Understanding Insurance

Apr 26, 2013

By now you may have heard about the Federation of Irish Sport Insurance Scheme which has been available to FIS Members since late 2012. This group scheme was designed in association with BHP Insurances to provide affordable, tailored, quality insurance cover to NGBs and sports clubs. However, if you aren’t accustomed to purchasing insurance it can sometimes be hard to see the difference between the many types of cover available and to decide what type of insurance your organisation needs. Here we have given a brief overview of five popular types of insurance which are relevant to almost all NGBs and sports clubs in Ireland.

Public Liability Insurance covers the costs of claims made by third parties who have suffered bodily injury or damage to their property, as a result of accidental means, while on the Insured’s property or as a result of the Insured’s activities. For a sports club the third parties would include spectators and supporters who come to events on your grounds. For example if a spectator was injured by a falling goalpost, Public Liability Insurance would cover the legal costs associated with a claim pursued by the injured party against the Insured Club as well as any damages awarded.

Employers Liability Insurance provides protection to the employers and volunteers where an employee suffers disease, fatality, or injury as a result of workplace conditions or practices and makes a claim. Even with the best risk management and health and safety procedures in place accidents can still happen so it is vital to ensure your organisation and employees are fully protected.

Directors and Officers Insurance protects the people running the NGB and sports club. Directors and Officers can be held personally liable if they are found to be in breach of their duties, even if they are volunteers. The duties of Directors and Officers can be wide-ranging and complex and so breaches can be made unintentionally. For this reason alone it is important that all NGBs and sports clubs arrange Directors and Officers Insurance.

Property Insurance provides protection against damage to your property from a variety of causes such as fire, theft or flood damage. The buildings ,sports grounds and equipment your club owns represent a huge financial investment. On top of that, without the proper venue many clubs would be unable to operate. Property Insurance will ensure that should something happen, repairs would be carried out quickly, with minimal interruption and cost to you.

Personal Accident Insurance provides cover in the form of specified benefits to protect the Insured Person in the event of accidental bodily injury resulting in death and/or temporary or permanent disablement from usual full time occupation. The benefit will be payable for a specified period following an accident. Injuries are an operational hazard for athletes and while thankfully most are minor, there are cases where a person will be forced to takes weeks or even months off work to recover. Personal Accident Insurance is the best way to ensure that taking part in the sport you love doesn’t end up causing you and your family unexpected financial hardship.The descriptions given here are general. It is important you thoroughly read each individual insurance policy and ensure you understand exactly what is covered and any exclusions or excess which may apply.

BHP Insurances Ltd is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland

Testimonial from Federation member:

‘CPSI were impressed by BHP Insurances professional approach to our insurance needs and even as a smaller NGB they gave us as much time as we needed to ensure we had the right covers in place. BHP helped us introduce comprehensive personal accident insurance for all our members at a competitive rate.’ Brenda O’Donnell, Director of Sport, Cerebral Palsy Sport Ireland

The Federation of Irish Sport offers a new group insurance scheme specifically designed for National Governing Bodies, sports clubs and individuals. All members can benefit from improved levels of cover and reduced insurance rates. So to make sure that you and your members are fully protected contact Conn Mc Cluskey, Federation of Irish Sport on 01-6251155, conn.mccluskey@irishsport.ie orclick here for more information.

Featured Event: BTSAI Roadshow

Apr 26, 2013

Location:

Basketball Arena, Tallaght, Dublin 24.

DATE:

13-14 April, 2013

PARTICIPATING TEAMS/ATHLETES:

Athletes and teams from all over Ireland will participate

Host:

Baton Twirling Sport Association of Ireland (BTSAI)

About BTSAI Sport:

The BTSAI is the National governing Body for the sport of baton twirling in Ireland, and has been in existence since the 1970’s

EVENT HISTORY:

The first national championships were held in Balrothery in 1979, since then, the association has continued to grow at a steady pace. We also host the Munster Championships in the Neptune Stadium in Cork each year in late October early November. Two of our member clubs run two open competitions in February and July.

EVENT PREPARATION:

This is a very big event with approximately 500 athletes competing in at least five events giving it a total of 2,500 performances over the two days. During this weekend we will also host trials for international cup and European championships. We are also showcasing our “Roadshow” which we will use in the future to travel around the country with a view to increasing our membership.

