Kabaddi Facilities Sports Facility Insurance (UK): a complete guide

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Kabaddi Facilities Sports Facility Insurance (UK): a complete guide

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Kabaddi Facilities Sports Facility Insurance (UK): a complete guide

Introduction: why kabaddi venues need specialist insurance

Kabaddi is fast, physical and contact-heavy. Whether you run a dedicated kabaddi arena, a multi-sport hall that hosts kabaddi sessions, or a community club hiring school or leisure-centre space, the risk profile is different from many “low-contact” sports.

Players grapple, tackle and fall. Spectators can be close to the action. Equipment may be minimal, but the intensity is high and injuries can be severe. Add in volunteer coaches, youth sessions, tournaments, temporary seating, food stalls, and hired-in referees, and you’ve got multiple liability exposures.

The right sports facility insurance isn’t just a box-ticking exercise. It’s what keeps a claim from becoming a cashflow crisis, protects your directors/committee members, and helps you keep the doors open after a serious incident.

This guide explains the key covers kabaddi facilities typically need in the UK, what insurers look for, common exclusions, and practical steps to keep premiums sensible.

What counts as a “kabaddi facility” for insurance?

Insurers usually care less about the name of the sport and more about how the venue is used. A “kabaddi facility” could include:

  • Dedicated kabaddi training and match venue

  • Multi-sport leisure centre or community hall hosting kabaddi sessions

  • School or college sports hall hired for kabaddi clubs

  • Indoor arena hosting tournaments with spectators

  • Outdoor kabaddi pitch (less common in the UK, but possible)

  • Club-run facility with gym/conditioning area attached

  • Venues running youth kabaddi, women’s kabaddi, or mixed sessions

Your insurance needs will change depending on whether you own the building, lease it, or hire it occasionally, and whether you host public events.

The core policies most kabaddi venues need

1) Public liability insurance (PL)

Public liability covers your legal liability if a third party (not an employee) is injured or their property is damaged due to your negligence.

For kabaddi facilities, common PL claim scenarios include:

  • A spectator trips over a cable or uneven flooring

  • A visitor is struck by a player who runs out of bounds

  • A parent slips in a wet entrance area

  • Property damage to a hired venue (if you’re the hirer)

Typical limits in the UK are £2m, £5m or £10m. Many councils, schools and leisure centres require £5m as a minimum for hirers.

Watch-outs:

  • PL does not automatically cover “participant-to-participant” injuries in contact sports (see section on sports liability)

  • Exclusions may apply for assault, deliberate acts, or non-compliance with safety rules

2) Employers’ liability insurance (EL)

Employers’ liability is legally required in most cases if you employ staff in the UK, even part-time.

Kabaddi venues often forget that “employee” can include:

  • Paid coaches and assistants

  • Reception/admin staff n- Cleaners and caretakers

  • Grounds staff (for outdoor pitches)

  • Some casual workers (depending on arrangement)

Standard EL limit is £10m.

If you are a volunteer-run club with no paid staff, you may not need EL, but it depends on how you operate. If in doubt, get advice—misclassifying workers is a common compliance issue.

3) Sports liability / participant liability

This is crucial for kabaddi.

Sports liability (sometimes called participant liability) is designed to respond when a participant alleges negligence caused their injury. In contact sports, the line between “accepted risk” and negligence can be contested.

Examples:

  • A player claims inadequate supervision during drills

  • A junior session is run without appropriate safeguarding ratios

  • A referee is not suitably qualified and a dangerous tackle is not controlled

  • The playing surface is unsuitable (slippery, damaged matting, poor markings)

Some policies combine this with public liability; others require it as an extension. Make sure your broker/insurer knows it’s kabaddi and that it’s contact.

4) Professional indemnity (PI) for coaching and instruction

If you provide coaching, training programmes, or fitness/conditioning advice, professional indemnity can be important.

PI can cover allegations such as:

  • Poor coaching instruction leading to injury

  • Inappropriate training load or unsafe conditioning advice

  • Failure to assess suitability for return-to-play after injury

Many sports organisations bundle PI with liability packages for clubs, but facilities that employ coaches directly may need separate cover.

5) Property insurance (buildings and contents)

If you own the premises, you’ll typically need buildings insurance. If you lease, you may still be responsible for parts of the building under the lease.

Contents can include:

  • Mats, boundary markers, training dummies

  • Gym equipment, weights, cardio machines

  • First aid kits and AEDs

  • Office equipment, computers, CCTV

  • Seating, barriers, signage

Key perils include fire, flood, storm, escape of water, theft, vandalism, and accidental damage.

