Wrestling With Liability Issues
Although wrestling is the toughest combative sport contested at the collegiate level it has a relatively low incidence of major Injuries.
According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance System the injury rate for college wrestlers is 9.6 injuries per 1,000 athlete exposures. Of these injuries, the majority occur during competition, particularly during take-downs. While serious wrestling injuries do occur, fortunately, the most common wrestling injuries are not serious and are similar to those seen in other sports.
The most serious wrestling injuries affect the shoulder, elbow, knee and neck. The data suggest that most common cause of wrestling injuries is forcing a joint beyond it's acceptable range of motion.
Common sense safety precautions in practice, travel, and competition will go a long way in protecting our athletes, coaches and volunteers. The information on this site are suggestions for building not only a compliant wrestling program, but one that should avoid most liability issues as they pertain to a universities wrestling program.
INSURANCE
The NCWA requires that All athletes competing within the association carry personal health or injury insurance. In Addition to a Schools Liability coverages, Properly registered and cleared athletes are given $25,000 of secondary injury coverages by the NCWA and every institution granted full membership into the NCWA is covered with 1,000,000 / 3,000,000 of Liability insurance coverages from 9/1 through 5/1 each season that protects the school, coaches & volunteers.
COMBATING SKIN INFECTIONS
Skin infections, including MRSA are more common in wrestling than any other collegiate sport. Being PROACTIVE in assuring that all university equipment is clean and not harboring dangerous microbes is critical to mitigating the schools liability in any possible infections. NCWA suggests disinfecting as well as the use of a mechanical Anti-Microbial as the best practice for protecting athletes from most skin infections.
OFFICIALS
All State or NCAA Certified Wrestling officials with at least 5 years of mat experience are eligible for registration with the NCWA. Coaches must use NCWA Registered officials for their events to be covered by both the Liability and Injuries offered through the NCWA. The NCWA rules are specific in requiring such officials. Teams that choose other officials not only open themselves up to league fines, but forfeit all coverages during the event in which such Non-Registered Officials are used. Registration for officials is Free.
OFF SITE PRACTICE OR HOSTED COMPETITION
NCWA Member Programs are automatically covered for Liability issues for all events hosted on the school campus, provided the team is compliant with NCWA Rules. Practice or hosted competition at "Off Campus Venues" must be submitted to the NCWA for coverages to apply.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. If a wrestler is injured during practice are his medical bills covered?
A. NCWA Covers "Properly" Registered Athletes against injury for up to $25,000 during school supervised practice sessions on
the university campus. This insurance coverage is a "SECONDARY" Injury coverage to the athletes primary health or injury
coverage and has a $500 deductible. All athletes MUST carry personal coverages in addition to those offered by NCWA.
Q.
According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance System the injury rate for college wrestlers is 9.6 injuries per 1,000 athlete exposures. Of these injuries, the majority occur during competition, particularly during take-downs. While serious wrestling injuries do occur, fortunately, the most common wrestling injuries are not serious and are similar to those seen in other sports.
The most serious wrestling injuries affect the shoulder, elbow, knee and neck. The data suggest that most common cause of wrestling injuries is forcing a joint beyond it's acceptable range of motion.
Common sense safety precautions in practice, travel, and competition will go a long way in protecting our athletes, coaches and volunteers. The information on this site are suggestions for building not only a compliant wrestling program, but one that should avoid most liability issues as they pertain to a universities wrestling program.
INSURANCE
The NCWA requires that All athletes competing within the association carry personal health or injury insurance. In Addition to a Schools Liability coverages, Properly registered and cleared athletes are given $25,000 of secondary injury coverages by the NCWA and every institution granted full membership into the NCWA is covered with 1,000,000 / 3,000,000 of Liability insurance coverages from 9/1 through 5/1 each season that protects the school, coaches & volunteers.
COMBATING SKIN INFECTIONS
Skin infections, including MRSA are more common in wrestling than any other collegiate sport. Being PROACTIVE in assuring that all university equipment is clean and not harboring dangerous microbes is critical to mitigating the schools liability in any possible infections. NCWA suggests disinfecting as well as the use of a mechanical Anti-Microbial as the best practice for protecting athletes from most skin infections.
OFFICIALS
All State or NCAA Certified Wrestling officials with at least 5 years of mat experience are eligible for registration with the NCWA. Coaches must use NCWA Registered officials for their events to be covered by both the Liability and Injuries offered through the NCWA. The NCWA rules are specific in requiring such officials. Teams that choose other officials not only open themselves up to league fines, but forfeit all coverages during the event in which such Non-Registered Officials are used. Registration for officials is Free.
OFF SITE PRACTICE OR HOSTED COMPETITION
NCWA Member Programs are automatically covered for Liability issues for all events hosted on the school campus, provided the team is compliant with NCWA Rules. Practice or hosted competition at "Off Campus Venues" must be submitted to the NCWA for coverages to apply.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. If a wrestler is injured during practice are his medical bills covered?
A. NCWA Covers "Properly" Registered Athletes against injury for up to $25,000 during school supervised practice sessions on
the university campus. This insurance coverage is a "SECONDARY" Injury coverage to the athletes primary health or injury
coverage and has a $500 deductible. All athletes MUST carry personal coverages in addition to those offered by NCWA.
Q.
