1) What other types of insurance should be considered for items not covered under the PCO policies?
A separate Directors and Officers policy should be considered for the following situations
- If the board feels that a $2,000,000 limit is insufficient
- If the board feels they have a Cyber or data breach exposure.
- If the Organization has any employees
- There is a need for legal guard (legal helpline) coverage
If significant assets are owned, appropriate property damage / loss insurance should be considered. Other exclusions under the PC policies include those related to: data, terrorism, asbestos, fungi, and, abuse, or molestation.
2) How do I request a certificate of insurance?
Certificate requests must come from an Individual authorized by the Organization for such purpose by clicking the following certificate request form link HERE. Please provide the name and mailing address of the company or organization that is requesting it. It can be made available in French if requested from Toote Peet.
3) What is the process for a Sport Accident Claim?
Where there is an accident that results in a claim, please complete the claims form. The insurer must receive notice of your accident within 30 days of the accident date and receive claim documentation within 90 days of the claim. Submit all claims information via email to: SpecialMarkets-Claims@ia.ca
4) Why am I required to sign the Liability Waiver before joining or renewing with my Organization or with PCO?
The Liability Waiver was prepared by a law firm experienced in the field of sports law, as requested by our insurer. The signing of the Waiver is mandatory for membership as it is required to be signed electronically by the member when they first sign into their member profile on the PCO website. It is multi-purpose including:
a. Risk awareness – the Waiver reinforces the fact that there are risks associated with playing pickleball as is the case for all sports. Members need to be aware of these risks and take positive action to reduce their likelihood of occurrence by playing safely, within their limits and with proper preparation.
b. Preventative – the Waiver conditions reinforce for the member that they should not play in facilities or under conditions that they consider unsafe for them.
c. Individual protection – we unfortunately have become a litigious society. With the Waiver being signed by you and all others you’re playing with, it can be used by you and/or the insurance company to defend against a claim from another player or a third party if, for example, injury results from a serious collision between two of you.
d. Organizational protection – similar to individual protection, your Organization (club, provincial organization and/or national organization), if named in a multi-party claim, is afforded the ability to defend such a claim. If Organizations allow non-PCO members to play at their facility as guests or for orientation, etc. the Organization must have a similar waiver for them to sign.
5) Why should we Sanction our tournament when tournaments are an Authorized Activity and therefore insured?
Insurance coverage is only one of the many benefits of Sanctioning a Tournament as discussed in-depth under Tournaments.
6) Can I get a reduction in my dues if I don’t want or believe I need insurance?
No. Dues are minimal. Coverage is priceless. Hopefully you will never need it.
7) When would a privacy waiver be needed and why?
A separate waiver tailored to your specific province should be put in place as laws vary between provinces. A sample waiver may possibly be modified to suit your specific provincial requirements.
8) Our Organization already has a general commercial liability policy in place. Is there any additional value from coverage under the PCO policies?
Yes. The Sports Accident policy is generally not included in the usual coverage packages that Organizations get. Also, there may be a duplication of items under the Liability policies that may cause settlement problems. Each situation is different, so a review should be undertaken by you to ensure you have proper coverage at the lowest possible cost.
9) If an affiliated club arranges play for their members on private courts is the third-party owner of the courts covered under the liability insurance that Pickleball Canada offers its members?
The liability coverage in place for members and affiliated clubs does not extend to a third-party owner of the courts (or any other rented third-party facility). Those owners would need to have their own insurance coverage in place, and they may request that the Pickleball Canada affiliated club provide them with proof of insurance.
10) Can people who are not Pickleball Canada members participate in play at our club?
Pickleball Canada affiliated clubs may choose to allow non-members to participate in limited pickleball activities (i.e. recruitment programs, short term visitors/guests from out of town etc). If the program is approved by the Board of the Pickleball Canada affiliated club then yes, insurance coverage will be in place for all Pickleball Canada members. NOTE THAT THE VISITING PLAYERS WILL NOT HAVE ANY ACCESS TO THE INSURANCE POLICY. Clubs should track the names of all participating players and each player should be required to sign a waiver prior to participation.
11) Can Pickleball Canada’s insurance extend to private property owners?
The individual or club who owns the facility would have to obtain their own insurance, just as any facility owner/operator would. Our insurance coverage does not extend to the owner/ operator of faculties.
12) What is the purpose of a Certificate of Insurance (COI) from Pickleball Canada?
The Certificate of Insurance (COI) is to provide facility owners with proof of insurance for our participants, so that the facility owners do not have to carry insurance for those participants and can simply rent or donate the court time to them without concern for additional insurance for those individuals.
13) Would “Instructors” operating for profit within a club’s facility be covered under Pickleball Canada’s insurance?
The instructors, if registered as Pickleball Canada members, would have coverage in place for the activities approved by the club (i.e. the actual instruction) but not for their business venture if they are set up as a separate business. For example, if the instructor charged an additional fee on top of what the club charged, and were found taken to court as a result, our insurance would not respond. But if the instructor fell and was injured while providing instruction it would be covered.
14) If a club is going through the process of court construction or the construction of a new facility does Pickleball Canada’s insurance cover these projects?
In situations where a Board decision leads to an ongoing business venture (i.e. constructing/managing a facility) then that venture will require separate coverage as it exceeds the scope of what is deemed “normal operations” of an association/club under our policy. It is best to obtain separate insurance coverage for this project.
15) Our club wants to host a try-it event where some participants will not be members of
Pickleball Canada. What does Pickleball Canada’s Insurance cover in the instance of this
event?
The general liability coverage will extend to protect the club/PTSO/PCO from losses related to bodily injury and/or property damage of third parties (including suits brought by members and non members alike). Participants who are not registered with Pickleball Canada do not have access to ‘first party’ member benefit accident/excess medical coverage.
Clubs are to ensure that all participants, both members and non-members, sign a waiver prior to participants.
16) Are there any specific limitations to Pickleball Canada members who are under the age of 18?
Pickleball Canada’s Sport Accident Policy has no age restriction and no termination of age under this policy. The General Liability Policy will also respond in a third-party claim situation involving a minor.
Note: The preceding responses to the FAQ’s are not intended to change, modify or alter policy terms, provisions, conditions or exclusions.