Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association, Inc. (Mass Youth Soccer)  maintains insurance for its Membership. Insurance coverage through Massachusetts Youth Soccer, both general liability and medical, extends only to soccer-related events that are fully recognized and sanctioned by Mass Youth Soccer.

For details on the coverage included in the Massachusetts Youth Soccer insurance policies listed below click on the link below and if you have specific questions please email Carol Ann Buono at cbuono@mayouthsoccer.org

Mass Youth Soccer 2023-2024 Outline of Insurance Policies

Excess Soccer Accident Medical Expense Benefits – In tab below (Information for Parents/Organizations looking to make a medical expense claim)

To be covered by Massachusetts Youth Soccer insurance, a player, team, coach and/or organization:

MUST be registered and affiliated with Massachusetts Youth Soccer. This means that they must be properly registered with a Massachusetts Youth Soccer member organization and this registration data must be uploaded to the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association’s Registrar.

MUST be engaged in a soccer-related event.

MUST be engaged in a soccer-related event that is sanctioned by Massachusetts Youth Soccer or by a Youth Council member in good standing with U.S. Soccer (i.e. US Club Soccer, AYSO, SAY, USASA).

Examples of soccer-related events that ARE sanctioned by Massachusetts Youth Soccer:

– Training sessions and practices that are conducted in the normal course of a team’s play. Even training sessions or practices conducted at indoor facilities are considered fully sanctioned.

– Competitions in a League sanctioned by Massachusetts Youth Soccer are covered.

– Competitions in a Tournament sanctioned by Massachusetts Youth Soccer are covered.

– Competitions in recognized leagues in an approved facility by Massachusetts Youth Soccer are covered. (Scroll down for more information on indoor soccer policies)

– Soccer Camps that have been approved by Massachusetts Youth Soccer. (Scroll down for more information on summer policies)

– Competitions in an out-of-state Tournament that is sanctioned by another U.S. Youth Soccer State Association and for which the team obtains the requisite Permission to Travel from Massachusetts Youth Soccer.

– Competitions in an in or out-of-state tournament that is sanctioned by a US Soccer Youth Council member in good standing with U.S. Soccer (i.e. US Club Soccer, AYSA, SAY, USASA).  For out-of-state tournaments teams must obtain the requisite Permission to Travel from Massachusetts Youth Soccer.

Examples of soccer events that ARE NOT covered by Massachusetts Youth Soccer insurance policies:

– Competitions in an indoor facility in which such facility has not been recognized and approved by Massachusetts Youth Soccer.

– Competition in an out-of state tournament for which the team did not obtain the requisite permission to travel from Massachusetts Youth Soccer.

– Competition at a tournament that has not been sanctioned by Massachusetts Youth Soccer or by a Youth Council member in good standing with U.S. Soccer (i.e. US Club Soccer, AYSO, SAY, USASA).

 – Soccer Camps that have not been recognized and approved by Massachusetts Youth Soccer

– Unsanctioned Summer League Play

– Summer pick up soccer

Should anyone ever have any questions on whether a particular soccer activity is covered please contact Carol Ann Buono at cbuono@mayouthsoccer.org

WINTER:

Massachusetts Youth Soccer has expanded its insurance coverage, to benefit our members and cover recognized and approved indoor/winter play. Indoor Soccer & Futsal played in recognized leagues at approved facilities are covered under our insurance program.

The insurance program covers Mass Youth Soccer members (players and adults) who are currently registered and in good standings with their member organization and Mass Youth Soccer. If a team is not comprised fully of Mass Youth soccer members, individuals may register with Mass Youth Soccer for winter play only through the individual soccer registration process on the Mass Youth Soccer website found at: https://fs23.formsite.com/massyouth/0tsowt93ys/index.html

Contact Carol Ann Buono at cbuono@mayouthsoccer.org for any Insurance Claims or questions.

Approved Facilities:

The following types of facilities are automatically considered to be recognized and approved by Massachusetts Youth Soccer.

Types of Recognized and Approved Indoor Facilities

Types of Indoor Facilities NOT Recognized and Approved

Member Organization (Towns and Clubs Only) Governance

PAST PRACTICES:  In the past all indoor soccer/futsal league play was not under the governance umbrella of Mass Youth Soccer and all member organizations.  Essentially, when a coach took a team indoors for the winter they were doing so on their own without any jurisdiction from the organization they may be involved with during the fall and spring seasons as well as without any of the insurance coverages from Mass Youth Soccer.

NEW PRACTICES:  Starting this winter (2019-2020) the following changes will now be in effect.

