Clubs’ Public Liability insurance

The group Table Tennis England Liability Insurance is provided by Hiscox Insurance. Public liability cover is provided to all members however, as with all insurance terms, conditions & exclusions apply.  Examples of exclusions are wilful destruction and neglect, terrorism and deliberate acts etc. A summary of cover is available on request from Table Tennis England or Towergate Insurance.

In general, as long as the league, club and its officials have acted in accordance with the rules and governance as laid down by the association, then in most circumstances the insurance will respond should you be considered “liable” upon injury or damage. This will include not only the playing and training of the sport, but also the club’s associated social activities.

The club’s insurance policy should be considered as an added protection to your existing care and attention and sensible management of your risks. However, in no circumstances should liability be admitted. This will be for Sportscover to handle.

Yes. It is strongly recommended that their names are recorded in a visitors’ book to ensure that you have an accurate record of a guest’s attendance, which can be up to a maximum of four visits by any person. This will provide insurers with valuable assistance in handling any claim made against you.

‘Non members’ are not insured under the Table Tennis England policy for claims against them. This ‘social risk’ is often insured by their own personal home insurance.

If one of these individuals decided to take an action against the club (or a Table Tennis England member) for injury or damage then the Sports Liability policy would indemnify the club or the member if liability was established.

A licensed coach should be present at all times during official club training/coaching sessions. It is not necessary for a licensed coach to be present during open play or competitions or general practice, although a qualified first aider should be present.

Yes, the policy (subject to terms and conditions) will provide cover to the club for your legal liability in respect of claims that are made against the club for injury, loss or damage that arise out of the club’s negligence, this includes its members and committee.  The policy does not provide any form of indemnity to the hirers in respect of their own legal liability.

The third party should be requested to provide evidence of their own public liability insurance to ensure that it is current and to an acceptable limit of indemnity.

Yes. You are required by law to have Employers Liability insurance for people who you employ. People who you normally think of as self-employed or volunteers may be considered as your employees for the purposes of Employers Liability insurance. What matters is the nature of your relationship with the people who work for you and the degree of control you have over the work they do.

Yes. This is provided up to a limit of £5,000,000.

Amongst the main covers which should be considered are :

Loss/damage to Premises or Contents that you own (including TT tables)
Personal Accident & Injury for guests and non player members

You may contact Towergate Insurance on 01926 439439 or by email for a no obligation quotation on any of these covers.

If your club engages the services of an independent contractor to carry out some maintenance/ alterations at your club then they should carry their own third party liability insurance (Public Liability) in case they injure someone else or damage their property. We recommend that the club requests sight of the contractors’ Insurance certificate.

If however, the contractor were personally injured and decided to sue the club or a member for the injuries they have sustained, the policy would indemnify the club or club member for any liability (subject to policy coverage, terms and conditions)

The policy covers clubs for the use of their equipment (tables, floodlights, nets and courts) by the nearby school to teach children table tennis as part of their educational curriculum?

However, you should ensure that equipment is maintained, periodically inspected for defects & known faults repaired where necessary prior to loaning. You should also ensure that the school supplies a statement of their own Public Liability Insurance.

Anyone can make a claim against a member, a club, league, county association of the National governing Body itself. One Table Tennis England member is also entitled to make a claim against another Table Tennis England member in the event of bodily injury caused.

.. and how would the “away” team fare if the incident was caused by them?

All Table Tennis England members are covered equally for home and away matches, including “member to member” liability.

If the opposing team is a Table Tennis England affiliated club then their members will be similarly covered. If they are not Table Tennis England affiliated you should check that they have Public Liability insurance in place (a minimum limit of indemnity of £10,000,000 is recommended).

Any claims for injury or damage arising out of the club’s negligence would be covered by the TTE Clubs and Leagues Liability insurance. Please see comments above regarding maintenance of equipment. We recommend that you ask for evidence of their public liability insurance, in case they damage your equipment (or injure your members).