Sports Facility & Field Inspection Checklist
Section I: Facility and Field Risk Management
Risk Management helps organizations: » Security of ticket booth and concession stands, if cash
transactions are being accepted
» Identify the sources of potential loss or damage
» Lighting, electrical systems, heating and cooling systems; check
» Evaluate different ways to minimize the loss or damage, and
emergency power source
» Implement a plan of action to reduce the possibility of loss or
» Check fencing, barriers and perimeter areas
damage in the future
» If playing or practicing indoors, ensure that sprinkler heads in
Inspecting all facilities and fields used by your team or league is
gymnasium are caged or protected from errant balls
an important component of the risk management process. The
condition of the facility or field contributes heavily to the overall » Poisons/Toxins: Inspect facility for toxic materials such as use of
safety of your participants. Therefore, ensuring the safe condition lead paint or toxic wood preservatives; ensure that hazardous
of the facilities and fields used by your teams should be a priority materials, such as gasoline, cleaning agents, etc., are properly
in your risk management program. stored and locked up; and restrict use of fields immediately
after applications of herbicides, pesticides and fertilizer.
Before signing a rental agreement or lease, perform a visual
inspection of all aspects of the facility or field complex. Use the » Locate the nearest land-line telephone to the field and note its
following checklists to note any safety concerns you may have phone number
and make sure they are satisfactorily addressed before you sign » Field Inspection Checklist
the rental agreement. It is equally important to understand the
terms of your contract or lease agreement, so that you know » Medical facility on site
what you areas fall under your responsibility. Separate checklists » Security station on site
are included for Facility Inspections, Field Inspections, Parking » Communications station on site
Inspections and Contract Evaluation.
» Designated lost & found area
Note: These guidelines are not legal advice nor are they intended » General housekeeping and cleanliness
to be complete or definitive in identifying all hazards associated
with emergency or safety procedures, in preventing crisis
situations in your sports program, or in complying with any safety-
related regulations or other laws.
Section II: Facility Inspection and Safety Guidelines
Once you have made your inspection, resolve any inadequate
areas or safety concerns with the facility owner before you sign
the lease.
» Location, accessibility and visibility of entrances and exits
» Verify that floors, walkways, stairs and other surfaces are in
good condition
» Safety, construction and positioning of seating, bleachers and
spectator areas
» Condition of and access to locker rooms, restrooms and
portable toilets (port-o-johns)
» Condition, location and lighting of parking lots, including
passenger pick-up/drop-off areas (see Section IV - Parking Lot
Inspections for more information)
» Handicap access - check entryways and exits; ramps, elevators
and lifts; restroom access; parking
» Concession stands - evaluate condition/quality of cooking,
refrigeration and serving equipment
Rev Oct. 2015 RPS Bollinger - Sports & Leisure • PO Box 390, Short Hills, NJ 07078-1379 • 800.446.5311
Section III: Field Inspections and Safety Guidelines
A thorough inspection of the field, bleachers, outer buildings and » Find out if the facility is equipped with lightning detection
restrooms should be done before the season begins. The field equipment. Determine where the nearest shelter is from
itself should be inspected by a coach or official prior to the start the field in the event of serious weather or other emergency
of every practice or game. conditions. Note that small, open shelters typically found on
» The dimensions of the field should conform with the playing fields or parks will not provide adequate protection in
specifications established for your sport, which may vary based the event of lightning. A house or substantial building offers
on level of play the best protection from lightning strikes.
» The entire playing field should be free of any holes, depressions, » Poisons/Toxins: Inspect facility for toxic materials such as use of
raised sprinkler heads and other hazards lead paint or toxic wood preservatives; ensure that hazardous
materials, such as gasoline, cleaning agents, etc., are properly
» Clear the field of stones, pieces of glass and other objects stored and locked up; restrict use of fields immediately after
or debris applications of herbicides, pesticides and fertilizer; and
» Spectators & seating: Check safety, construction and eliminate plant materials like poison ivy, and poison oak
positioning of seating, bleachers and spectator areas. Make from fields and walkways, which could be harmful to people
sure spectator areas are a safe distance from the field of play. and pets.
Do not allow spectators to be on the playing field or to stand » Locate the nearest land-line telephone to the field and note its
on the sidelines. phone number
» Light stanchions, fence posts and trees that are near the field » Locate the nearest medical facility, whether on-site or off-site
of play should be properly cushioned or protected, and always
be designated as “out of play” areas. All “out of play” areas » Check whether there is a security station on-site
should be cushioned or fenced off or, at minimum, marked by
paint or chalk lines.
» Inspect the condition of and access to locker rooms, restrooms
and portable toilets (port-o-johns). If portable toilets are used,
make sure they are positioned on level ground, away from
inclines or depressions which may cause them to tip over.