There are two committees and sixty volunteers involved in bringing this event to the floor. There will be fourteen judges and clerks, eighteen to twenty runners and an administration team who looks after the entries, running orders, score sheets and results.

There is a team to control the music for all the different events as there is a constant change in the music required and we have two contest directors, one for nationals and one for trials. There is approximately 2,000 trophies and medals.

THE EVENT:

Venue

The Basketball arena in Tallaght is the perfect venue for this event. Initially it can be devided in eight sections for judging, and then transformed into as many areas as deemed necessary until will get to the final segment of the competition where the whole floor is used.

Spectators/Attendees

We are expecting 500 athletes and 200 supporters, who tend to drift in and out during the two days depending on the events that are running at a particular time.

Volunteers

We will have sixty volunteers over the two days who will serve in shifts to help keep the event running smoothly. These act as runners for the judges, tabulators for the scores, ensuring that all working personell have tea, coffee etc.

What next for BTSAI in 2013?

There’s a busy year ahead for us. After Nationals we are hoping to take the Road Show to Mayo and Galway to try and set up new clubs or encourage participation from clubs that might exist there already. We also have had an expression of interest from two other counties and are in the process of setting up two new clubs in Dublin. All of this is possible because of the Women in Sport grant that we receive from the Irish Sports Council.

….and for the Irish Team?

All athletes who qualify at trials on the Sunday of Nationals will then go forward to represent Ireland at International Cup in Holland , and/or European Championships in Sweden.

For more information on the event see the BTSAI website and facebook page

How the event went, Bernadette Doyne, President, BTSAI:

After many months of planning and preparation the BTSAI Roadshow appeared in public at the finale of the National Championships held in the Basketball Arena. Using a story line of love/hate and eventually love conquers all, the best part for some was when all the younger athletes got a chance to come out on the floor and do a short performance with some of their twirling idols.

It was beyond our greatest expectations, looking back on all the problems we had to surmount to bring it to fruition, but it was worth it all. This was a dream of David Doyne, who for the past three years has worked tirelessly to showcase it, and to the dedicated twirlers who gave so generously of their time, sometimes with great personal sacrifice to their families and children to make it all a reality. To Alex and Natasha our wonderful coaches, who brought it all to what it was.

Last but not least to the Irish Sports Council, who part funded this through the WIS grant for the past three years, and had the faith in us to pull it off. It will be used as a tool to attract new clubs to our sport, and will soon be travelling to Portlaise and Cavan, and then eventually on to Mayo and Galway to help increase our membership. Anyone interested in starting a baton twirling club should contact the BTSAI

Oireactas April update

Apr 26, 2013

FEDERATION BEFORE OIREACHTAS TRANSPORT & COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

The Federation of Irish Sport appeared before the Joint Committee on Transport & Communications on 25^th April in relation to the proposed ban of alcohol sponsorship and sport. The Federation took the opportunity to outline that in the current climate where funding for sport is in such short supply now is not the time to be introducing a blanket ban on any category of sponsorship.

The Federation outlined its view that there would be a better way in which, sport could look to assist in addressing the challenges associated with alcohol misuse. In particular, through the roll out in conjunction and with the help of the HSE, education and awareness programmes such as the Alcohol & Substance Abuse Programme (“ASAP”) and the “Health Clubs” initiative currently being delivered by the GAA.

The Federation took the opportunity to remind the Deputies and Senators present of the significant reduction in government funding for sport over the last number of years in particular, the 25% decrease in the Irish Sports Council’s budget. The Federation also highlighted the significant disadvantage sport is at when compared to other areas of the not for profit sector in attracting philanthropic investment given that sport does not benefit from charitable status.

The Committee meeting at which, Horse Racing Ireland and the Drinks Industry Group Ireland were also present is the final in a series of three meetings held by the Committee in relation to the issue of sponsorship of major sporting events. The Committee will now prepare a report outlining their recommendations to the Minister. It is anticipated that the issue will come before Cabinet in the next couple of weeks.

A copy of the Federation’s submission to the Joint Committee can be viewed here. Transcripts of the three Committee Hearings on the issue including the one at which the Federation was present can be found here

Federation of Irish Sport- we are moving offices this Friday 26th April

Apr 22, 2013

We are moving to the new Irish Sport HQ, National Sports Campus, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 on Friday 26th April. Our email and fixed phone and fax lines may be disrupted for a few days during the move. We will reply to you as soon as possible and please redirect post to our new address. Many Thanks.