If an adult (typically a coach) puts a team, comprised of all town/club registered players, into an indoor league in a recognized and approved facility type under the approval from their member organization, then the member organization (town/club) must now have governance authority over this adult(s) and players.

SUMMER:

Massachusetts Youth Soccer provides insurance coverage, to benefit our registered members and cover recognized and approved Summer Camps & Clinics. Recognized and Approved Summer camps and clinics are covered under our insurance program as described below.

The insurance program covers Mass Youth Soccer members (players and adults) who are currently registered and in good standings with their member organization and Mass Youth Soccer.

If a camp or clinic attendee/participant is not a registered member of a member organization (town/club) and Mass Youth, they will not be covered by our insurance program.  The act of registering with a camp or clinic provider to attend a camp or clinic does not provide nonmembers with Mass Youth Soccer insurance coverage.

Approved Camps and Clinics:

The following types of camps and clinics that are considered to be recognized and approved by Massachusetts Youth Soccer.

Types of Recognized and Approved Camps Provided by Non-member Organizations

Types of Recognized and Approved Camps Provided by Member Organizations

Types of Recognized and Approved Clinics Provided by Member Organizations

The information provided above for Recognized and Approved Camps is the same for clinics except that clinics do not need to meet Massachusetts Department of Public Health requirements for Camps.

More information about the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s definition of a recreational camp for children and specific provisions for its licensure are found in regulation 105 CMR 430.000

Contact Carol Ann Buono at cbuono@mayouthsoccer.org for any Insurance Claims or questions.

Medical Claim Form

CLAIM PROCEDURES

Claim forms are available through Mass Youth Soccer and are also available on this web site. In the event of injury requiring medical treatment, the Covered Person should fully complete a claim form, have it verified by a witness from the member organization, who is not a relative of the claimant, and submit it to Mass Youth Soccer, Attn: Carol Ann Buono. Notice of claim must be filed within 30 days from the date of injury, unless it can be demonstrated that it was not reasonably possible to do so. Do not wait until all of the medical bills have been received – to initiate the claim, submit all of the appropriate documents within 30 days. Since the Mass Youth Soccer Plan is provided on an “excess” basis, all medical and/or dental charges must first be submitted to any other medical insurance carrier or provider available to the participant. Detailed claim instructions can be found on the claim form.

SUMMARY OF COVERAGE

The following summary applies to the Excess Soccer Accident Medical Benefit Plan that is provided by the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association (Mass Youth Soccer). This plan is self-funded. All Plan benefits are provided by Mass Youth Soccer. We reserve the right to utilize a third party to administer the Plan on its behalf, and to make benefit determinations based upon information submitted by Covered Person.

The Massachusetts Youth Soccer Plan is an excess medical plan. This means that the Plan benefits are provided only after all other insurance benefits are paid. These other insurance benefits may be provided on a group or individual basis, and may be provided by a traditional insurance indemnity policy, or by an HMO, PPO or other similar arrangement. Medical or dental expenses on behalf of the Covered Person must be submitted to these plans, and an Explanation of Benefits must be provided to Mass Youth Soccer, before the benefits of this Plan will be determined.

TERM OF COVERAGE

Each soccer year begins on September 1st and runs through the following August 31st.

COVERED PERSONS

All registered and affiliated players, coaches, assistant coaches and other adult volunteers of participating member youth soccer organizations are covered by this program if:

  1.  Their names are listed on a registration report for that organization, and the registration report has been provided to Mass Youth Soccer; and
  2.  The organization has paid the required affiliation fee to Mass Youth Soccer for all affiliated persons; and
  3.  The organization has affiliated all participating players and adults, whether the individuals involved are participating in a premier, travel or recreational program.

COVERED ACTIVITIES

Covered persons are eligible for Plan benefits for an injury that results, directly and independently of all other causes, from an accident that occurs while participating in any of the following covered activities:

  • Scheduled games, team practice sessions or other soccer activities sponsored by the affiliated member organization, provided they are under the direct supervision of a member organization registered adult;
  • Sanctioned league games (recreational or travel), provided these activities are sanctioned by Mass Youth Soccer or another US Youth Soccer state soccer association.
  • Sanctioned tournaments provided these activities are sanctioned by Mass Youth Soccer, another US Youth Soccer state soccer association or by a Youth Council member in good standing with U.S. Soccer (i.e. US Club Soccer, AYSO, SAY, USASA).;
  • Traveling directly to or directly from such scheduled games, practice sessions, or sponsored activity; or
  • Participation in an approved indoor activity, summer camp or clinic as described on the website page for these activities.

