FAQs
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How do coaches get insured?
If you are a coach who is a registered member of a club that is affiliated to the British Softball Federation, you are covered for civil liability insurance while coaching softball in your club environment. This is through the club's insurance that it obtains through affiliation to the BSF. It might also include personal accident insurance if that is part of the Federation's insurance offering.
If you are a member of the BaseballSoftballUK Coach Licence Scheme, you get civil liability and personal accident cover that extends beyond your club environment to apply wherever you are coaching baseball or softball. Find out more about the Coach Licence Scheme in the coaching section of the BaseballSoftballUK website.
Find out more in the insurance section of the BaseballSoftballUK website.
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How does the BSF use photographs and video on its website?
Photographs and video used by the British Softball Federation on its website and communications are usually managed and stored by its development agency BaseballSoftballUK (BSUK). BSUK may assign members of its staff or others to take photographs or video at its own events, or at baseball or softball events run by the British Baseball or Softball Federations, leagues, clubs, teams or other organisations, including tournaments held overseas in which British national or club teams are involved.
Images and/or footage from such events may be used for purposes of editorial coverage or promotion, which may include use in printed documents or electronic media, including our websites and social media channels.
Please visit the Use of Photography and Video page on the BSUK website for more information on:
- BSUK's procedures for obtaining and using images
- Safeguarding and privacy matters related to those images
- How to opt out of being photographed or having your image used
- How to provide images to BSUK
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In terms of insurance, what should we do if an accident occurs during a softball event?
An investigation of every incident should be carried out whilst those involved, including witnesses, still have a clear idea of the circumstances. For reference, a written report should be produced (this should be kept on file for at least three years). Your organisation should maintain a standard accident book which will record the key details.
In the case of a civil liability incident (i.e. damage to property or injury to an individual which a member of your club may be judged liable for), it is crucial you DO NOT admit liability or agree to pay for any damage caused as this may result in the insurers not meeting the claim. The club should not issue compensation payment on the assumption that it will be reimbursed when the insurance claim is processed.
You should also fill in and return the appropriate insurance report form to BaseballSoftballUK. This should be completed by a club or league official, or the event organiser, after talking to the injured party and witnesses.
Report forms and much more information about insurance is available on the BaseballSoftballUK website.
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What’s covered on the softball insurance?
You can find out what is covered by the British Softball Federation's civil liability and personal accident insurance policies over on the BaseballSoftballUK website's insurance section.
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How do I make a claim on my club’s insurance?
The first step is to fill in and send to BaseballSoftballUK the appropriate insurance report form. This should be completed by a club or league official, or the event organiser, after talking to the injured party and witnesses.
If a claim arises, then the insurers will require further documentation to be completed along with supporting paperwork and required information from those involved. In order for a claim to be assessed, it is essential that you provide accurate information when requested. This can sometimes be a lengthy process while investigations are carried out.
The insurers will decide whether – and to what extent - a claim is successful. Communication between the insurers and claimants will be managed by BSUK.
Report forms and much more information on insurance can be found on the BaseballSoftballUK website.
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What’s an incident report?
It is important to report any incident linked to a baseball or softball activity which results in injury, accident or an insurance claim.
This could be an injury to an individual or damage to property. Even if an incident does not result in an immediate insurance claim, BaseballSoftballUK is required to maintain a record of it on behalf of the baseball and softball federations and pass it on to the insurance brokers for their own records, in case a claim arises later.
Please note that sending in the incident report does not constitute you making a claim – making a claim against the insurance policy involves completing the relevant insurer's claims form which you can obtain through BSUK once you have sent us the incident report. If the incident or injury reported is not covered in the insurance terms then you will not be able to make a claim.
The BaseballSoftballUK website has more information about insurance.
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How do players get insured?
Insurance is handled as part of the affiliation process between a club and the British Softball Federation.
Generally, it is softball leagues which affiliate and pay an insurance fee to the British Softball Federation. Going down the chain, clubs pay membership and insurance fees to their league, and players pay membership fees to their club, which includes annual insurance cover. The exceptions are tournament teams which don't play in a league but take part in BSF tournaments through the year. They will affiliate directly with the BSF, sometimes done through a tournament entry fee.
The BSF requires that players be registered with their club on the British Softball website as a condition of insurance. This is to make sure that we can identify who is insured in the event of a claim. These sites also contain information on the affiliation/payment process.
The BaseballSoftballUK website has more information about insurance. -
Does my club need insurance?
The British Softball Federation requires affiliated clubs to have civil liability insurance. It also offers pPersonal accident insurance.
The BSF requires that players be registered with their club on the British Softball website as a condition of insurance. This is to make sure that we can identify who is insured in the event of a claim. These sites also contain information on the affiliation/payment process.
The BaseballSoftballUK website has more information about insurance.
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PLAYERS: How do I register as an individual player for a tournament?
If you are keen to play in a particular tournament but your team is not entering, you can register as an individual player or “ringer” for that tournament. Team captains who are short of players can search a list of people who have registered as individuals, and may contact you to ask if you would be willing to join them. Note that emails or texts will be sent to you by the BSF on their behalf. They will not have access to your personal details.
To register as an individual for a tournament, do the following:
- Go to the tournament details page for the tournament you want to enter. You can get there via the Events listings where all tournaments are listed.
- Click “Register as a ringer for this touranment”.
- If you have not already done so, log in.
- Specify which grades you would be willing to play (if relevant).
- Specify which positions you would be willing to play.
- Click “Register as a ringer / Update ringer preferences”.
If you later decide that you no longer want to play in this tournament, you can follow the same process, but uncheck all the grades and positions you previously checked and then click “Update registration”.
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PLAYERS: How do I update my availability for a fixture?
You will automatically receive email reminders for fixtures involving teams you play for. Within those emails are links that you can click to indicate whether you are available to participate. When you click on one of those links, your availability will be updated and your team captains will automatically receive an email informing them of your availability.
To update your availability for future fixtures, or to see a list of all the fixtures involving any of your teams, you can do the following:
- Log in.
- Click “My Calendar” on the control panel home page, or select “My Calendar” from your personalised “My Account” menu in the top-right corner.
- A list of all the fixtures and tournaments involving your teams will appear.
- To update your availability for a fixture, just change the selected availability in the drop-down list next to the fixture.
- As soon as you update your availability, your team captain will be informed via email of this update.