Abuse & Molestation Liability Insurance
Abuse & molestation (A&M) liability covers claims alleging abuse, molestation, or negligent supervision, hiring, or retention. Standard general liability policies almost always exclude it — making this coverage essential for gyms working with children.
Abuse & Molestation Liability for Cheer & Gymnastics Gyms
Your gym works with minors every single day, often in close physical contact through spotting and coaching. That reality creates one of the most serious — and most frequently uninsured — exposures a gym faces. Most general liability policies specifically exclude abuse and molestation claims, so without a dedicated endorsement or policy, a single allegation could be financially devastating and entirely uncovered.
What A&M Coverage Responds To
- Allegations of abuse or molestation by an employee, coach, or volunteer
- Negligent hiring: Claims that you failed to properly screen or background-check staff
- Negligent supervision: Claims that inadequate oversight allowed misconduct to occur
- Negligent retention: Claims that you kept a staff member after warning signs
- Defense costs: Legal defense even for allegations that are ultimately unfounded
Why Standard GL Won't Help
Insurers added broad abuse and molestation exclusions to most liability forms years ago. If a claim is filed and you only carry standard GL, you may be funding both the defense and any settlement entirely out of pocket. A&M coverage — written as an endorsement or standalone policy — is what actually responds.
Risk Management That Lowers Your Exposure
Carriers price A&M based on your safeguards. The strongest gyms implement:
- Criminal background checks on every coach, employee, and volunteer
- Two-deep leadership — never one adult alone with one child
- Observable and interruptible training environments (open sightlines, windows, no locked one-on-one rooms)
- SafeSport-aligned policies and documented mandatory-reporter training
- Clear electronic-communication and locker-room policies
These controls reduce risk *and* help you qualify for better terms and limits.
This Is Not Optional Coverage
For a business built around coaching children, abuse & molestation liability is among the most important policies you will buy. We make sure it is in place with adequate limits — not buried as an afterthought.
What's Covered
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost never. Most GL policies carry an explicit abuse and molestation exclusion. You need a dedicated A&M endorsement or standalone policy — without it, these claims are typically uninsured.
Background checks on all staff and volunteers, two-deep leadership, observable/interruptible training spaces, and SafeSport-aligned policies. Strong controls improve both your pricing and available limits.