Protecting Players. Protecting Clubs. Protecting the Game.
The Canadian Academy Soccer League (CASL) is committed to promoting responsible risk management and safe participation throughout league competition.
Participating clubs are responsible for understanding and maintaining the insurance coverage required for their organization, teams, participants, facilities, and activities.
1. Insurance Requirements
All clubs participating in CASL must maintain appropriate insurance coverage as required by CASL and applicable law.
CASL may require proof of insurance as a condition of membership or participation.
Required coverage may vary depending on the nature of a club’s operations and competition.
2. Club Responsibility
Each participating club is responsible for ensuring that its own operations are appropriately insured.
This may include coverage relating to:
- Club operations and activities
- Coaches, staff, and volunteers
- Training and competition
- Facilities and field use
- Participants
- General liability
- Other risks associated with club activities
Participation in CASL does not remove a club’s responsibility to maintain appropriate insurance for its own operations.
3. CASL Insurance
CASL may maintain insurance applicable to its own league operations and activities.
Any CASL insurance coverage is subject to the actual terms, conditions, exclusions, eligibility requirements, and limits of the applicable insurance policy.
Participation in CASL should not be interpreted as automatically providing insurance coverage for every activity conducted by a participating club.
4. Proof of Insurance
CASL may require participating clubs to provide a valid Certificate of Insurance or other evidence of coverage.
Clubs are responsible for maintaining required coverage throughout their participation in CASL.
CASL may request updated documentation when coverage expires or materially changes.
5. Facility Insurance Requirements
Municipalities, schools, private facilities, and other field operators may impose their own insurance requirements.
The club responsible for securing a facility is responsible for satisfying applicable facility requirements.
This may include obtaining a Certificate of Insurance or adding a facility owner or operator as an additional insured where required.
6. Risk Management
Participating organizations are expected to take reasonable steps to identify and reduce foreseeable risks associated with their activities.
Risk-management practices should include appropriate attention to:
Player Safety • Field Conditions • Equipment • Emergency Planning • Weather • Participant Conduct • Qualified Supervision
7. Incident Reporting
Serious incidents occurring in connection with CASL competition should be documented and reported through the appropriate process.
Examples may include:
- Significant injuries requiring emergency assistance
- Serious safety incidents
- Damage to facilities or property
- Serious participant misconduct
- Incidents that may result in an insurance claim
An incident report does not replace the need to contact emergency services when immediate assistance is required.
8. Injuries & Medical Responsibility
Clubs and teams are responsible for having appropriate procedures for responding to player injuries and medical emergencies.
CASL does not provide medical diagnosis or treatment.
Where emergency medical attention is required, appropriate emergency services should be contacted immediately.
9. Emergency Planning
Participating clubs should maintain appropriate Emergency Action Plans for their activities and facilities.
Teams should be prepared to identify:
- Who will contact emergency services
- The exact facility location
- How emergency responders will access the field
- Available first-aid resources
- Responsible team personnel
10. Field & Equipment Safety
Home clubs are responsible for taking reasonable steps to ensure that fields and equipment provided for CASL matches are suitable for use.
Unsafe conditions should be addressed before competition begins.
CASL’s separate Field & Match Standards provide additional requirements.
11. Weather & Environmental Risk
Clubs, teams, and match officials must take appropriate precautions when environmental conditions may affect participant safety.
This may include:
Lightning • Severe Weather • Extreme Heat • Poor Air Quality • Unsafe Playing Surfaces
No scheduled match takes priority over participant safety.
12. Waivers & Participant Agreements
CASL and participating clubs may require appropriate participant agreements, acknowledgements, consents, or waivers where legally appropriate.
Such documents do not replace the responsibility to provide reasonably safe environments or maintain required insurance.
13. Responsibility for Club Activities
Activities organized independently by a member club are the responsibility of that organization unless CASL has expressly identified the activity as an official CASL event.
Clubs should not represent independent activities as insured, sanctioned, or operated by CASL unless that status has been confirmed.
14. Insurance Questions & Claims
Insurance coverage depends on the specific circumstances of an incident and the terms of the applicable policy.
Questions regarding coverage or potential claims should be directed to the appropriate insurer, broker, or CASL representative.
CASL should not promise or guarantee coverage until the applicable insurance policy has been reviewed.
Our Commitment
Effective risk management is a shared responsibility between:
CASL • Member Clubs • Coaches • Team Officials • Players • Parents • Facility Operators
By working together, we can provide safer environments and stronger competition for everyone involved.