Insurance & Risk Management

Safety, Risk Management & Awareness

Safety, Risk Management & Awareness

Gymnastics, trampoline, parkour and other activities that take place in Gymnastics BC member clubs involve the risk of injury. The information contained in the Safety and Risk Awareness section of this website is intended to inform you of the risks, dangers and hazards that you may encounter while in a gymnastics club, and help you to stay safe while enjoying these activities. Whether you are a participant in these activities or a parent or guardian of a minor participant, please take the time to familiarize yourself with the Safety and Risk Awareness information on this website.

Risk Management Information Presentation

ASSUMPTION OF RISKS

Exclusion of Liability

Participation in gymnastics activities and the use of gymnastics equipment involves various risks, dangers and hazards, whether as an athlete, coach, official, participant’s assistant/companion (in early childhood and adaptive programming), advisor, media personnel, medical care provider, vendor, volunteer, spectator, or in any other capacity. It is a condition of your use of the premises and facilities and your participation in these activities that you assume all risk of personal injury, death or property loss resulting from any cause whatsoever, including negligence, breach of contract, or breach of any duty of care on the part of the gymnastics club management or facility operator. Your legal responsibility as a user of the gymnastics facilities or participant in activities at the gymnastics facility is explained in the form below:

Gym BC Release form (pdf form) GymBC Release form (online version)

This form must not be altered, either in electronic or hard-copy. This includes wording, colours and formatting. The form has been designed by a lawyer and is worded and formatted to draw the reader’s attention to specific sections.

Clubs can only change the following:

  • Add their logo in the white space located in the bottom left corner;
  • Add the name of the club in appropriate white space.

Clubs can use the form online to facilitate their registration program. Under the Electronic Transactions Act (ETA), an electronic signature or clicking on an icon is valid and enforceable. Clubs using the Uplifter Management system will be provided with a process to complete the form online. Clubs wishing to utilize GymBC’s Activity Messenger online form may do so by distributing the form linked here to their members. Clubs using the GymBC Activity Messenger form will receive a copy of the completed forms, by email. 

Clubs utilizing other registration programs should email safety@gymbc.org to confirm compliance of their registration program’s waiver collection process.

Prior to completing the registration process with their club:

  • All adult participants must sign the form;
  • At least one parent/guardian of each minor participant must sign the form. It is also required that participants aged 12+ sign the form in addition to their parent/guardian;
  • Adult companions (for parent and tots for example), must sign the form for both themselves and for the child.
  • Teachers (school program, daycare) and adult assistants must sign the form.
  • When participants turn 19 years old and become adults, they must resubmit the form.
  • The form must be completed annually by all members.

All forms must be retained and accessible for several years.

  • Adult participants: the form must be retained and accessible for 7 years.
  • Minor participants: the form must be retained and accessible until 2 years after the participant has reached the age of majority (in BC, YK, NWT, and NU, the age of majority is 19 years old). An 11 year old recreational gymnast’s form must be retained and accessible until they are 21 years old (2 years after they turn 19).
  • Clubs using the Uplifter Management system will be provided with a process to complete and store the form online. Clubs utilizing other registration programs should email us to confirm compliance and ensure appropriate file storage.

POTENTIAL RISKS

There are many potential risks when individuals participate in gymnastic activities (including but not limited to Men’s and Women’s Artistic, Trampoline, Acrobatic, Parkour, and other Gymnastics for All activities). Participants in gymnastic activities acknowledge they are aware of; and may be exposed to, the risks, dangers and hazards of gymnastic activities. The risks, dangers and hazards include, but are not limited to:

  • Contracting COVID-19 or any other contagious disease.
  • Privacy breaches, hacking, technology malfunction or damage.
  • Executing strenuous and demanding physical techniques and exerting and stretching various muscle groups.
  • Vigorous physical exertion, strenuous cardiovascular workouts, and rapid movements.
  • The failure to properly use any piece of equipment or from the mechanical failure of any piece of equipment or apparatus.
  • Failure to follow instructions or rules.
  • Spinal cord injuries which may render the Participant permanently paralyzed.
  • Serious injury to virtually all bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons, and other aspects of the Participant’s body or to the Participant’s general health and well-being.
  • Abrasions, sprains, strains, fractures, or dislocations.
  • Concussion or other head injuries, including but not limited to, closed head injury or blunt head trauma.
  • Physical contact with other participants, spotters, spectators, equipment, and hazards.
  • Collisions with walls, any gymnastics apparatus, floors, or mats.
  • Falling, tumbling, or hitting any gymnastics apparatus, the floor, mats, or other surfaces.
  • Not wearing appropriate attire or personal equipment (e.g., grips).
  • Failure to act safely or within the Participant’s ability or designated areas.
  • Negligence of other persons, including other spectators, participants, or employees; and
  • Travel to and from competitive events and associated non-competitive events which are an integral part of the Activities

General Safety Rules for Clubs

Coach Requirements

GymBC has specific certification requirements for coaches to follow dependent on their athletes’ abilities. These requirements can be found in the GymBC Coaching Education Operations Manual.

If you have any questions about coaching, please contact GymBC’s Coach Development Lead.

Coaching Operations Manual

Membership Requirements

GymBC has membership requirements for clubs to maintain access to insurance coverage, competitions, and other services. Membership requirements are described in GymBC’s Registration Handbook.

If you have any questions about membership requirements, please contact GymBC’s Senior Manager, Operations.

GymBC Registration Handbook

Safety First

GymBC’s Safety First Manual includes information about equipment, risk management, risk mitigation, facility layout, safety guidelines, coaching ratios, and many other safety-oriented topics. GymBC is currently redrafting its Safety First Manual.

If you have any questions about Safety First, please contact GymBC’s Sport Safety Officer.

Safety First Manual

Coach Contact

Coach & Judge Development Lead

Membership Contact

Senior Manager, Operations

Sport Safety Contact

Sport Safety Officer

Public Health

COVID-19 was declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization in early 2020. Preventative measures were put in place to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus and all member clubs were required to adhere to the requirements and compliance standards described in GymBC’s Return to Sport Plan.

GymBC Return To Sport July 1 2021

Email Sport Safety Officer