Safer Clubs.

Mid-season insurance review: why January is the right time for clubs to check their cover

January is a natural point for grassroots football clubs to take stock.

By this stage of the season, many clubs have settled into their match, training and facility routines. But they may also have experienced changes that affect their insurance position - from new activities and upgraded facilities to revised asset values, staffing changes or claims already made.

That is why a mid-season insurance review can be so valuable.

Insurance is not something clubs should only think about at renewal. A lot can change during the season, and if club information is out of date, cover may no longer reflect the reality of how the club is operating.

A practical review in January can help clubs check that their insurance arrangements still match their people, premises, activities and risks.

Good club management means keeping insurance information current

For many grassroots clubs, insurance is arranged ahead of the season and then left untouched unless there is a serious incident. But mid-season can be exactly when gaps begin to emerge.

Perhaps the club has added new training sessions, increased the number of teams, invested in equipment, improved floodlighting, changed venue arrangements or taken on new volunteers and coaches. Perhaps there have already been injuries, property issues or liability incidents this season that raise questions about whether current protection is still adequate.

A mid-season review helps clubs ask a simple but important question:

What should clubs review mid-season?

A January insurance check does not need to be complicated. It should focus on whether anything material has changed.

Clubs should consider reviewing:

• the number of teams, players and age groups involved
• training patterns, coaching activity and any new sessions introduced
• use of facilities, pitches, clubhouses and hired venues
• any upgrades to buildings, floodlighting, fencing or other fixed assets
• new equipment purchases or changes in replacement values
• fundraising, social or community activities added during the season
• volunteer, staff or committee changes that affect responsibilities
• incidents, claims or near misses already experienced this season

These are all areas that can influence how well current cover matches actual exposure.

Changes to facilities, activities and values can affect insurance needs

Grassroots clubs are not static. Even within one season, a clubs operations can change meaningfully.

A clubhouse refurbishment, additional storage, improved lighting, new grounds equipment or an expanded training programme may all alter the clubs risk profile. In some cases, values may also have changed due to inflation or higher rebuild and replacement costs.

If those changes are not reflected in insurance information, clubs may find that cover levels no longer feel appropriate when they need them most.

January is a sensible time to review:

Keeping this information current supports stronger decision-making and can help avoid surprises later in the season.

Personal accident insurance is worth revisiting mid-season

January is also a useful point to review personal accident insurance, particularly if the club has already seen injuries or submitted claims during the season.

Personal accident insurance can help provide financial support when someone is injured while taking part in a covered club or team activity. The National Game Insurance Scheme (NGIS) provides cover whilst insured members are at a ground or premises, where there is an agreed fixture or training session, including direct travel to and from those activities.  The NGIS policies automatically extend for attendance at club social events, subject to the policy wording and exclusions.

The NGIS personal accident cover is designed for adult and youth teams and automatically includes players, trainers, committee members, club officials and managers.

For clubs, the question at mid-season is not just whether personal accident cover is in place, but whether the level of cover still feels right.

What should clubs think about when reviewing personal accident cover?

A practical mid-season review should consider what the club has already learned from the current season.

For example:

• Have there already been injuries that resulted in time away from work, football or usual activity?
• Has the club seen claims that highlight the financial impact an injury can have on players or officials?
• Does the chosen level of cover still feel appropriate for the age profile and playing level of the team?
• Are club officials and support roles included as expected?
• Does the club understand any limits, exclusions or reduced cover for older participants?
• Does the club know what minimum level of personal accident insurance its County FA requires?

If a club has already had injuries this season, that experience can be a useful prompt to ask whether current benefits would genuinely support those affected in a future incident.

A mid-season audit is also about learning from the season so far

Insurance reviews are most useful when they are not treated as an admin exercise alone.

By January, clubs often have a clearer picture of how the season is actually unfolding. They may have seen which facilities are under the most pressure, where operational strains are emerging, what types of incidents are most likely, and whether any assumptions made earlier in the year need updating.

That makes this a strong point to review:

• what has changed
• what has gone wrong or nearly gone wrong
• whether claims experience suggests a need to strengthen protection
• whether current information held for insurance purposes is accurate
• whether the club would feel confident in its cover if a new incident happened tomorrow

This is not about expecting problems. It is about making sure the club is properly prepared if they happen.

A stronger season starts with a current picture of risk

A mid-season insurance review can help clubs make sure their cover still reflects current facilities, activities, values, operations and player protection needs - especially after injuries or claims earlier in the season.