Insurance

In simple terms, the insurance policies will cover

Personal Accident

Cover is in place for members if they are accidentally injured whilst fencing, including but not limited to participating in a sanctioned activity or event, or while taking part in a club organised training activity.  The covers also apply during a club organised social event.

Public Liability
Cover for affiliated clubs* and/or members if they are found to be legally responsible for causing bodily injury to third party (such as a member of the public or another member) or for damage to a third party’s property.

Professional Indemnity
Cover to protect a affiliated club* or registered coach or registered official for claims made against them which allege that a third party has suffered an injury or financial loss caused by negligent acts, errors or omissions during coaching activities.

Employers Liability
Provides cover in respect of claims made against the affiliated club* or sanctioned event for injuries caused to a contracted volunteer of the affiliated club or sanctioned event arising out of and in the course of their volunteering role.

Officers & Committee Liability

Provides cover for claims made directly against individuals at an affiliated club or sanctioned event e.g. officer, committee member, director and/or trustee for alleged wrongful acts in connection with the club or event affairs.

The Directors & Officers and Employers Liability covers are only applicable to affiliated clubs of British Fencing.  Please contact our brokers Marsh Sport for more information.

Please note that the BF insurance policies do not include Travel Insurance – see TRAVEL INSURANCE for separate quotations.

*If your club or event organising entity is a limited company operating for profit (rather than a community club where funds are reinvested in the club) you may not be covered under the terms of our insurance and you may need to arrange separate policies. Please contact marshsport@marsh.com for more information.

Provides cover in respect of claims made against the affiliated club or sanctioned event for injuries caused to a volunteer of the affiliated club or sanctioned event arising out of and in the course of their volunteering role.

In addition the Employers Liability policy covers paid and contracted employees of the affiliated club or sanctioned event.

The EL cover provides EL insurance to affiliated constituted clubs, clubs that have been registered as CASC status, or community group clubs (that don’t necessarily have a constitution.

The EL does not extend to coaches who employ the services of others.

There is no coverage for Employment Practice Liability, if you have employees you may wish to consider this cover.

If your club or event organising entity is a limited company operating for profit (rather than a community club where funds are reinvested in the club) you may not be covered under the terms of our insurance and you may need to arrange separate policies. Please contact marshsport@marsh.com for more information.

This policy provides limited benefits in the event of an accident sustained whilst participating in an official British Fencing, affiliated organisation or affiliated club activity resulting in death, permanent disablement and a range of lesser injuries.  It also provides limited medical and dental cover for treatment required as a consequence of such an accident.  There are a number of restrictions, notably cover ceases at 80 and is limited for Under 16s.

It is a policy requirement that the safety equipment guidelines laid down by British Fencing are followed.

Only members of British Fencing benefit from cover under the Personal Accident Policy.

The Personal Accident Policy is not intended to provide any income replacement or to pay wages should you be unable to work as a result of the injury.

To understand what these covers are and to see the main terms and conditions that apply please make sure you refer to the Policy Schedule and policy wording (see top of page).

In all cases, it is a requirement that British Fencing safety equipment guidelines are followed.  Notwithstanding any safety checks that might be carried out by coaches or club or competition officials.  Fencers are reminded of the FIE rules of fencing, which states:

Fencers arm, equip and clothe themselves and fence at their own responsibility and at their own risk.

It is the duty of all members to act responsibly, and to take reasonable steps to minimise the risks inherent in any sporting activity, and in particular to support and enforce British Fencing safety guidelines.

Full details of the additional eligibility requirements for combined liability cover for Individuals, Clubs, Coaches and Events can be found here.

Participation in sport always involves some level of risk or injury and it is accepted that injuries do occasionally occur.

Everyone participating in sport has a duty of care to ensure that they exercise all care that is objectively reasonable in order to avoid injury to anyone.

An injured person may allege that (for example) the member, coach or club is responsible and is in breach of its duty of care.  Under these circumstances they may seek damages.  The member, coach or club may find itself having to defend its actions in the civil courts.  Such action may be taken even if you feel that the allegation is unreasonable or unfounded.

The British Fencing Public Liability insurance would respond under such circumstances and this would pay your defence costs and any damages awarded.

MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES

The following are examples of what needs to be undertaken to demonstrate that you are fulfilling your duty of care:

• Undertake activities in accordance with membership, registration and qualifications
• Adhere to the British Fencing Code of Conducts and Policies
• Ensure that your personal equipment is in good working order
• Where appropriate, withdraw from participating when injured
• Be appropriately prepared for the sport activities you undertake
• Follow instructions given to you by officials

CLUB, EVENT, COACH AND OFFICIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The following are examples of what needs to be undertaken to demonstrate that you are fulfilling your duty of care:

• Sport officials and coaches must be properly accredited and registered
• Sport facilities must be checked for safety and hazards removed prior to sport activity
• Children and/or other vulnerable segments of the population should be properly supervised when they participate in sport activities
• Equipment used is in good working order
• All activities have the appropriate oversight and supervision is undertaken by qualified persons or those with suitable experience
• Where appropriate, injured persons are withdrawn from participation
• Action is taken against persistent perpetrators of inappropriate behavior

In addition to the above for clubs and coaches:

• Sport participants are appropriately prepared for the sport activities they undertake. This would include basic checks to ensure that the health and fitness levels, skills and knowledge of rules are appropriate for the activity they are about to undertake.
• Behavior that may increase the possibility of injury is discouraged

Under most circumstances, only members of British Fencing are covered by the BF Public Liability Policy

However, in the following instances, non-members are also covered by the Public Liability policy only.

