players policy, you can use the refer a friend scheme for this if you wish.
Refer a Friend: Refer a Friend
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Yes. As a coach or instructor you are automatically covered to participate in your chosen sports as an individual.
Meaning if you coach Tennis through the week, you can still play with friends at the weekend or as a Dance instructor you can participate in an event or competition outside of an instructor role.
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Absolutely, you can cover as many coaches, instructors or PTs as needed under just one policy.
Any coaches/instructors/PTs that need cover would need to be named on the policy for them to be covered.
Need to add a new coach to a policy you’ve already purchased? You can make changes to your policy online at any time!
To get started, please log in via your Members Area.
If you do not know the password, please use the "forgotten your password?" function to request a reset.
Once you are logged in, click the policy you need to amend and select "Amend my policy" to get started.
If you need any assistance with amending your policy please do feel free to get in touch with our team via the Contact Us page.
Contact Us: Contact Us
Members Area: Members Area
