Risk Management

General Information

Our Insurance Program covers registered members with SECONDARY/SUPPLEMENTAL General Liability, Excess Liability, and Accidental Medical policies while participating in MSYSA sanctioned soccer activities, such as practice, games, and tournaments. 

We work with: Diversified Insurance Industries, National Casualty Company, Nationwide and K&K Insurance to provide a comprehensive set of policies to cover our member affiliates.

Insurance coverage summaries follow. Additional conditions, exclusions, and limitations may be contained in the actual policy. This description in no way affects or alters the coverage provided.

MSYSA COMMERCIAL GENERAL LIABILITY COVERAGE

MSYSA EXCESS LIABILITY COVERAGE

MSYSA EXCESS ACCIDENT MEDICAL

Requesting a Certificate of Insurance

Certificates of Insurance (COIs) are provided to affiliate organizations upon request to cover their players and officials during participation in MSYSA sanctioned events. Requests must be accompanied with enough detailed information to ensure that the intended use of the COI is within MSYSA guidelines. 

Requests should be sent to our Director of Affiliate Logistics and may take up to five (5) business days to process. The following must be included with each request:

• Full facility name
• Full street address
• Name and email for any person(s) receiving a copy of the COI
• Any special clauses that must be included
• Information supporting the use is within MSYSA guidelines.

Affiliates must be in good standing and current on fees to receive a COI.

Submit a Claim

To file a claim, please complete our Insurance Claim Form and submit the completed form electronically (as a PDF) to jessica@msysa.org.

Maryland State Youth Soccer recommends use of these guidelines regarding the installation, use, and storage of soccer goals by all of its members. As advocates for the healthy development of children, we need to be concerned with soccer goal post safety. Maryland State Youth Soccer urges all of its organizations to review their policies and procedures and to implement and enforce a program of goal post safety. 

While these guidelines should be effective in reducing the risk of goal-related injuries, they should not be construed as the only methods for minimizing injuries associated with soccer goals.

Injuries and Deaths 

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), most soccer goal post related deaths and injuries involved either unsecured or homemade goals. Injuries frequently occurred during horseplay such as climbing on the goal or attempting to do chin-ups, thereby tipping the goal over. All goals, whether homemade or manufactured, should be properly secured to the ground to avoid injuries or deaths associated with tip-over.

Anchoring

There are several different ways to properly anchor soccer goals. The number and type of anchors used will depend on factors such as soil type and goal weight. Anchor types include:

• Auger-style anchors that are screwed into the ground.
• Semi-permanent anchors, which require a permanently secured base buried underground with tethers or bolts to secure the goal.
• Peg, stake or j-hook style anchors that are driven into the ground. 

Sandbags or counterweights for indoor facilities.

Storage 

The CPSC reports that most accidents occurred when the goal was unattended. When goals are not being used, always take appropriate steps to secure goals such as: 

1. Place the goal frames face to face and secure them at each goalpost with a lock and chain.
2. Lock and chain to suitable fixed structure such as a permanent fence.
3. Lock unused portable goals in a secured storage room after each use.
4. Fully disassemble the goals for seasonal storage. 
5. Remove the net. 

Conclusions & Safety Tips​

1. Securely anchor or counter-weight portable goals at all times.
2. Store movable soccer goals in a place where children can not access them.
3. Never permit anyone to climb on the net or goal framework.
4. Remove nets when goals are not in use.
5. Check all connecting hardware before every use and replace damaged or missing anchors immediately. 
6. Ensure safety/warning labels are clearly visible. 
7. Fully disassemble goals for seasonal storage. 
8. Always exercise extreme caution when moving goals and allow adequate manpower to move goals of varied sizes and weights. Movable soccer goals should only be moved by authorized adults.
9. Movable soccer goals should only be used on level (flat) fields. 
10. Instruct players to avoid unsafe use of goals. 

Consumer Product Safety Commission – Guidelines for Movable Soccer Goal Safety

Additional resources are available at Anchored for Safety and through KwikGoal.

Some manufacturers, such as our partner Bownet, have designed goals around minimizing risk of injury through using lightweight materials that have give. 

Concussions are a very serious injury and can have a lasting impact on a persons health. However, they often go under reported because signs and symptoms may not always be obvious (or immediate) and players may not feel as if the injury is bad enough to leave play. US Soccer, US Youth Soccer, and MSYSA find concussion education and awareness to be of the upmost importance.

As part of Mandatory Compliance, all Team Officials must complete HEADS UP to Brain Injury Awareness training through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This training and education is provided at no cost to all MSYSA registered Team Officials. Instructions for how to complete this training are provided through the registration process.

US Soccer’s Recognize to Recover program page and ImPACT are two excellent resources for concussion education and testing information. MSYSA follows the USYS Concussion Protocol. This protocol requires a player must be evaluated by a Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopatyy (DO) in order to return to play.

More info Coming soon

MSYSA is committed to an expanded background check and screening process. Our Policy requires every adult associated with all affiliated organizations who may have the opportunity to have direct and unmonitored access to children to complete a background screening that includes:

• Maryland Administrative Office of Courts for both the circuit and district courts
• Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services
• State and National Sexual Offender Record Information (SORI)

MSYSA also screens against all necessary external databases, disqualification lists, and disciplinary records.

The following individuals are required to complete a background screening:

• Coaches (all types)
• Board members (Officers, Directors, Administrators, Committee Chairs, Appointees, etc.)
• Referees  
• Trainers (Permanent or Temporary)
• Volunteers
• Organization Employees
• Concession Workers
• Tournament Organizers, Employees, Volunteers
• Any other person age 18 or older who may have the opportunity to have direct and unmonitored access to children. 

Background screenings will be conducted as part of the annual registration process within the MSYSA registration solution, and all screenings will have a common expiration date, lessening the need for multiple registration dates.

MSYSA utilizes Gold Standard Best Practice Recommended Guidelines from the National Council of Youth Sports in making eligibility determinations. Click here to see the guidelines.

The registration and background screening process will be managed in GotSport. For more information please visit the Adult Registration Page. 

• Background screening is the final stage in Mandatory Compliance. They are initiated by MSYSA ONLY after an individual has completed SafeSport and Concussion training.
• GotSport integrates with JDP to make it easy for individuals to register for their background checks.
• Checks require a VALID social security number. It must be your authentic SSN provided by the Social Security Administration. Those without a valid social security number must contact our Director of Affiliate Logistics for further instructions.

Background screenings are performed at a cost of $7.25/person (inc. processing fee)