As we are looking at doing more games in northern IL & south-central WI, the subject of event insurance has become a limiting factor.  It's easy enough to have the festival cover us, but games that aren't connected to a festival are a concern.  At least in Madison, I need a million dollar policy to stage an athletic competition of any sort, which according to the insurance broker I talked to yesterday will cost $411.  Not bad, but as it is an independent game, there's not going to be much of a budget beyond any sponsorship we'd be forced to get and throwing fees, which might grow a game beyond what we want.  The broker said most companies wouldn't even touch it because, of all things, the sheaf toss scared them.  No mention of hammer or caber which I would think are higher risks to the spectators and throwers, respectively.  Ignorance effects rates.

What's the practical reality of throwing a game and needing insurance?  Would you bother if it was just a thrower's game and you didn't expect spectators beyond the casual passerby and athlete tag-alongs, like Decatur?  Are there any insurance companies more familiar with the risks of highland games that might beat the price I was quoted?  Any other insights that would be helpful?

Presently, my opinion is that athletes understand the risk and aren't prone to litigation, therefore insurance isn't absolutely necessary unless you're trying to court spectators.  Is this a reasonable asssumption?

One is at risk of a lawsuit every time your involved in a games, whether it be a competitor, judge, or AD.  I have always been told the waiver is not worth the paper it is written on. 

If it is a backyard game and no one has paid to throw, one's home owners should cover it, like it would cover a pickup basketball game on your driveway.

If not a backyard games and there is no insurance, those organizing the event is self insuring the risk - The chance that an insurable event will occur is low and can be decreased by how the field is set up (direction of throw, position of uprights, controlled access, ...) but if one does occur, it will have a high financial impact.

Athletes may not be prone to litigation but it only takes one and if an unfortunate accident occurs, the expense of that accident may force the lawsuit.

McSanta wrote: One is at risk of a lawsuit every time your involved in a games, whether it be a competitor, judge, or AD.  I have always been told the waiver is not worth the paper it is written on.  Athletes may not be prone to litigation but it only takes one and if an unfortunate accident occurs, the expense of that accident may force the lawsuit.

I was happy to find out that Bruce carries insurance for the whole event, so the athletics are covered in Maine, but it was one of the first things on my list. Not only to protect the St. Andrews society, but the athletes. God forbid something were to happen, I would not want to see the athlete, or judge or other have to be financially burdened as well as injured (or dead...)