The Alberta Gymnastics Federation (AGF) Insurance Policy provides coverage for ‘Insured Persons’ engaging in AGF sanctioned activities. These are activities that have been authorized as core to the operations of the various gymnastics programs governed by AGF. Lists outlining sanctioned as well as examples of non-sanctioned activities have been provided below.
If your club is planning on hosting an activity that has not been addressed below or that you are unsure about, please contact the AGF office.
A gymnastics activity is defined as a competition if one or more of the following characteristics exist:
Please note that AGF sets specific registration requirements based on the type of event, and it is on the onus of clubs that host invitational events to ensure that all participants are appropriately registered members of AGF and that all participants act within the scope they are registered in¹.
¹ Acting within the scope of a participant’s registration category ensures that the participant does not exceed the Gymnastics/NCCP level that they are registered in.
Training is defined as an organized and structured regimen of exercise and physical activity geared to enhance a participant’s skill level and overall abilities towards an end (i.e. improvement, competition, new skill acquisition). The definition of training activities extends to daily training, gymnastics training camps, NCCP training, and other courses hosted by Alberta Gymnastics. All participants of the training must be registered members of Alberta Gymnastics and act within the scope they are registered in¹.
Demonstrations are defined as an organized, structured exhibition of gymnastics skills or routines intended to display the positive attributes of the sport. Purposes of demonstrations may be to attract interest and/or increase membership for participating clubs, showcase and promote athletes or highlight gymnastics as part of a larger event or competition. All participants of the demonstration must be registered members of Alberta Gymnastics and act within the scope they are registered in¹.
When demonstrations are performed outside of the Member Club’s facility, the Member Club must provide details of the demonstration to AGF.
Activities such as “Bring a Friend Day, Drop-In, and Birthday Parties” are covered under AGF’s Master Insurance Policy if appropriate safety standards are met for coaching and equipment. There must be a structured component and it is understood that the Club is trying to promote its gymnastics programs and generate new members. The number of promotional visits permitted per individual is two (2) in a season. This coverage is for promotional activities only and not for participation in any form of regularly scheduled programs. A list of all names must be kept on file for insurance purposes. If an individual participants in any programming more than two (2) times, then he/she must be registered with Alberta Gymnastics. During promotional activities, it is mandatory that all participants that are going into the gym (children, parents, etc.) have signed the Release of Liability and PIPA forms.
NOTE: The number of allowable promotional visits is two (2) per individual in a season. This coverage is for promotional activities only and not for participation in any form of regularly scheduled programs. A list of all names must be kept on file for insurance purposes.
Any parent or caregiver involved in a non-coaching/teaching role during a Parent and Tot class does not need to be registered with AGF but requires a Release of Liability and PIPA form completed.
Gymnastics coaches may train, condition and teach gymnastics skills to athletes of other sports programs (E.g. Cheerleading, Parkour, Circus, Martial Arts, Dance) provided the individuals are appropriately registered by an AGF member club. Athletes are permitted to train any skills that fall within a recognized gymnastics program (E.g. Artistic, Acrobatic, Rhythmic) under the instruction of a coach who is NCCP certified to the appropriate level as per the NCCP Minimum Coaching Requirements document and in accordance to any insurance policies and limitations. During cross-training activities, it is mandatory that all participants that are going into the gym (children, parents, etc.) have signed the Release of Liability and PIPA forms.
Gymnastics conditioning programs offered to sports groups (i.e. hockey teams, soccer teams, etc.) will be covered under the Master Insurance Policy provided the participants register as individual recreation members. The club can only teach gymnastic-related conditioning skills such as those normally performed in a gymnastics setting. Appropriate safety standards must be adhered to for coaching and equipment. Member Clubs operate many programs and activities, most of which clearly fall within the sport of gymnastics and hence would be covered under AGF’s Master Insurance Policy. Inclusion under the Policy is directly related to the degree to which AGF rules, regulations and risk management can be applied.
Registered member clubs can provide their facility to any individuals or groups (this includes cheerleading squads, school groups, sports groups and others) provided the group or individuals have their own insurance and add both the club and AGF as additional insured on their policy. The insurance certificate must have a minimum of $2,000,000 liability prior to the rental taking place. A list of all names must be kept on record for insurance purposes. A copy of the insurance certificate must be on file at the club and AGF may request a copy when required.
