AYF Releases Report On Injuries Within Youth Tackle Football

Source: sadlersports.com - AYF Releases Report On Injuries Within Youth Tackle Football
Author: John Sadler

American Youth Football (AYF) is the largest youth football organization in the US and represents a wide cross section of the youth tackle football ages 5-15. Since 2000, its endorsed insurance provider, Sadler Sports & Recreation Insurance, has collected information on 20 injury categories related to each of the 1,832 Excess Accident claims that have been submitted for payment to the claims administrator. The data for each category was input into a database and reports were generated to illustrate the injuries occurring in each category.

AYF constantly reviews and monitors this information in an effort to better protect its youth participants. Should a particular area of concern come to light, more detailed reports can be run to determine if a problem exists that needs additional attention. For example, when concerns arose over the potential dangers of age only vs. age / weight categories, a report was run that indicated that the risks of injuries in age only weight categories was about the same as age / weight categories. As regards the concussion concerns, AYF will track the frequency of concussions to total injuries over time to determine if the impact of parent / player education, coach training on concussion recognition, return to play policies, and improved tackling techniques have a positive impact on the trend.

Since this study is limited to Excess Accident claims that were reported under the endorsed insurance program, under some categories, it tends to understate minor injuries that were never reported and tends to overstate the more serious injuries that required medical treatment. However, it does represent a statistically significant overview of the frequency of injuries that occur within AYF and youth tackle football as a whole.

To follow is a summary of the leading injury statistics by frequency in each category:

Absence From Play – 41% for 3 + weeks; 20% for 1-3 weeks; 12% for 1-7 days; 11% not specified; 11%, unknown 7%;  none 5%. Note that many of the less serious injuries were never reported as insurance claims and as a result this category tends to overstate the length of time of absence from play.

Activity While Injured – 32% running with ball; 31% tackling; 15% blocking; 4% running without ball.

Body Part Injured – 12% knee; 12% wrist; 10% forearm; 8% ankle; 7% shoulder/collarbone; 7% head/temple; 5% finger/thumb; 5% elbow; 4% neck; 3% hand; 3% back.

Injured Person – 98% football player; 1% coach; 1% other. 

Injury Type – 49% fracture; 13% joint sprain/strain; 12% bruise/contusion; 5% concussion; 4% dislocation; 3% pulled muscle. Note that the percentage of fractures tends to be overstated since many of the less serious injuries such as sprains, bruise/contusions,  cuts/scrapes, and pulled muscles are not serious enough to be reported as insurance claims. Also note that the relative frequency of concussions to total injuries is consistent with other youth football studies.

Location On Field – 93% on field; 1% sidelines; 1% practice field.

Injury Occurred During – 51% game; 38% practice. Note that it is a common misconception that most injuries in youth tackle football occur during practice. However, the results clearly indicate that most occur during games. Furthermore, when we drill down and study concussions, only 28% of concussions occur during practice.

Type Of Play – 45% offense; 35% defense; 11% other; 2% kicking off; 2% receiving kick off. Note that very few injuries occur during kickoff returns. Therefore, the same kickoff rule changes that have been implemented by the NCAA and NFL to limit concussions during kickoffs would not be as beneficial in youth tackle football.

Position Played – 24% running back; 17% defensive line; 11% linebacker; 11% offensive line; 9% quarterback; 6% secondary; 4% receiver; 2% kickoff returner.

Situation – 32% tackled by player; 14% tackling player; 13% fell on/stepped on by player; 10% contact with ground; 6% collision with opponent; 5% blocked by player; 4% collision with teammate; 4% blocking player; 2% blocked from behind; 1% non contact.

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New Technology Enhances Event Security Safety

Source: sadlersports.com - New Technology Enhances Event Security Safety
Author: John Sadler

Game Changers

We all know about game changers. Sometimes it’s a certain player, or a momentum swing; or the venue or fans, and other times it’s an event that makes us stop and rethink our views on one particular topic or another. The bombings at this year’s Boston Marathon qualify as a game changer.

Increasing Event Security

Often times, it is a catastrophe that makes us reevaluate our priorities. In the case of the Boston Bombings, we have been forced to address our personal safety and the safety of participants at sporting events.

In attempts to strengthen event security at its football games, the NFL recently banned spectators from bringing in purses, coolers, backpacks and other miscellany. Some view this as overkill, while others view it as the natural evolution of ramped up security measures in a volatile setting.

The Tech Revolution

The technology boom is also helping to strengthen event security. While closed-circuit television is still the industry’s number one go-to, it is the use of cellphones that has been most beneficial in enforcing safety regulations at sporting events, and not just among event staff, but spectators as well.

Many venues advertise a number for spectators to text or call if other patrons become unruly or are acting suspicious, but did you know there are also apps available for reporting security issues? Fans may now anonymously submit complaints/observations using ISS 24/7 (or other) software. Hello, game changer!

In addition to security hotlines, social media has helped to police patrons at sporting events. People love Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Many sports teams and event management companies have learned to use these tools to their advantage and use their accounts to spread the word of inclement weather, evacuation notices and other pertinent information.

But smartphones are good for more than just checking your Twitter feed, they are also important in documenting fan behavior at games, both good and bad.  In a world where anyone can be famous on the internet, staying on your best behavior can mean the difference between YouTube fame and infamy.

