(Revised and updated December 7, 2007)

The coverage we have from AAU is secondary medical and liability. It is accident insurance not health insurance – it won’t cover kidney transplants or heart attacks. There are some things about our insurance that everyone should be aware of:

1. EVERYONE (players, coaches, and club organizers) associated with Michigan AAU Girls' Basketball is required to be a member of the AAU. Our association requires that everyone purchase the "AB" card. This is the $14 card for players and the $16 card for coaches. "AB" stands for "added benefit". The added benefit is that your team may participate in non-AAU sanctioned tournaments and still be covered. The coverage requires that EVERYONE on the team be an AAU member and have the AB card. If you have picked someone up to play with your team at this event and you did not buy an AB card for her, your coverage may be voided. Don’t take any chances; make sure everyone has a card. It is terrific insurance for $14.
2. EVERYONE who tries out for your team must be an AAU member. Before anyone sets foot on the gym floor, he/she should fill out a membership form and pay the tryout fee (which should include the $14 for the membership card). Coaches must also be AAU members. Do not wait and fill out membership cards for only those players who make your team – if you do this, you have voided any coverage during tryouts. Don’t take the chance that nothing will happen – it isn’t worth it! Club organizers should register all players and coaches ASAP. Do not hold the money for any period of time. If something should happen between the time the player tries out and the time you actually register her (we aren’t talking a day or two but a few weeks or months), the coverage could be voided. Make sure you do what you are supposed to do:

1. everyone fills out a card (or supplies the information)
2. collect the money for the card
3. register the player (in timely fashion)– on the internet or, if you are old fashioned, send in the card and the money to the state office.

1. If you are an AAU member participating in a non-sanctioned tournament (that you are not hosting), your coverage remains intact. You are not covered traveling to and from but you are covered for anything that happens at the event.
2. If you are an AAU member hosting a non-sanctioned tournament, the secondary medical coverage for your players will remain intact (the insurance company does not want to punish the players for the negligence of the coach) but your liability coverage will be voided! To protect yourself, sanction your tournament or buy separate liability coverage. AAU clubs hosting tournaments should only allow AAU members to participate.

Frequently the facilities that you use to  practice in will want proof that you have liability insurance. This can easily be obtained by filling out a form on the National AAU website ( www.aausports.org ) Any tournaments you want to run will need a different sanction. This can be obtained by the Director. Get him the information and he will get the sanction, the certificates of insurance for your facilities and post the information on the website for a $50 fee.

For your practices you will need separate certificates of insurance (they come under a different "sanction"). These can be easily obtained at the national website (www.aausports.org ). Go to the main page and click on the "certificates for practice" in the upper right hand portion of the screen. Just fill out the information and follow the prompts.

Where it asks for "Association Name" - put "Michigan AAU"

Where is says "Name of event" - write in "practice facility".

Date(s) of Event: Put down a beginning date and an ending date. For the beginning date, write the date that is at least 30 days from the time you are filling out the form. By doing this the certificate will only cost you $25. Put the ending date of August 31, 2008. This will cover you for the entire year.

Your "Club Number" should start with MIBW......

Under "Event Information" check "PRACTICE"

If you are using more than one facility, list all of the facilities that you may use (it doesn't cost any more to list a lot of facilities the first time. If you forget a facility, you can add it to your list at a later date but there will be a $25 charge (for as many as you want to add). You only need to list the School District (not the individual facilities within a given school district). All of the facilities within a given school district will be covered. Use the address of the School District Administration. It is not necessary to list a contact person, his/her fax number, or e-mail address (unless it is easy for you to do). For the $25 fee you are allowed to list as many facilities as you need to.

You will be able to download your certificates from the National website within a few days. Click on the download button on the main page - )upper right).

If you are desperate for the certificate (the school is demanding proof before they let you use the facilities), put down the date that you need. If it is received by AAU less than 30 days prior to the event, they will charge you $100 to expedite things.