BCWA Reminder: Try-Wrestling Waivers & Travel Insurance Requirements

BCWA

3 hours ago

3 min read

Before You Wrestle or Travel, Make Sure You and Your Team are Covered

Hello BCWA Members and Clubs,

We want to share two important reminders regarding insurance requirements for club activities and travel.

Try Wrestling and Try-It Activities

All participants must complete a waiver before participating in any Try-Wrestling or Try-It activity.

Clubs must ensure that every participant signs the appropriate waiver before taking part in wrestling activities. For participants under the age of 19, a parent or legal guardian must complete the required Assumption of Risk on their behalf.

The signed waiver or Assumption of Risk is an important record for the club. It provides documentation that the participant attended the activity on a specific date and time and acknowledged the risks associated with participating.

Clubs must retain completed waivers and Assumptions of Risk and be able to provide a copy to BC Wrestling Association if requested. If a claim arises, the club may be required to produce the applicable waiver or Assumption of Risk. Failure to have the appropriate documentation may create significant issues with a claim.

No Try-Wrestling or Try-It activity should take place unless the required waiver or Assumption of Risk has been completed.

Resources:

Click Here to Open the BCWA Waiver and Liability Release Form

Or visit: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LjdOjxOeqXi4wsab7yMlUz-pMxFnQ4C1/view?usp=sharing

Important reminder for clubs

If you are hosting a Try-Wrestling session, open house, Try-It event, or another activity where someone is participating in wrestling for the first time, make sure the required waiver is signed before they step on the mat.

Keep your completed forms with your club records.

Out-of-Country Travel and Travel Insurance

If your club is travelling outside of Canada for a wrestling event, tournament, camp, or other activity, there are a few important things you need to do before you leave Canada.

1. You need travel medical insurance

BCWA's regular insurance does not pay for your medical expenses if you become sick or injured while travelling outside Canada.

Everyone travelling with your club should have emergency travel medical insurance, including:

Athletes
Coaches
Managers
Volunteers
Other club members travelling with the group

Your travel medical insurance should cover you for emergencies that may happen while you are outside Canada.

If the travelers or teams want discuss options with a broker, they are welcome to contact SBC's insurance office (Info@sbcinsurance.com) or visit sbcinsurance.comSBC Will confirm with BCWA if travel is sanctioned prior to approving requests. You do not have to buy your travel insurance from SBC Insurance. You can use another insurance company or coverage you already have, as long as your coverage provides the required protection.

If you already have travel insurance through another provider, you may use that coverage. You may be asked to show proof that you have insurance.

2. You must complete the BCWA Travel Authorization Form

Having travel insurance does not mean that your trip is automatically covered by BCWA's insurance.

If your club is travelling outside Canada, you must complete the BCWA Travel Authorization Form before you travel.

BCWA needs to review and approve the trip before BCWA's out-of-country liability coverage can apply.

As part of this process, BCWA will confirm that:

The trip is an approved/sanctioned BCWA activity.
The club and the people travelling are BCWA members in good standing.
Everyone travelling has the required emergency travel medical insurance.

In simple terms:

Travel insurance protects you if you get sick or injured while travelling.The BCWA Travel Authorization process makes sure your club's BCWA insurance coverage can apply to the trip. You need both. One does not replace the other.

What is the difference between travel insurance and BCWA insurance?

These are two different types of insurance that protect you in different ways.

Type 1: Emergency Travel Medical Insurance

This helps pay for eligible medical emergencies while you are travelling outside your home province or Canada. For example, if you become sick or are injured and need medical treatment while travelling, your travel medical insurance may help cover those costs. What is covered depends on the insurance policy you have.

Type 2: BCWA Commercial General Liability (CGL) Insurance

This is BCWA's liability insurance. It can help protect the club organization and its members if there is a covered liability claim related to a BCWA sanctioned activity or club operation.

Important: BCWA's CGL coverage does not automatically apply outside Canada. The trip must go through the BCWA Travel Authorization and approval process first.