• Non-members who are appointed by British Fencing to undertake a specific task(s) in connection with a British Fencing project or event.
• Non-members who participate in a beginners’ course, taster session or similar introductory activity consisting of a single session of less than 3 hours duration of active participation by any individual non-member.
• Non-member volunteers assisting ad-hoc in the delivery of club sessions and competitions are also covered excluding the delivery activities of coaching, refereeing and welfare officer. The club (or the organising committee in the case of a competition or event) is responsible for ensuring the suitability of the volunteer for the activities undertaken.

Both the Liability and Personal Accident insurance apply when a member of British Fencing is fencing or participating in any of the following activities that have been formally arranged by either the British Fencing ourselves or one of our member clubs; whilst participating in official, pre-arranged training/practice, competitions including travelling to and from any venues for these purposes. Cover will also operate during a social event organised by British Fencing or your member club.

Liability
Public Liability – cover for your legal liability of up to £10M

Professional Indemnity – cover for the affiliated club’s or registered coach’s legal liability of up to £10M

Employers Liability – cover for your legal liability of up to £10M, includes volunteers, not including paid employees.

Directors & Committee Liability – cover for an affiliated club or sanctioned event official’s legal liability of up to £250K

Personal Accident
These limits apply to an accidental injury caused whilst the policy operates (For details please see the Personal Accident documents)

1.    Accidental Death £50,000
2.    Permanent total disablement £50,000
3.    Broken Bones up to £1000 (see PA Schedule)
4.    Hospitalisation benefit £50/day up to £750
5.    Funeral expenses £10,000

The level of cover purchased by British Fencing for its members does not include a weekly payment and the policy is not designed to replace your usual income in the event you are unable to work following an accident.

In the event of an incident occurring which may give rise to a claim, members should notify Marsh Sport immediately by emailing marshsport@marsh.com or calling 0345 872 5060 with the following details:

• Date and time of the accident
• Details of the injured person, ie name, address, nature of injury etc
• Details of where the accident occurred
• A brief description of the circumstances

Under NO circumstances should you admit liability or agree to pay for damage caused as this may prejudice the position of Insurers and COULD result in the withdrawal of any indemnity.

Incidents which should be reported to us immediately, but are not limited to:

• A fatal accident
• An injury involving either referral to or actual hospital treatment
• Any allegations of libel/slander
• Any allegations of professional negligence, i.e. arising out of tuition, coaching or advice given
• Any investigation under any child protection legislation
• Any circumstances involving damage to third party property

It is important that all incidents that may give rise to a claim, however minor, are reported to our insurance broker Marsh Sport as soon as possible after the event.

Please email all incidents to marshsport@marsh.com or telephone 0345 872 5060 to report this directly to our brokers.

• Only ‘Compete’ category members are covered to fence competitively abroad.
• Cover extends to fencers and officials of any British Fencing or Home Country team or squad Worldwide.
• Cover also extends to fencers and supporting personnel for a trip abroad organised by any recognised region, county union or affiliated club, provided that:
  • Supporting coaches are on the Coaches Register
  • The lead official has a team manager qualification recognised by British Fencing
  • Other supporting staff are members and DBS checked if required through British Fencing
  • A risk assessment is carried out and documented
• Registered Coaches public liability insurance includes cover for performing coaching activities with non-members when abroad as part of an organised trip. For example, this would cover a coach taking a group of club fencers abroad to a training camp, where they are delivering coaching services both to their pupils and other (non BF member) fencers.

Travel Insurance

Please note you will require sports travel insurance for overseas trips which would provide medical expenses and equipment cover for training and competing outside of the UK.  See our TRAVEL INSURANCE information here.

The British Fencing Liability policy exclusions:

• Criminal acts
• The ownership, possession, maintenance or use of any aircraft or other aerial device, hovercraft, watercraft or mechanically propelled vehicle
• Deliberate or Reckless Acts
• Medical Malpractice
• Damage to own property, or property for which you are responsible

The British Fencing Personal Accident policy exclusions:

• Are not travel insurance policies – they do not cover loss of baggage, delayed or cancelled travel
• Are not travel medical insurance policies – they do not cover medical treatment or medical repatriation
• Does not cover members over the age of 80 years
• Illness or disease
• Injury arising out of the use of illegal drugs
• Repetitive stress (strain) injury or syndrome or any gradually operating cause

Marsh Sport are specialist brokers in the world of sport and can provide a wide range of products and services.

If you are looking for travel insurance you can get online quotations which cover fencing activities here – TRAVEL INSURANCE

Additional insurances that Marsh can offer include:

• Buildings and Contents
• Sport Equipment
• Group Travel
• Cyber
• Increased Limit of Indemnity – Directors & Officers
• Legal Expenses & Legal helplines

Contact us on 0345 872 5060, email marshsport@marsh.com.