Insurance
Every registered Football Ontario member is covered by the Football Canada and Football Ontario insurance program, arranged through BFL Canada. Here’s what’s covered, and what to do when something happens.
Who’s covered
Players, coaches, volunteers and officials
Anyone registered on the National Registry for the current season.
Member clubs, leagues and associations
Member organizations in good standing with Football Ontario.
All sanctioned activities
All Football Ontario sanctioned activities, including practices, games, tryouts, camps and events.
Not registered yet? Coverage depends on it. Register on the National Registry →
What’s covered
The program has two parts: liability insurance, which protects members and organizations if someone makes a claim against them, and participant accident insurance, which pays set benefits to an injured member.
General liability
Deductible: $1,000 per claim ($5,000 for abuse incidents). Liability insurer: Markel Canada.
Participant accident
See fracture and dislocation amounts
- Skull: $500
- Spine (one or more vertebrae): $250
- Hip, pelvis, thigh (femur): $125
- Knee cap, sacrum or coccyx, leg, upper arm, forearm, hand or wrist: $100
- Collarbone, shoulder blade, upper or lower jaw: $75
- Elbow, shoulder dislocation, sternum: $50
Accident benefits are secondary coverage: they pay after OHIP and any personal or family health plan. Aggregate limit $2,000,000 per accident.
This is a summary. The policy wording decides what is and isn’t covered, and exclusions apply (for example, cyber/data and communicable disease). Read the 2026 program summary ↗
How to make an accident claim
Care first
Get the injured person the care they need. For suspected concussions, follow Rowan’s Law removal and return steps.
Report the incident
The coach or club completes the Incident Report Form and keeps a copy.
Fill in the claim form
The member completes the Accident Claim Form. The doctor completes the physician’s statement, and your association signs it.
Send within 30 days
Attach original itemized receipts and the incident report. Send it all to Football Ontario within 30 days of the accident.
Reporting an incident
Complete an Incident Report for every incident at a sanctioned event, whether or not anyone was hurt and whether or not a claim follows. That includes injuries and physical or non-physical altercations involving a player, coach, volunteer, official or parent.
Keep a copy. The report is an important record if a claim is ever made or taken to court. Open the Incident Report Form ↗
If the incident involves maltreatment, abuse, harassment or discrimination, also report it through Safe Sport. The program includes abuse incident coverage.
Certificates of insurance
Facilities, school boards and cities often need proof of insurance before you can book a field. A certificate of insurance (COI) shows the facility it’s covered for your event.
Fill in the form
Your club completes, signs and dates the COI Request Form. In “certify to”, name the facility, not your team.
Send it to us
Email it to Football Ontario with your lease agreement and any extra additional insureds.
We check good standing
Football Ontario confirms your organization is in good standing, then sends the request to the broker.
You get your COI
The broker issues the certificate and we send it to you. Allow 24 to 48 business hours.
- Membership paperwork is complete.
- You follow Football Ontario policies and procedures.
- All fees owing to your league and Football Ontario (including Football Canada fees) are paid.
- You are not suspended or expelled by your league, Football Ontario or Football Canada.
A certificate covers only the event dates listed on it.
Why liability insurance matters
Accidents happen, however careful you are, and anyone who claims injury or damage can sue. Even if you’re found blameless, legal costs can be serious. Liability insurance defends you and pays damages that may be awarded. It also protects every member of your association, so volunteers can step forward without worrying about personal liability.
Forms and documents
2026 insurance program summary
Coverage limits, benefits and deductibles from BFL Canada.
Safe Sport intake process
Report maltreatment, abuse or harassment, and see how complaints are handled.
Questions
Does this replace OHIP or my family’s health plan? ＋
Am I covered if I’m not on the National Registry? ＋
How long do I have to submit a claim? ＋
Do I need an incident report if no one was hurt? ＋
Who signs the claim form? ＋
Do we need a new certificate for every event? ＋
Is my club covered if it hasn’t paid its fees? ＋
Insurance questions? Email tmcnicholl@footballontario.net, or contact BFL Canada at 1-800-465-2842.
This page summarizes the program. The insurance policies govern coverage.
Last reviewed: October 2026