Special note on flooring and matting: If you use specialist matting, confirm it’s included and correctly valued. Underinsurance is common when equipment is purchased over time.

6) Business interruption (BI)

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

For a kabaddi venue, BI can help cover:

  • Lost membership fees or session income

  • Lost tournament/event revenue

  • Ongoing rent/loan payments

  • Additional costs to hire temporary space

Choose an indemnity period that matches realistic rebuild/repair timelines—often 12–24 months for property claims.

7) Personal accident cover (optional but popular)

Personal accident can pay fixed benefits if a player, volunteer, or coach is injured (depending on who is insured).

It’s not a substitute for liability cover, but it can:

  • Provide quick financial support for fractures, dental injuries, hospitalisation

  • Help clubs support volunteers/coaches after an incident

This can be attractive for clubs trying to look after members, especially where players may not have strong sick pay.

8) Legal expenses insurance

Legal expenses can help with:

  • Contract disputes (e.g., suppliers, venue hire)

  • Employment disputes

  • Tax investigations

  • Some health & safety defence costs (varies by policy)

It’s usually relatively low-cost and can be valuable when something escalates.

9) Cyber insurance (increasingly relevant)

If you take online bookings, store member data, or process card payments, cyber insurance may be worth considering.

Kabaddi clubs and facilities often hold:

  • Names, addresses, dates of birth (especially juniors)

  • Medical notes (injuries, allergies)

  • Safeguarding records

  • Payment details (or tokens via payment providers)

Cyber cover can include breach response, legal support, notification costs, and business interruption from cyber incidents.

Cover add-ons that matter for kabaddi venues

Depending on your operations, consider:

  • Equipment cover away from premises (for clubs transporting mats/gear)

  • Money cover (cash at events)

  • Portable electronics (laptops, tablets used for check-in)

  • Glass cover (front-of-house glazing)

  • Terrorism cover (for larger venues/events)

  • Event cancellation (tournaments, ticketed events)

  • Personal liability for directors/committee (D&O) for incorporated entities

Common exclusions and pitfalls (what to check before you buy)

Insurance is full of “it depends”. For kabaddi facilities, these are the big ones:

Participant-to-participant injuries

Some policies treat injuries between participants as excluded unless you have a specific sports liability extension. Don’t assume it’s included.

Unsupervised sessions

If you allow open gym/open mat sessions, insurers may require:

  • A competent supervisor present

  • Clear rules and signage

  • Age restrictions

Safeguarding and youth activities

If you run junior sessions, insurers will expect:

  • DBS checks where appropriate

  • Safeguarding policy and named welfare officer

  • Incident reporting and parental consent processes

Failure to follow your own safeguarding policy can complicate claims.

Condition of premises and maintenance

Claims can be declined or reduced if poor maintenance is a factor. Common issues include:

  • Slippery surfaces, damaged flooring, inadequate matting

  • Poor lighting in entrances/parking

  • Blocked fire exits

  • Inadequate inspection records for equipment

Heat, crowding and ventilation

Indoor contact sports can create heat stress risks. If you pack sessions too tightly, you increase injury likelihood and may face allegations of poor management.

Alcohol and social events

If you host post-match events, fundraisers, or serve alcohol, you may need:

  • A licence or temporary event notice (TEN)

  • Specific insurer approval

  • Additional risk controls

Contractual liability

Some venue hire contracts push liability onto the hirer. Make sure your policy matches what you’ve agreed to in writing.

How insurers price kabaddi facility insurance

Premiums are driven by a mix of exposure and controls. Expect insurers to ask about:

  • Ownership: own/lease/hire

  • Building construction, security, fire protections

  • Floor type, matting, inspection routines

  • Number of members/participants

  • Age groups (adult only vs juniors)

  • Frequency of sessions and tournaments

  • Spectator numbers and seating arrangements

  • Coaching qualifications and supervision ratios

  • Claims history

  • First aid provision and emergency plans

Kabaddi can be rated similarly to other contact sports. The better your documented controls, the more comfortable underwriters tend to be.

Risk management: practical steps to reduce claims (and premiums)

Insurers love evidence. These steps don’t just reduce risk—they help you negotiate better terms.

1) Written risk assessments (and keep them updated)

Have a risk assessment for:

  • Training sessions

  • Matches/tournaments

  • Spectator management

  • Set-up/take-down (temporary seating, barriers)

  • Lone working (opening/closing)

Review after incidents and at least annually.

