ASA Insurance and the NPFPL

[IRISHMAFIA]

Below is a copy of a letter sent to Ray Macone, Commissioner, Boston ASA, concerning insurance coverage of any ASA umpire who opts to work the NPFPL



Raymond E. Macone
414 Main Street
Melrose, MA 02176

May 26, 2004

Re: National Pro Fast Pitch Umpires

Dear Ray,

Thank you for inquiring about insurance coverage for ASA Umpires who will be participating in the new National Pro Fast Pitch League.

As it happened, the ASA Insurance Committee was meeting in NJ this past weekend. The subject of providing ASA Umpire Insurance for their umpiring in the National Pro Fast Pitch League was discussed at length. It was their decision not to allow ASA Umpire Insurance to apply to ASA Umpires working National Pro Fast Pitch games. The reasons were:

First, there are Worker’s Compensation issues. It is very likely that the pro league’s umpires would be considered employees. Therefore the league and/or the umpire association, and therefore the ASA, could be held responsible for Worker’s Compensation benefits, even if the umpires accept the status of “independent contractors.”

Second, there are liability issues in professional softball that are very different from those in amateur softball. It is a greater exposure.

Third, the ASA provides insurance for its umpires who work ASA games. It seems that a professional league should have the resources to do the same for its umpires, rather than leave it to an unaffiliated organization to find that coverage for them. After all, umpires are central to the operation of any pro league and the pro league should recognize that supplying insurance for its umpires is an intrinsic necessity for the league’s successful operation.

Fourth, the existing insurance policy for ASA stipulates that umpires are covered for “amateur softball.” Clearly professional sports requires a new policy, and the Amateur Softball Association, by virtue of its name, does not seem to be the likely candidate to secure that policy.

I hope this is a satisfactory explanation of the issues surrounding insurance coverage for these prospective professional umpires.

Sincerely,

A.J. Morgan

A.J. Morgan
Assistant Vice President
Amateur Sports Division
Bollinger Insurance