Sports Facility and Field Inspection Checklist

Section I: Facility and Field Risk Management

Risk Management helps organizations:
Identify the sources of potential loss or damage
Evaluate different ways to minimize the loss or damage, and
Implement a plan of action to reduce the possibility of loss or damage in the future

Inspecting all facilities and fields used by your team or league is an important component of the
risk management process. The condition of the facility or field contributes heavily to the overall
safety of your participants. Therefore, ensuring the safe condition of the facilities and fields used
by your teams should be a priority in your risk management program.

Before signing a rental agreement or lease, perform a visual inspection of all aspects of the
facility or field complex. Use the following checklists to note any safety concerns you may have
and make sure they are satisfactorily addressed before you sign the rental agreement. It is
equally important to understand the terms of your contract or lease agreement, so that you
know what you areas fall under your responsibility. Separate checklists are included for Facility
Inspections, Field Inspections, Parking Inspections and Contract Evaluation.

NOTE: These guidelines are not legal advice nor are they intended 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
Security of ticket booth and concession stands, if cash transactions are being accepted
Lighting, electrical systems, heating and cooling systems; check emergency power
source
Check fencing, barriers and perimeter areas
If playing or practicing indoors, ensure that sprinkler heads in gymnasium are caged or
protected from errant balls
Poisons/Toxins: Inspect facility for toxic materials such as use of lead paint or toxic wood
preservatives; ensure that hazardous materials, such as gasoline, cleaning agents, etc.,
are properly stored and locked up; and restrict use of fields immediately after
applications of herbicides, pesticides and fertilizer.
Locate the nearest land-line telephone to the field and note its phone number

Field Inspection Checklist 2006

 Medical facility on site
Security station on site
Communications station on site
Designated lost & found area
General housekeeping and cleanliness

Section III: Field Inspections and Safety Guidelines

A thorough inspection of the field, bleachers, outer buildings and restrooms should be done
before the season begins. The field itself should be inspected by a coach or official prior to the
start of every practice or game.

The dimensions of the field should conform with the specifications established for your
sport, which may vary based on level of play
The entire playing field should be free of any holes, depressions, raised sprinkler heads
and other hazards
Clear the field of stones, pieces of glass and other objects or debris
Spectators & seating: Check safety, construction and positioning of seating, bleachers
and spectator areas. Make sure spectator areas are a safe distance from the field of
play. Do not allow spectators to be on the playing field or to stand on the sidelines.
Light stanchions, fence posts and trees that are near the field of play should be properly
cushioned or protected, and always be designated as “out of play” areas. All “out of play”
areas 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.
Find out if the facility is equipped with lightning detection equipment. Determine where
the nearest shelter is from the field in the event of serious weather or other emergency
conditions. Note that small, open shelters typically found on playing fields or parks will
not provide adequate protection in the event of lightning. A house or substantial building
offers the best protection from lightning strikes.
Poisons/Toxins: Inspect facility for toxic materials such as use of lead paint or toxic wood
preservatives; ensure that hazardous materials, such as gasoline, cleaning agents, etc.,
are properly stored and locked up; restrict use of fields immediately after applications of
herbicides, pesticides and fertilizer; and eliminate plant materials like poison ivy, and
poison oak from fields and walkways, which could be harmful to people and pets.
Locate the nearest land-line telephone to the field and note its phone number
Locate the nearest medical facility, whether on-site or off-site
Check whether there is a security station on-site

Field Inspection Checklist 2006

Section IV: Parking Lot Inspections and Safety Guidelines
The parking lot is an area often overlooked in the risk management process. Whether or not
your team is contractually liable for the parking area in your lease agreement, you can still be
held liable for injuries or damages that occur in this area during your team’s activities.

Post a sign stating that attendees are parking at their own risk and that your
team/league is not responsible for any damage to or theft from vehicles parked
during your activities.
Make sure parking area is far enough away from the field of play to minimize the
potential for damage to vehicles.
Establish a Player Loading Zone by placing temporary signs during practices and
games to indicate where cars should stop to load and unload passengers. This will
help eliminate confusion for drivers and passengers. It will create a zone where
motorists will expect to see pedestrians and therefore, they will know to slow down.
To assist you in setting up a loading zone that is equipped to safely handle large
numbers of people, contact your local police or sheriff’s department for guidance.
Go Slow Zone - In addition to the Player Loading Zone, help alert motorists to the
fact that children are present by putting up temporary signs in the parking lot that say
“Children at Play” or “Slow: Children”. Work with your local city council, safety board
or parks commission to put in speed bumps or road signs to assist in slowing traffic.
Make sure parking lot is clear of potholes, debris and other dangerous conditions.
Report such problems immediately to the facility owner (or take care of them
immediately if you are responsible for maintaining the parking lot under the terms of
your contract).
Ensure that access to the parking lot and access to the field is not blocked by
haphazard parking. Emergency vehicles must have quick, easy access to the facility
or playing field in the event of an emergency.
For activities that are held at night (or until dusk), verify that the parking areas are
well-lit. Proper lighting ensures that pedestrians and bicyclists can be spotted easily
and from a distance by motorists. A properly lighted parking area also increases the
personal security of those using the facility, and provides better protection for the
vehicles.

These Parking Lot Safety guidelines are based on those developed and used by the American
Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO).

Field Inspection Checklist 2006

Section V: Evaluating the Terms of the Facility/Field Contract

It is important for you as the team or league administrator to evaluate the terms of the rental
agreement or lease contracts that you may sign in order to secure playing facilities for your
activities. They can range from simple, verbal agreements to complex legal contracts. In order
to understand the exposure to you and your organization, you need to know what your
responsibilities are under the terms of that agreement.

To determine what areas of the facility fall within your responsibility, check the following:

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 field/facility on a 24-hour basis for the term of the
lease? Or does your responsibility fall something between the two? If so, how is it defined in
the contract?
Are you responsible for providing insurance on the field/facility, or is it provided by the
owner? Do they require that you add the field/facility owner as an additional insured to the
US Lacrosse liability policy?
Are you required to provide insurance coverage for the facility on a 24-hour basis? If so,
you may need to purchase additional insurance to cover that exposure. Contact your
insurance administrator.
Who is responsible for the field equipment -- scoreboards, bleachers, benches, goals, etc.?
Under the agreement, what specific areas of the facility fall under your responsibility? Is it
just the field or gym? Or are you responsible for the parking lot, pathways to the facility,
restrooms, locker room areas, adjoining fields, etc.? If you are responsible for additional
areas, make sure to include them in your inspection process. Also, be sure to supervise
those areas, as you may be responsible for any incidents that occur there, whether or not
they are directly related to your activities.
Who is responsible for the general condition, maintenance, repair and housekeeping of the
facilities used? Who is responsible for field maintenance (lawncare, applying fertilizer/
pesticides and watering)?
Is there a Hold Harmless agreement in the contract? If so, that means that the facility owner
is not responsible (you are ‘holding them harmless’) for any incidents, damages or injuries
that may occur at the facility during the term of your lease. Note: when you sign a hold
harmless agreement, you are accepting full responsibility for incidents that may be beyond
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.

Field Inspection Checklist 2006