LIMITED COVERAGE

When a member has a primary insurance carrier and elects to seek treatment from a facility that is either not covered or only partially covered by that insurance carrier, Massachusetts Youth Soccer will not cover any additional cost over and above what would have been paid had that member stayed within his or her primary insurance plan. It will be the member’s responsibility to provide the documentation proving the coverage amount of his/her insurance carrier.

EXCESS SOCCER ACCIDENT MEDICAL EXPENSE BENEFITS

For reasonable and necessary medical expenses, as determined by Massachusetts Youth Soccer or an approved administrator, the Plan will pay up to $100,000 for injuries sustained in a Covered Activity. Dental injuries are treated like any other injury.

Benefits are paid only after all other insurance benefits have been paid, and then only to the extent any applicable Plan deductible has been satisfied. The current Plan deductibles are: $750 (carry primary insurance) & $1500 (no primary insurance) for both medical and dental expenses. If the Covered Person incurs both medical and dental expenses in the same accident, both deductibles apply.

To be eligible for payment, the first expense relating to the accident must be incurred within eight (8) weeks of the date of the accident. No benefit will be paid for any expense that is incurred more than 104 weeks after the date of the accident. An expense is considered to be incurred on the date the medical or dental care is given to the Covered Person.

WHAT IS NOT COVERED

The Plan does not provide coverage for:

  • Treatment by persons employed or retained by the affiliated organization, or by family members of the Covered Person;
  • Injuries resulting from other than Covered Activities;
  • Loss resulting from sickness or disease, except bacterial infection which occurs through an accidental wound;
  • The repair, replacement, examinations or prescription, or fitting of eyeglasses or contact lenses;
  • Repair or replacement of existing dentures, partial dentures, braces, or other artificial dental restoration;
  • Treatment that is incurred by a person who is not a Covered Person; or
  • Medical or dental care and treatment that is paid or payable under any other program of insurance. These other programs include group, blanket or franchise health insurance coverage, group hospital or medical service plans, and prepayment coverage; any coverage that is provided by or under a labor-management trustee plan, union welfare plan, employer organization plan, and coverage under any governmental programs, coverage required or provided by any statute, and automobile reparations insurance (no-fault) coverage.

When organizations rent or reserve fields or facilities, the owner (e.g. town or facility owner) often asks for proof of insurance from the organization. The form used to provide such proof of insurance is a Certificate of Insurance. The Certificate of Insurance can be obtained directly from Massachusetts Youth Soccer and will typically take 2-3 days to process, so please plan ahead!

Only the President or the Registrar of an affiliated youth soccer organization can request a Certificate of Insurance from our office.

Please note:  This certificate is for games and practices involving the affiliated organization ONLY. Insurance coverage does NOT extend to any events not sanctioned or acknowledged as approved for coverage by Massachusetts Youth Soccer.  We will not provide this certificate unless your organization is affiliated with Massachusetts Youth Soccer.

If you have any questions you can reach Rachel Woo at RWoo@mayouthsoccer.org or by phone at 978/466-8812 x236.

To Request a Certificate of Insurance from Massachusetts Youth Soccer using our online form CLICK HERE

Please note due to a change in portal/agency, Certificates of Insurance will be emailed from Players Health Certificates. Please check your email spam / promotions folders as emails with attachments may be filtered until listed as a safe sender. During the first few weeks of the season, COI requests can take 5-7 business days for processing.

WINTER:

Effective December, 2019, Massachusetts Youth Soccer expanded its insurance coverage, to benefit our members and cover recognized and approved indoor/winter play. Indoor Soccer & Futsal played in recognized leagues at approved facilities are covered under our insurance program.

The insurance program covers Mass Youth Soccer members (players and adults) who are currently registered and in good standings with their member organization and Mass Youth Soccer. If a team is not comprised fully of Mass Youth soccer members, individuals may register with Mass Youth Soccer for winter play only through the individual soccer registration process on the Mass Youth Soccer website found at: https://fs23.formsite.com/massyouth/0tsowt93ys/index.html

Contact Carol Ann Buono at cbuono@mayouthsoccer.org for any Insurance Claims or questions.

Approved Facilities:

The following types of facilities are automatically considered to be recognized and approved by Massachusetts Youth Soccer.

Types of Recognized and Approved Indoor Facilities

  • Facilities constructed solely for the purpose of providing indoor sports activities to include soccer, arena soccer, or futsal.  These facilities may have either turf, sport court, and/or wooden floor surfaces. These facilities may be either permanent fixed wall/ceiling or approved surfaces covered by inflatable domes. Examples of such indoor facilities include ForeKicks, Roots Athletic Center, Danvers Indoor Sports, Marina Bay SportsPlex, Turf Time, Essex Sports Center, South Shore Sports Center, Teamworks, Compete Indoor Sports, plus many other similar indoor sports dedicated locations.
  • Gymnasiums owned by school districts, YMCA’s, Boys and Girls Clubs, religious organizations built primarily for the use of conducting indoor sporting events.
  • Indoor tennis courts repurposed (removal of nets and posts) for the playing of other sports.
  • Temporarily domed outdoor fields. Fields used primarily for outdoor sporting events, including soccer, which are temporarily domed during the winter months.