Source:  Sports Destination Management; Sept./Oct. 2013; Safety and Security: Changing your game for the better, by Kelly Martin.

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Insurers Fear Football Concussions = Next Asbestos?

Source: sadlersports.com - Insurers Fear Football Concussions = Next Asbestos?
Author: John Sadler

The recent NFL concussion settlement (as well as prior media publicity over the past year) has spooked General Liability insurers about the potential for long term concussion damage liability.

One insurance broker specializing in the school district niche, Michael McHugh of Gallagher & Co., has stated that concussions could be the next asbestos due to the potential for long range damages.  Another General Liability carrier for NCAA Div I schools tested the waters for the Concussion Exclusion for its July renewals but other competing carriers did not fall in line.

While tackle football is currently receiving the most scrutiny, other sports produce a large number of concussions as well and will be on the radar screen.

In my discussions with insurance carrier executives as regards the youth tackle football General Liability market, I have heard of the following approaches being taken:

• No change in policy forms.


• A special aggregate that caps concussion lawsuit payouts on a per association or per program basis.


• A special endorsement that voids coverage for concussion lawsuits unless risk management controls such as mandatory coach concussion training have been put in place.

Source: Business Insurance; High School Football Concussions Could Be Next Asbestos; Sept. 9, 2013

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Key Points From NFL Concussion Settlement

Source: sadlersports.com - Key Points From NFL Concussion Settlement
Author: John Sadler

The NFL reached a tentative settlement agreement of $765 Million for some 18,000 plus retired football players’ (whether they sued or not) for allegations that the NFL misled them about the hazards of concussions. Evidently, this settlement, if approved, would not stop the current Workers’ Compensation claims that are ongoing. However, players who have filed Work Comp claims may opt to drop such claims and accept the settlement offer instead if such would be favorable to their cause depending on state law.

The settlement would be structured as follows:

• $75 Million for baseline medical exams for retired players


• $675 Million to compensate former players and their families to be paid over the next 17 years. Each player to receive a different amount based on their particular diagnosis and medical condition as well as age and years played in NFL.


• $10 Million fund for concussion research


• The balance for players attorneys’ fees.

The settlement offer is not an admission of liability by the NFL that concussions were the cause of the players’ injuries. However, it is speculated that the offer was prompted to uphold the reputation of the NFL with its fans and to avoid expensive litigation.

California attorney Ronald S. Katz said that the litigation and concussion settlement agreement would likely hinder similar future lawsuits from current players (based on concussion risks being withheld) as it would be harder to prove negligence since the concussion risks are now heavily publicized and current players assume a known risk when they participate in the game. However, negligence based lawsuits would still be a possibility due to failure to diagnose concussions and too soon return to play.

The 32 General Liability insurers that are being sued by the NFL to participate in the defense and settlement such as Travelers, Fireman’s Fund, AIG, Chubb, XL, etc. are currently playing “hot potato” with the outcome still up in the air.

Source: Business Insurance; Despite Football Concussion Settlement, Insurers Role In Paying NFL Costs Unclear; Sept. 9, 2013;

Read Full Story: http://www.sadlersports.com/blog/key-points-nfl-concussion-settlement/

Risks That Could Put Your Fitness Center Out Of Business

Source: sadlersports.com - Risks That Could Put Your Fitness Center Out Of Business
Author: John Sadler

Running a fitness center is no small feat due to the constant management of contract employees, members, front desk agents, maintenance staff and the like. Collecting member dues and keeping your numbers up is probably one of your greatest concerns, but you also have major risks that you need to manage in order to survive.

The 5 Hidden Risks
Disaster-related loss

Studies have shown that nearly 60% of businesses are underinsured, leaving them vulnerable to significant losses in the face of natural disasters. Protect your fitness club by investing in adequate health club insurance coverage and having a set recovery plan in place to minimize your risk for total loss.

Emergency Losses

Accidents happen every day – explosions, violent acts, outbreaks of disease such as Legionella; these incidents can significantly impact both your finances and your reputation.  Speak with your insurance agent and make sure that your business is adequately covered for catastrophic liability and property losses.

Cyber-Security Breach

You store a lot of member data on your computer system: birthdays, home addresses, even credit card numbers are kept on file. Did you know that nearly half of all businesses have experienced a data breach? However, only one in 10 of those businesses are covered for cyber-liability.  A Cyber Risk policy should protect your fitness center from client data breaches in the event that negligence on the part of your company is determined to be the cause of breach.

Personal Trainer Liability

If your fitness facility employs personal trainers, you may be liable for their negligent behavior, even if they are only a contracted employee. Sexual harassment, physical injury, even poor dietary advice can result in a lawsuit against your company. It is safest to require your contract trainers to carry their own General Liability / Professional Liability policy.  However, some fitness facilities choose to add coverage for contract trainers under their fitness facility policy.

Treadmill Injuries

You see them all the time, one of your clients will be running on a treadmill, nose in a book, texting or bobbing along to their iPod. This multitasking often leads to injuries that you are likely to be liable for. The average cost of any treadmill-related incident is $250,000.

Source – Hidden Risks Faced by Fitness Centers

 

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