The American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) has renewed its $1 million Personal Liability Insurance policy that covers all ABCA members who are United States residents for the 2025-26 membership year, which runs September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026. A coach is covered during the time period in which he or she is a current ABCA member. This coverage typically comes into play when a lawsuit is filed against the coach for bodily injury or property damage.
To activate this insurance, U.S. residents simply need to register for membership—no additional steps are required. For renewing members, it's essential to renew by August 31, so there will be no lapse in coverage from the 2024-25 policy to the 2025-26 policy. Newly joining members will be covered under the 2025-26 policy beginning on September 1, 2025 or the date and time they join the ABCA, whichever is later. The insurance does not cover incidents prior to the coach joining the association, nor does it cover the coach during membership gaps.
"We are happy to continue to offer this insurance coverage, which is one of the most valuable benefits of ABCA membership," said ABCA Executive Director Craig Keilitz. "This protects our members, who may not be covered by their employers in every case, may be giving a private lesson, or may be self employed. Nobody thinks they are going to face a lawsuit, but Personal Liability Insurance provides financial assistance when needed, and always provides peace of mind for our members."
Coverage applies to individual current ABCA member coaches in good standing who are U.S. residents while conducting direct one on one or group baseball or softball coaching or instruction at a practice or playing facility, during the time that their ABCA membership is active. Coverage is NOT extended to the following operations: facility ownership, long-term lease arrangements, 24-hour management responsibilities, teams, leagues, camps, clinics, business entities, and respective officers, directors, and staff. Coaches who are not ABCA members at the time of an incident are not covered.
The coverage will be provided through Sirius American Insurance Company, which is rated A- (Excellent) by AM Best, S&P and Fitch, and A3 from Moody’s. Because it is an Association-held policy, the limits and coverages cannot be changed at a coach's request.
Coverage runs from September 1 through August 31 of the membership year, and a certificate of insurance will be mailed with the coach's membership card. The earliest a coach can be covered is September 1 of the membership year. Coaches who join after September 1 will be covered for incidents following the date and time of becoming an ABCA member.
If purchased by an individual, similar Personal Liability Insurance coverage would cost over $400 per year.
Owners/Lessors of Premises are Additional Insureds with respect to premises leased, loaned, or rented to current ABCA member coaches in good standing arising out of member coach’s operations as a baseball coach.
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LINKS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The Basics...
Question: Who is eligible for this coverage?
Answer: All permanent residents of the United States who are 2024-25 ABCA members are covered for the period that their 2024-25 membership is paid for (earliest: Sept. 1, 2024) through August 31, 2025. All permanent residents of the United States who are 2025-26 ABCA members are covered for the period that their 2025-26 membership is paid for (earliest: Sept. 1, 2025) through August 31, 2026. Coverage ends when the coach's membership expires and incidents that happen during any gaps will not be covered, even if the coach eventually renews.
Question: When does my insurance coverage begin?
Answer: Coverage under the 2025-26 policy begins starting on September 1, 2025 for coaches who registered prior to that date. Any coaches who join/renew on or after September 1, 2025 will be covered beginning on the date and time the coach registers for 2025-26 ABCA membership. Coverage will not be retroactively applied to ABCA members for incidents that happened prior to joining the association or renewing their membership.
Question: I was previously an ABCA member and have not gotten around to renewing yet. Will I be covered for all incidents that happen during the entire membership year?
Answer: NO. If, your membership expires on August 31, your coverage ends and will not be picked back up until you rejoin the ABCA. You need to renew your membership prior to August 31 in order to be covered without any gaps. If any incidents happen during the time your ABCA membership lapsed, they will will not be covered.
Question: Do I need to complete any documentation to activate my coverage?
Answer: NO. As soon as your membership registration is processed, your coverage is active.
Question: I need clarification about what my Personal Liability Insurance covers. How can I get answers about this?
Answer: Email Sadler Sports Insurance
Question: In what situations does this insurance apply to an ABCA member coach?
Answer: Coverage applies to individual current ABCA member coaches in good standing who are U.S. residents while conducting direct one on one or group baseball or softball coaching or instruction at a practice or playing facility during the time their ABCA membership is active.
Question: Does the ABCA coach liability policy mean that it is not necessary to buy separate insurance for a business, team, league, camp, or clinic?
Answer: NO, the ABCA policy does NOT extend coverage to the following entities: facility ownership, long-term lease arrangements, 24-hour management responsibilities, teams, leagues, camps, clinics, business entities, and respective officers, directors, and staff.
Question: Does this insurance cover softball as well as baseball?
Answer: YES. This policy covers individual ABCA member coaches in good standing while acting in their capacity as a baseball and/or softball coaches.
Question: Can I increase the coverage of this insurance policy?
Answer: NO. Because it is an Association-held policy, the limits and coverages cannot be changed. Other entities are not able to be added to your certificate.
Question: How do I request a certificate of insurance?
Answer: Your certificate of insurance will be mailed with your membership card. If you haven't received it yet or lost it, email [email protected].
Question: How do I file an insurance claim?
Answer: Email Sadler Sports Insurance
Insurance Coverage Scenarios...
Question: Coach Thomas asks a player to slide into second base during a game and that player breaks his ankle. The parents file a lawsuit against Coach Thomas for damages to the player. Is Coach Thomas coach covered?
Answer: YES. Any player that is injured while playing and sues the insured and the insured is legally liable for the injury; the coverage would be under the Legal Liability to Participants. This is a $1,000,000 limit per occurrence.
Question: Coach Wilson is running an instructional baseball drill at an offsite facility (not his campus or organization's facility). His players break a light fixture at this facility. The facility sues for the cost of light fixture and repairs. Is Coach Wilson covered?
Answer: YES (up to $300,000).
Question: Coach Thomas leases or rents a pitching machine and that machine is damaged in a fire. Will Coach Thomas be covered for the cost of replacing the pitching machine?
Answer: NO. There is no coverage for physical damage for equipment rented.
Question: Coach Jackson is playing catch with a player. The player misjudges the ball and is hit in the face with the baseball. As a consequence, he needs to be taken to the hospital. Is the Coach Jackson covered if sued?
Answer: YES. If sued, Coach Jackson has a defense.
Q: Will Coach Jackson's insurance cover medical costs for the player? A: NO.
Q: Are the costs for the player's parents' travel to the hospital covered? A: NO.
Question: Coach Jackson invites players over to his home for an end-of-season barbecue. One of the players is injured while driving an all-terrain vehicle owned by Coach Jackson. Is Coach Jackson covered if sued by parents?
Answer: NO. This insurance does not apply for damages resulting from activities during a non-baseball coaching activity.
Question: A player is injured during a practice drill Coach Smith is running, and he is not an ABCA member at that time. If Coach Smith joins the ABCA later that day, will that year's insurance policy cover him?
Answer: NO. This insurance only covers coaches who are ABCA members at the time the incident occurs. Coverage cannot be applied retroactively.
Disclaimer: The questions and answers above are for illustrative purposes only and are not a guarantee of coverage. Whether coverage exists or not is dependent on the unique circumstances of each incident, the exact allegations in the lawsuit filing, and the policy language. Refer to the actual insurance policy for all coverages, definitions, exclusions, and limitations.
QUESTIONS?
Questions regarding the ABCA's Personal Liability Insurance policy should be directed via email to Sadler Sports Insurance. Email Sadler Sports Insurance