|
As an "ambulance chaser" myself on the day job, I'll take a stab at this one:
1.) I'm presuming your 16U tourney is using FED rules. If so, yes, there is potential liability if you knowingly or negligently allow unsafe behavior/ equipment which is prohibited by the rules. If the tourney is not governed by FED rules, then your "standard of care" is the rules code you are operating under. If that standard is lower than FED [i.e.: ear flaps not required], there is no need for you to impose the "safer" code's standards.
2.) Depending on the jurisdiction involved, your actual risk may be limited or eliminated by legal doctrines such as contributory negligence or assumption of risk. Ask an attorney in your locality. Nevertheless, even the expense of sucessfully defending a suit can run to thousands of dollars.
3.) For games involving children, those "waivers" are probably not worth doodly: children cannot make binding contracts, and parents usually cannot waive the kids' personal injuries. If the rules in force prohibit certain unsafe equipment or conduct, ENFORCE THE RULE. If anyone asks you to look the other way, REFUSE. No TD or Protest Committee can "waive" a safety rule.
4.) Consider this a plug for NASO and/or ABUA membership, which provides specific insurance coverage for officiating liability. There has never been [so far as I can determine] a successful lawsuit against an umpire in my state, but I would not even consider "going bare" [without liability coverage] as an umpire.
[Edited by cbfoulds on Jul 28th, 2004 at 01:42 AM]
|