NOTE: Any accidents and/or other insurance-related incidents that may occur during the billeting of athletes/coaches/judges will not be covered under this policy.
AGF poses no restrictions for members participating in the USA. As members of AGF, you are entitled to the identical coverage as Canadian participants where claims are defended, even if brought in the United States.
AGF currently possesses an accident policy with SSQ and contained within this policy is $20,000 for additional medical expenses provided to the participants, even if the event or competition occurs outside of Canada.
To obtain coverage for Sickness while incurred outside of Canada a separate travel medical policy should also be purchased.
AGF encourages all teams travelling abroad and inquiring about travel medical coverage to contact Arthur J. Gallagher to answer preliminary questions, to obtain a thorough quote, as pricing for this coverage would depend on the number of participants travelling and ages of these participants.
Any athletes from abroad (outside of Alberta) training at an AGF Member Club must provide AGF with appropriate proof of insurance or register with AGF as a member. AGF has the right to request an athlete register as a member if the provided insurance does not meet a reasonable level of coverage.
Activities identified by AGF as a non-gymnastics activity are considered to be non-sanctioned and are thus not covered by AGF’s insurance policy should an incident occur. When determining whether an activity is considered a gymnastics activity, AGF looks at whether or not the skills, movements, progressions, and techniques can be recognized and categorized into a specific program governed by AGF.
These programs include Gymnastics For All, Men’s Artistic Gymnastics, Women’s Artistic Gymnastics, Trampoline & Tumbling Gymnastics or Acrobatic Gymnastics.
The use of baby slings to hold a child while a parent is on the floor during a parented class is not a permitted AGF activity. The safety issue this poses by potentially interfering with the training of the child, as well as the risk of a fall the infant sibling is exposed to will not be covered by AGF should an incident occur, as it is the parent’s responsibility to provide their child with their undivided attention.
Member clubs should also be advised that children in strollers or car seats on the sidelines or in the viewing area are considered to be unattended and as such pose a great risk to the organization. Providing any form of childcare or supervision for these children by the club whether it be expressed or implied is an unsanctioned AGF activity and therefore NOT covered by the AGF insurance policy.
Camps are an additional way for clubs to earn income and present a different program within their club. Camp activities that are non-gymnastic may require additional insurance coverage, and it is recommended when planning a camp to contact AGF to ensure all the activities the camp will include are covered. It must also be noted at all off-site activities are not covered.
Examples of activities that would not be covered include: Going off-site to a swimming pool, training gymnastics in a playground, doing a bike ride through town, etc.
Although there are components of Aerial Silks/Hoops that relate to gymnastics, the skills that are learned cannot be categorized into a specific gymnastics program, nor is there a formal NCCP program for Aerial Silks/Hoops.
Although there are components of Cheerleading that relate to gymnastics, there is no formal NCCP program for Cheerleading, therefore AGF cannot recognize Cheerleading as a sanctioned activity.
There are components of Circus that are recognizable and relatable to gymnastics; however, there is no formal NCCP program for Circus, and the addition of Circus apparatus or skills that are done outside of the context of gymnastics cannot be recognized as a sanctioned activity.
Example: Jumping on a trampoline is a sanctioned activity but changing the apparatus to a teeterboard would not be sanctioned.
Example: Walking on a balance beam is a sanctioned activity but changing the apparatus to a high wire would not be sanctioned.
When operating pre-school programs with gymnastics components, please note that any formal educational programs outside of gymnastics are not considered a sanctioned activity and would require additional insurance coverage.
Example: The gymnastics portion of the program would be covered, but the classroom portion of the program would not.
Parkour/Free-Running/Tricking/Ninja/Urban Gymnastics programming is permitted when coaches have been formally trained in AGF’s Parkour courses and are using the curriculum that goes along with the course; however, programs, where equipment or skills fall wildly outside of the scope of AGF’s curriculum or beyond the setting of an AGF Facility (e.g. outdoors), will not be covered by the AGF Insurance Policy.
Gym sleepovers may contain a component of gymnastics during the event; however, AGF discourages sleepovers due to the associated risks involved and does not consider sleepovers to be a sanctioned activity.