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Legal Liability |
Massachusetts' laws provide soccer clubs, teams, coaches, volunteers, and administrators some protection against legal liability.
Immunity from Lawsuits
Unpaid youth soccer administrators, coaches, managers, and volunteers, are not liable for injuries they cause when rendering services for their team or club.
However, intentional or grossly negligent acts, car accidents when transporting players, or field defects are not immune from lawsuit. Also injuries caused during "primarily commercial" activities are not immune. So you may not be protected from lawsuits for injuries arising from certain fundraising activities, for instance. [1]
To be protected by this law your soccer organization needs to be a bona fide nonprofit registered with the Massachusetts' Secretary of State and the IRS.
Limit on Damages
If you are sued - and the immunity law does not apply - you may be covered by a $20,000 limit on damages for injuries you cause when rendering tour services to team or club. But if the injury was "committed in the course of activities primarily commercial in character even though carried on to obtain revenue to be used for team or club you may not be protected by the damage limit. [2] This means that your fundraising activities may not be covered by this damages limit.
The cap does not apply to injury claims arising from car accidents when transporting players.
To be protected by this law your soccer organization also needs to be a bona fide nonprofit registered with the Massachusetts' Secretary of State and the IRS.
[1] M.G.L. c. 231, §85V.
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