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his issue we wanted to share some comments from the insurance industry related to off-ice training that we notice taking place more and more in our arenas. While there is very good information in the comments below, each facility must speak with their insurance providers and/or risk managers to assess how these programs are to be handled in their own facility. First, let's hear from one of the USA Hockey risk managers: Ken Haas is the USA Hockey Risk Manager for the Atlantic district and also a member of the STAR Board of Directors. Ken had this comment about off-ice training. "If the off-ice train- ing is being conducted by a USAH-regis- tered volunteer and the member club, and not by a paid instructor or coach, it should be covered by USA Hockey as a sanctioned team event. Always check with your dis- trict risk manager." Jeffrey Gray, an account executive with Wells Fargo Special Risks, Inc. Sports and Recreation Division in Dover, New Hampshire, had this to say, "We agree with Ken Haas' comments about USA Hockey covering a sanctioned event. However, skating facilities need to make sure that any and all individuals that are operating off-ice programs in your facili- ty have insurance. You want to make sure that they have their own General Liability policy and are naming the facility as an additional insured." We insure many facilities across the country that have tenants in their facili- ties that do this, and we request them to provide us a certificate of insurance showing the facility as an additional insured. Joan R. Rice, Account Executive for Rice Specialty Risk, a division of First Niagara Risk Management in Buffalo, New York, had this to say about off-ice training: "Generally speaking, if the train- ing is conducted by an employee and/or part of a rink-run program, the rink's General Liability would cover claims brought against the rink in connection with an injury occurring as a result of this training. However, if this training is off site (off the rink premises), there is a limitation in some policies providing coverage for the rink premises only (meaning claims as a result of off-premis- es exposures or activities would not be covered). This is called a 'Designated Premises' endorsement. Some policies also limit coverage provided for 'Professional Services.' Depending on the wording of the exclusion, this could be interpreted to mean weight training or other specialized sports training." Therefore, my advice is that a rink manager should check whether there are any limitations in the rink's General Liability and Excess Liability policies before he/she authorizes an off-ice activity. Your broker will advise on these limita- tions and suggest a course of action. This may include adding the coverage or arranging a separate policy, depending on the specific circumstances. If the trainer has Liability coverage, the rink may be able to get a certificate of insurance nam- ing the rink as Additional Insured, thus adding another layer of protection. Better safe than sorry! ★ Our thanks to the contributing parties. Their con- tact information is below. Ken Haas, Atlantic District, Risk Manager; 168 Sunset View Drive; Doylestown, PA 18901-2760; (215) 230-8239; khaas77@comcast.net Jeffrey Gray, Account Executive; Wells Fargo Special Risks, Inc.; Sports and Recreation; 34 Dover Point Rd.; Dover, NH 03820 1-800-990-7465 x118 Joan R. Rice, Account Executive; Rice Specialty Risk, a division of First Niagara Risk Management; 726 Exchange St reet, Suite 900; Buffalo, NY 14210; 716-819-5693 44 R INK MAGAZ INE may/june 2009 insurance tales ■ Manage your risk from real-world insurance stories. PROVIDING OFF-ICE TRAINING at the rink through independent trainers comes with additional liability risks. Most facility insur- ance does not cover contracted trainers, leaving an insurance "gap" that could put your rink, or hockey organizations using your rink, at risk for an uncovered liability claim. How can you protect yourself? Make sure that fitness trainers have pur- chased their own fitness professional insur- ance policy that names the rink and hockey organi zation as additional insureds. The trainer should provide you with a certificate of insurance proving he or she has appro- priate coverage. At a minimum, fitness trainers should pur- chase a general liability policy designed specifically for fitness trainers. Commercial general liability (CGL) insurance covers alle- gations of negligence which result in bodily injury, property damage or personal injury and the cost to defend or settle claims. The defense aspect of in surance is more impor- tant than you may realize, since the legal costs alone of defending a single claim could easily grow into thousands of dollars, or higher. A general liability policy may also include other types of coverage, such as personal & advertising injury, medical expense and products-completed operations. Personal and advertising injury generally refers to injury other than "bodily injury" such as false arrest, detention or imprisonment; the wrongful ev iction from premises that a per- son occupies on behalf of its owner/landlord; oral or written publication of material that slanders or libels a person or organization's goods, products or services; oral or written publication of material that violates a person's right of privacy, or infringement of copyright, title or slogan. Products-completed operations provides cov- erage for bodily injury and property damage arising out of the insured's product or work, while me dical expense insurance covers nec- essary and reasonable medical expenses incurred by non-participants injured in the course of the instructors' business opera- tions. Keep in mind that specific coverage varies between insurance providers. — Submitted by K&K Insurance, log on to KandKinsurance.com STARrinks.com T Off-Ice Training: Are You Covered? Off-ice training by contracts

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