Cheerleading Facilities Sports Facility Insurance (UK): A Practical Guide

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Cheerleading Facilities Sports Facility Insurance (UK): A Practical Guide

Cheerleading Facilities Sports Facility Insurance (UK): A Practical Guide

CALL FOR EXPERT ADVICE
GET A QUOTE NOW
CALL FOR EXPERT ADVICE
GET A QUOTE NOW

Cheerleading Facilities Sports Facility Insurance (UK): A Practical Guide

Cheerleading has evolved into a high-skill, high-energy sport with complex training needs: sprung floors, tumble tracks, foam pits, stunts at height, loud music, busy classes, and a constant flow of juniors, adults, coaches, volunteers, and spectators. If you run a cheerleading gym, academy, or multi-sport facility with cheer programmes, you’re managing a unique mix of injury risk, property exposure, safeguarding obligations, and business interruption threats.

This guide breaks down the key insurance covers cheerleading facilities typically need in the UK, what insurers look for, common exclusions, and practical steps to reduce claims and keep premiums sensible.

What counts as a “cheerleading facility”?

For insurance purposes, cheerleading facilities can include:

  • Dedicated cheer gyms and academies

  • Multi-sport centres offering cheer, gymnastics, dance, tumbling, or parkour

  • School or community halls used for cheer classes

  • Competitive teams travelling to events

  • Facilities with specialist equipment (sprung floors, tumble tracks, pits, trampolines)

The more “high-risk” activities you run (advanced tumbling, baskets, pyramids, trampoline work), the more important it is to have the right liability limits, clear risk controls, and accurate disclosures.

Why cheerleading insurance is different

Cheerleading combines elements of gymnastics, dance, and contact sport. That creates a risk profile with:

  • Higher likelihood of injury claims (sprains, fractures, concussion)

  • Greater severity potential (falls from height, spinal injuries)

  • Strong safeguarding requirements (children, changing areas, photography)

  • Equipment-heavy premises (floors, mats, sound systems, mirrors)

  • Event and travel exposures (competitions, camps, demonstrations)

A generic “sports club” policy can leave gaps if it doesn’t properly cover stunting, tumbling, participant-to-participant injury, or hired-in venues.

Core insurance covers for cheerleading facilities

1) Public liability insurance

Public liability covers your legal liability if a third party is injured or their property is damaged due to your business activities.

In a cheerleading setting, this could include:

  • A parent slipping on a wet entrance floor

  • A spectator injured by a falling object (speaker, banner, equipment)

  • Damage to a landlord’s property during a class

Typical limits for sports facilities are often £2m, £5m, or £10m. If you host events, work with councils/schools, or have higher footfall, £5m–£10m is common.

Watch-outs: Some policies treat “participants” differently from “members of the public”. Make sure your policy wording matches your real-world setup.

2) Employers’ liability insurance

If you employ anyone (including part-time, casual staff, and sometimes volunteers), employers’ liability is usually a legal requirement in the UK.

It covers claims from employees who are injured or become ill due to their work.

Examples:

  • A coach injured while spotting a stunt

  • A receptionist hurt moving equipment

  • A staff member developing hearing issues due to prolonged loud music exposure

Standard cover is typically £10m.

3) Professional indemnity (coaching instruction liability)

Professional indemnity (PI) is crucial when you provide coaching, instruction, or advice. It covers claims alleging negligence in your professional services.

Cheerleading PI claims could involve:

  • Allegations of poor coaching leading to injury

  • Inadequate progression planning (athlete pushed too quickly)

  • Failure to supervise safely during stunts or tumbling

Some insurers bundle PI with public liability for sports instructors; others require it separately.

4) Property insurance (buildings, contents, and equipment)

If you own the building, you’ll need buildings insurance. If you rent, you’ll typically need contents and tenant’s improvements.

Cheer gyms often have significant investment in:

  • Sprung floors and subfloor systems

  • Mats, blocks, crash pads, tumble tracks

  • Rigging, banners, lighting, sound systems

  • Mirrors, reception fit-out, CCTV

Property insurance can cover fire, flood, storm, theft, and accidental damage (depending on cover).

Tip: List high-value items and keep a simple asset register with purchase dates and replacement costs.