2) Surface and matting checks

Create a simple checklist:

  • Before each session: surface dry, mats aligned, no gaps, boundary markings visible

  • Weekly: deeper inspection for wear/tears, trip edges, cleaning schedule

  • Record issues and actions taken

3) Coaching competence and session structure

  • Use qualified coaches where possible

  • Keep attendance registers

  • Separate sessions by age/experience when feasible

  • Clear warm-up/cool-down and progressive contact drills

4) First aid and emergency response

  • Have a stocked first aid kit and trained first aider present

  • Consider an AED for venues with regular footfall

  • Clear emergency access routes

  • Incident reporting process (date, witnesses, photos where appropriate)

5) Safeguarding for juniors

  • Safeguarding policy and code of conduct

  • Parental consent forms

  • Clear photography policy

  • DBS checks and training where applicable

6) Spectator and crowd control

For tournaments:

  • Barriers to keep spectators away from play area

  • Clear signage and stewarding

  • Manage cables, vendors, and walkways

7) Data protection basics

If you store member data:

  • Use strong passwords and MFA

  • Limit access to safeguarding/medical records

  • Keep retention periods sensible

  • Use reputable payment providers

Special situations: hiring venues vs owning a kabaddi arena

If you hire a school or leisure centre

You may need:

  • Public liability (often £5m)

  • Sports/participant liability

  • Personal accident (optional)

  • Equipment cover (for your kit)

Ask the venue what they require in the hire agreement and whether they need to be noted as an “additional insured” (wording varies).

If you own or lease a dedicated venue

You likely need:

  • Buildings and contents

  • Business interruption

  • Public liability + sports liability

  • Employers’ liability (if any staff)

  • Engineering inspection (if you have lifting equipment, pressure systems, etc.)

  • Cyber (if you run bookings and store data)

Events and tournaments: what changes?

Tournaments add complexity:

  • Higher participant numbers

  • More spectators

  • Temporary seating and barriers

  • Vendors (food stalls, merch)

  • Guest referees and officials

Consider:

  • Event-specific extension or separate event policy

  • Event cancellation cover (especially if you pay for venue hire upfront)

  • Clear contracts with vendors and officials

  • Medical provision appropriate to the size of the event

What information to prepare before you request a quote

Having this ready speeds up underwriting and reduces back-and-forth:

  • Venue address and ownership details

  • Photos of the playing area, entrances, and spectator areas

  • Session schedule (days, hours, typical headcount)

  • Age groups and safeguarding approach

  • Coaching qualifications and first aid provision

  • Details of any gym/conditioning area

  • Claims history (if any)

  • Desired liability limit (£5m is common)

FAQs: Kabaddi facility insurance

Do we need insurance if we only hire a hall for one night a week?

Usually yes. Most venues require proof of public liability, and contact sports benefit from participant liability cover.

Is kabaddi considered a “contact sport” by insurers?

Yes. You should disclose it as a contact sport with tackling/grappling to avoid coverage disputes.

Does public liability cover player injuries?

Not always. Player injuries may fall under sports/participant liability, personal accident, or may be excluded if it’s participant-to-participant without negligence.

What limit of indemnity should we choose?

Many UK venues require £5m public liability. Larger events or venues with higher footfall may choose £10m.

Are volunteers covered?

They can be, but it depends on the policy. Volunteers may fall under personal accident, liability, or (in some cases) employers’ liability depending on the arrangement.

Do we need professional indemnity for coaching?

If you provide instruction or training plans, PI is strongly recommended. Some club packages include it; facilities employing coaches should check it’s in place.

What about injuries caused by poor refereeing?

If the allegation is negligence (e.g., unsafe conduct not controlled), that can fall under sports liability—provided referees are included as insured persons and the activity is declared.

Does insurance cover equipment damage during transport?

Only if you have “equipment away from premises” or similar cover. Standard contents cover may be premises-only.

Can we insure a tournament as a one-off?

Often yes. Event insurance can cover public liability, event cancellation, and additional risks for a specific date.

A simple insurance checklist for kabaddi venues

  • Public liability (usually £5m)

  • Sports/participant liability for contact sport sessions

  • Employers’ liability (if any staff)

  • Professional indemnity for coaching/instruction

  • Buildings/contents (if responsible under lease/ownership)

  • Business interruption

  • Personal accident (optional)

  • Cyber (if you store member data)

  • Event cover for tournaments

Final thoughts + next step

Kabaddi is growing in the UK, and with growth comes more sessions, more members, and more public-facing events. The right insurance package helps you run confidently—protecting your facility, your people, and your finances.

If you want a quote, be ready to share your venue set-up, session schedule, age groups, and the level of cover your landlord/council requires. A broker who understands contact sports and facility risks can help you avoid gaps and keep premiums competitive.

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