Operating a sports facility comes with inherent risks, from minor sprains to serious injuries. To protect your business and reduce legal exposure, it’s essential to require participants to sign a liability waiver or release of liability form.
In this post, we’ll explain why your facility should implement a sports liability waiver and how to use these legal documents effectively to safeguard your operations.
What Is a Liability Waiver?
A liability waiver is a legal document that participants sign to acknowledge and accept the risks associated with a particular activity. By signing, they agree not to hold the facility responsible for certain types of injuries or damages that may occur during participation.
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Why Sports Facilities Require Liability Waivers
A sports liability waiver protects your business from claims if a participant is injured while using your facility or taking part in your programs. Here’s why every facility needs one:
1. Inherent Risk in Sports
Most sports involve a level of physical risk, sprains, collisions, falls, or even more serious injuries. A liability waiver acknowledges that participants understand and accept the risks associated with these activities before engaging in them.
2. Legal Protection
A properly drafted and signed release of liability form can limit your legal exposure. If someone files a claim after an injury, the waiver provides legal protection by showing they accepted the risk and agreed not to pursue legal action.
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3. Clarifies Responsibility
A liability waiver clearly sets expectations: participants are responsible for their own actions and acknowledge that the facility does not guarantee their safety. Depending on your sport and facility layout, you can also include specific usage rules to reinforce these guidelines.
For example, a baseball facility might require that "A helmet must be worn at all times" in batting cages, pickleball facilities might warn participants to not run onto other courts to retrieve their bal, and a multi-sport facility with turf might prohibit the use of certain footwear.
If your facility uses access control to generate revenue during off-peak hours, it's especially important to define participant responsibility and ensure they understand that staff may not be present. This proactive approach significantly reduces your liability risk.
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4. Insurance Requirements
Your insurance provider might require a liability waiver as part of their risk management policy. In their eyes, it shows that your business is taking the necessary steps to reduce liability exposure.
5. Covers Staff and Volunteers
Your sports liability waiver can also be written to extend protection to coaches, referees, trainers, and any other individuals operating on behalf of your facility. This is especially important if you work with independent contractors (1099 employees). Including language that covers their programming helps protect both your team and your business.
Working with independent instructors? Read this guide on hiring and charging instructors legally and profitably.
Take the Next Step: Protect Your Facility with Smart, Digital Waivers
A solid liability waiver isn’t just a box to check; it’s a core part of protecting your sports facility, your team, and your bottom line. By setting clear expectations, reducing legal risk, and covering everyone from staff to independent contractors, waivers help you operate with confidence.
With Swift, you can take the guesswork out of managing liability waivers. Our platform makes it easy to collect and store signed waivers online, so no more chasing down paper forms or digging through filing cabinets. Whether you're running open gym hours or structured programming, Swift helps you stay covered and compliant.
Need a starting point? Download our free injury liability waiver template to get up and running fast.
Ready to simplify your risk management? Book a free demo with a member of our team and see how easy it is to protect your business and your athletes, all in one place.