5) Business interruption insurance

Business interruption (BI) covers loss of income and ongoing costs if you can’t operate due to an insured event (like a fire or flood).

For cheerleading facilities, BI can be the difference between reopening and closing permanently.

Consider:

  • How long would it take to replace a sprung floor?

  • Could you relocate classes temporarily?

  • Would members pause payments?

Choose a realistic indemnity period (often 12–24 months). For specialist fit-outs, 18–24 months can be sensible.

6) Personal accident cover (optional but popular)

Personal accident can pay fixed benefits if a coach or member suffers an injury (depending on who is covered). It’s not a substitute for liability insurance, but it can support:

  • Coaches who rely on physical work

  • Club welfare and member confidence

  • Faster resolution for minor incidents

7) Legal expenses insurance

Legal expenses can help with:

  • Employment disputes

  • Contract disputes (landlord, suppliers)

  • Tax investigations

  • Health & safety defence costs

For facilities with staff, leases, and supplier contracts, it’s often a cost-effective add-on.

8) Cyber insurance

Most cheer gyms process:

  • Online memberships and recurring payments

  • Medical and emergency contact data

  • Safeguarding records

  • Email and social media accounts

Cyber insurance can cover breach response, forensic support, business interruption from cyber events, and liability claims.

This is especially relevant if you store children’s data or use third-party booking platforms.

Additional covers to consider

Equipment cover away from premises

If you take mats, banners, sound equipment, or merchandise to competitions, you may need “all risks” cover for items away from your gym.

Money and theft by employees

If you handle cash (events, merchandise), money cover can protect cash on premises and in transit. Employee dishonesty cover can be relevant for larger operations.

Directors’ and officers’ liability (D&O)

If you operate as a limited company, D&O can protect directors against claims alleging mismanagement, regulatory breaches, or employment-related issues.

Event insurance

Hosting showcases, competitions, or camps? Event insurance can cover:

  • Cancellation (venue issues, severe weather)

  • Public liability for the event

  • Equipment hire and temporary structures

Common exclusions and “gotchas” in cheerleading insurance

Cheerleading is sometimes treated like gymnastics or acrobatics by insurers. Common problem areas include:

  • Exclusions for trampolines, foam pits, or aerial activities

  • Restrictions on “stunts above shoulder height”

  • No cover for participant-to-participant injury

  • No cover for competitions, demonstrations, or offsite training

  • Requirements for qualified coaches and documented risk assessments

The fix is usually straightforward: disclose your activities clearly and make sure the policy schedule and endorsements match what you do.

What insurers will ask (and how to prepare)

When quoting, insurers typically want:

  • Number of participants per week and age ranges

  • Maximum class sizes and coach-to-athlete ratios

  • Whether you run advanced stunting/tumbling

  • Qualifications of coaches (and ongoing CPD)

  • Safeguarding policies and DBS checks

  • Premises details: flooring type, maintenance, cleaning, inspections

  • Incident reporting process and first aid provision

  • Prior claims history

Having these ready speeds up quotes and improves terms.

Risk management: practical steps that reduce claims

Insurers love clear, consistent controls. For cheerleading facilities, focus on:

  • Progression frameworks: skills signed off before moving up

  • Spotting and supervision: defined rules for stunts and tumbling

  • Warm-ups and conditioning: injury prevention built into sessions

  • Equipment checks: daily visual checks, scheduled deep inspections

  • Floor care: documented cleaning, slip prevention, entrance mats

  • First aid: trained staff, stocked kits, clear emergency plan

  • Incident logs: record near-misses as well as injuries

  • Safeguarding: DBS checks, codes of conduct, controlled photography

  • Facility rules: spectator areas, restricted zones, signage

These steps don’t just help premiums—they protect your athletes and your reputation.

Safeguarding and compliance considerations

If you work with children, safeguarding is not optional. From an insurance perspective, poor safeguarding can lead to:

  • Serious liability claims

  • Reputational damage

  • Regulatory scrutiny

Key basics:

  • Written safeguarding policy and named safeguarding lead

  • DBS checks where appropriate

  • Clear supervision rules for changing areas and toilets

  • Consent processes for photos/videos

  • Data protection practices for medical and contact info

If you’re hiring venues (schools/community centres), expect them to ask for proof of insurance and safeguarding processes.