» Check condition, location and lighting of parking lots, including
passenger pick-up/drop-off areas (see Section IV - Parking Lot
Inspections for more information)
» Handicap access - check entryways and exits; ramps; restroom
access; parking
» Concession stands - evaluate condition/quality of cooking,
refrigeration and serving equipment
» Check Security of ticket booth and concession stands, if cash
transactions are being accepted
» Inspect all fencing to make sure it is in good repair and free of
protruding hazards or sharp edges
» If the field is used for other sports, inspect for fixtures or
equipment that may have been left by the previous user.
Important Note: If the field is used for soccer and portable
goals are on the premises, NEVER allow players or others to
play on, hang from or move the goalposts. Portable soccer
goals are prone to tipping over, and have been responsible for
catastrophic injuries and fatalities in recent years.
Rev Oct. 2015 RPS Bollinger - Sports & Leisure • PO Box 390, Short Hills, NJ 07078-1379 • 800.446.5311
Section IV: Parking Lot Inspections and Safety Guidelines Section V: Evaluating the Terms of the Facility/Field Contract
The parking lot is an area often overlooked in the risk It is important for you as the team or league administrator to
management process. Whether or not your team is contractually evaluate the terms of the rental agreement or lease contracts that
liable for the parking area in your lease agreement, you can still you may sign in order to secure playing facilities for your activities.
be held liable for injuries or damages that occur in this area They can range from simple, verbal agreements to complex legal
during your team’s activities. contracts. In order to understand the exposure to you and your
organization, you need to know what your responsibilities are
» Post a sign stating that attendees are parking at their own risk under the terms of that agreement.
and that your team/league is not responsible for any damage
to or theft from vehicles parked during your activities. To determine what areas of the facility fall within your
responsibility, check the following:
» Make sure parking area is far enough away from the field of
play to minimize the potential for damage to vehicles. Are you responsible for the field or facility only during the time
that your players are on the field? Or are you responsible for the
» Establish a Player Loading Zone by placing temporary signs field/facility on a 24-hour basis for the term of the lease? Or does
during practices and games to indicate where cars should your responsibility fall something between the two? If so, how is it
stop to load and unload passengers. This will help eliminate defined in the contract?
confusion for drivers and passengers. It will create a zone where
motorists will expect to see pedestrians and therefore, they will » Are you responsible for providing insurance on the field/facility,
know to slow down. To assist you in setting up a loading zone or is it provided by the owner? Do they require that you add the
that is equipped to safely handle large numbers of people, field/facility owner as an additional insured to the US Lacrosse
contact your local police or sheriff’s department for guidance. liability policy?
» Go Slow Zone - In addition to the Player Loading Zone, help » Are you required to provide insurance coverage for the
alert motorists to the fact that children are present by putting facility on a 24-hour basis? If so, you may need to purchase
up temporary signs in the parking lot that say “Children at Play” additional insurance to cover that exposure. Contact your
or “Slow: Children”. Work with your local city council, safety insurance administrator.
board or parks commission to put in speed bumps or road » Who is responsible for the field equipment -- scoreboards,
signs to assist in slowing traffic. bleachers, benches, goals, etc.?
» Make sure parking lot is clear of potholes, debris and other » Under the agreement, what specific areas of the facility fall
dangerous conditions. Report such problems immediately to under your responsibility? Is it just the field or gym? Or are
the facility owner (or take care of them immediately if you are you responsible for the parking lot, pathways to the facility,
responsible for maintaining the parking lot under the terms of restrooms, locker room areas, adjoining fields, etc.? If you are
your contract). responsible for additional areas, make sure to include them in
» Ensure that access to the parking lot and access to the field is your inspection process. Also, be sure to supervise those areas,
not blocked by haphazard parking. Emergency vehicles must as you may be responsible for any incidents that occur there,
have quick, easy access to the facility or playing field in the whether or not they are directly related to your activities.
event of an emergency. » Who is responsible for the general condition, maintenance,
» For activities that are held at night (or until dusk), verify that repair and housekeeping of the facilities used? Who is
the parking areas are well-lit. Proper lighting ensures that responsible for field maintenance (lawn-care, applying fertilizer/
pedestrians and bicyclists can be spotted easily and from a pesticides and watering)?
distance by motorists. A properly lighted parking area also » Is there a Hold Harmless agreement in the contract? If so,
increases the personal security of those using the facility, and that means that the facility owner is not responsible (you are
provides better protection for the vehicles. ‘holding them harmless’) for any incidents, damages or injuries
that may occur at the facility during the term of your lease.
These Parking Lot Safety guidelines are based on those Note: when you sign a hold harmless agreement, you are
developed and used by the American Youth Soccer accepting full responsibility for incidents that may be beyond
Organization (AYSO). the scope of your insurance plan.
By understanding what your responsibilities are under the
contracts you sign with the field or facility owner, you will be
better able to manage the risks associated with your activities
and understand who is responsible for specific duties and care.
Rev Oct. 2015 RPS Bollinger - Sports & Leisure • PO Box 390, Short Hills, NJ 07078-1379 • 800.446.5311