Types of Indoor Facilities NOT Recognized and Approved

  • Any type of building structure not specifically built for the purpose of conducting sporting events to include soccer or futsal. Examples include:
    • ​Warehouses or large garages
    • Enclosed courts (i.e. racquetball, squash)
    • Personal residences
    • Empty Swimming pools
    • Auditoriums

Member Organization (Towns and Clubs Only) Governance

Effective December 2019 the following is now in effect.

If an adult (typically a coach) puts a team, comprised of all town/club registered players, into an indoor league in a recognized and approved facility type under the approval from their member organization, then the member organization (town/club) must now have governance authority over this adult(s) and players.

  • This governance includes overseeing team/players/coach standards, disciplinary practices, hearing complaints and grievances, etc.
  • If the member organization (town/club) approves the team and maintains governance all activities will be covered by Mass Youth Soccer Insurance policies as provided similar to fall and spring play.
  • If a member organization (town/club) does not approve a team, then they have no governance/jurisdiction and the adults and players will not have any Mass Youth Soccer insurance coverages in force.

SUMMER:

Massachusetts Youth Soccer provides insurance coverage, to benefit our registered members and cover recognized and approved Summer Camps & Clinics. Recognized and Approved Summer camps and clinics are covered under our insurance program as described below.

The insurance program covers Mass Youth Soccer members (players and adults) who are currently registered and in good standings with their member organization and Mass Youth Soccer.

If a camp or clinic attendee/participant is not a registered member of a member organization (town/club) and Mass Youth, they will not be covered by our insurance program.  The act of registering with a camp or clinic provider to attend a camp or clinic does not provide nonmembers with Mass Youth Soccer insurance coverage.

Approved Camps and Clinics:

The following types of camps and clinics that are considered to be recognized and approved by Massachusetts Youth Soccer.

Types of Recognized and Approved Camps Provided by Non-member Organizations

  • Camps provided by fully licensed, bonded, insured and Massachusetts Department of Public Health approved soccer camp organizations. Examples include such camps provided by Challenger Sports (including their subsidiary companies such as SoccerPlus), Nike Soccer Camps (including subsidiary companies such a Vogelsinger) and other similar camp provider organizations.  At these types of camps, the only insurance coverage provided for our member organization’s players and adults is Excess Medical. Liability insurance is provided by the camp provider, not Mass Youth Soccer.
  • Camps provided by fully licensed, bonded, insured and Massachusetts Department of Public Health approved soccer camp providing soccer clubs (not town programs or Mass Youth Soccer member clubs) organizations. Examples include such camps provided by New England Revolution, GPS, Best Soccer, and similar soccer club organizations.  At these types of camps, the only insurance coverage provided for our member organization’s players and adults is Excess Medical. Liability insurance is provided by the soccer club, not Mass Youth Soccer.
  • Camps provided by fully licensed, bonded, insured and Massachusetts Department of Public Health approved soccer camp providing educational organizations. Examples include such camps provided by Boston City High School, Tufts University and similar educational organizations.  At these types of camps, the only insurance coverage provided for our member organization’s players and adults is Excess Medical. Liability insurance is provided by the educational organization provider, not Mass Youth Soccer.

Types of Recognized and Approved Camps Provided by Member Organizations

  • Camps provided by Massachusetts Youth Soccer member organization (towns, clubs or leagues) in good standing.  If the event is qualified as a camp by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health criteria, then all state MDPH requirements must be satisfied to be eligible as an approved soccer camp.  The primary purpose of the soccer camp must be to provide camp services for players of the member organization and not open to the general public. At these types of camps, the insurance coverages provided for our member organization’s players and adults is Excess Medical and Liability insurance.  If the member organization operates camps open to the general public they will be considered similar to those provided by non members and the only insurance in force for registered member players and adults will be Excess Medical.

Types of Recognized and Approved Clinics Provided by Member Organizations

The information provided above for Recognized and Approved Camps is the same for clinics except that clinics do not need to meet Massachusetts Department of Public Health requirements for Camps.

More information about the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s definition of a recreational camp for children and specific provisions for its licensure are found in regulation 105 CMR 430.000

Contact Carol Ann Buono at cbuono@mayouthsoccer.org for any Insurance Claims or questions.