How much does cheerleading facility insurance cost?

Premiums vary widely based on:

  • Turnover and membership numbers

  • Activities (advanced stunts/tumbling vs beginner-only)

  • Claims history

  • Premises size and fit-out value

  • Limits selected (e.g., £2m vs £10m public liability)

  • Whether you need PI, cyber, BI, and offsite cover

The best way to control cost is to be accurate in disclosures and demonstrate strong risk management.

Choosing the right policy structure

Many cheerleading operators do best with a commercial combined policy that can package:

  • Public liability

  • Employers’ liability

  • Property (contents/tenant improvements)

  • Business interruption

  • Optional add-ons (legal expenses, cyber)

If you’re a smaller academy renting a hall, you may need a sports instructor policy plus hired venue liability—just make sure it covers stunting/tumbling and offsite events.

Quick checklist: what to gather before requesting a quote

  • Business details: legal entity, address, turnover

  • Participant numbers and age ranges

  • Activities list (tumbling, stunting, trampoline, camps, competitions)

  • Coach qualifications and DBS/safeguarding processes

  • Claims history (last 3–5 years)

  • Property sums insured (contents, tenant improvements, equipment)

  • Desired liability limits (£2m/£5m/£10m)

  • Any contracts requiring specific wording (landlords, councils, schools)

FAQs: Cheerleading facility insurance

Do I need insurance if athletes sign a waiver?

Waivers can help set expectations, but they don’t remove your duty of care. Liability claims can still be made, especially where negligence is alleged.

Does public liability cover injuries to my members?

Not always. Some policies treat members as “the public”; others exclude participants. You may need specific sports liability wording and/or PI.

We rent a school hall—what cover do we need?

You’ll typically need public liability (including hired venue liability), professional indemnity for coaching, and equipment cover if you store or transport kit.

Are stunts above shoulder height covered?

They can be, but only if disclosed and accepted by the insurer. Always confirm the policy includes your stunt levels.

Do I need employers’ liability for freelance coaches?

It depends on the working relationship. If they are effectively under your control and treated like staff, you may still need cover. Get advice based on your setup.

What about competitions and travel?

Ask for cover that includes offsite activities, demonstrations, and competitions. Consider equipment away from premises and travel arrangements.

Final thoughts

Cheerleading facilities are vibrant, community-driven businesses—but they carry specialist risks that deserve specialist insurance. The right policy should protect your athletes, your coaches, your premises, and your income, while matching the reality of stunting, tumbling, events, and safeguarding.

If you want, share a quick outline of your setup (location, class sizes, age groups, whether you do advanced stunts/tumbling, and whether you own or rent the building) and I’ll help you shape a quote-ready insurance spec and a conversion-focused CTA for your website.

Related Blogs

Fencing Clubs Sports Facility Insurance: Complete Guide

Fencing Clubs Sports Facility Insurance: Complete Guide

By Insure 24

Fencing Clubs Sports Facility Insurance: Complete Guide

Fencing clubs represent a unique intersection of sport, tradition, and technical skill. Whether you operate a small community club or a large competitive facility, the combination of sharp weapons,…

Continue Reading
Skate Parks Sports Facility Insurance: A Complete Guide

Skate Parks Sports Facility Insurance: A Complete Guide

By Insure 24

Skate Parks Sports Facility Insurance: A Complete Guide

Introduction

Skate parks have evolved from underground counter-culture spaces to mainstream sports facilities embraced by communities across the UK. Whether you operate an indoor facility, outdoor…

Continue Reading
Polo Clubs Sports Facility Insurance: A Complete Guide

Polo Clubs Sports Facility Insurance: A Complete Guide

By Insure 24

Polo Clubs Sports Facility Insurance: A Complete Guide

Polo clubs represent a unique intersection of equestrian sport, luxury hospitality, and community recreation. Operating a polo club involves managing significant risks—from high-value horses a…

Continue Reading
Equestrian Sports Facility Insurance: A Complete Guide

Equestrian Sports Facility Insurance: A Complete Guide

By Insure 24

Equestrian Sports Facility Insurance: A Complete Guide

Operating an equestrian sports facility comes with unique risks and responsibilities. Whether you manage a riding school, livery yard, competition venue, or training centre, comprehensive insurance …

Continue Reading