What to keep in mind when travelling to soccer tournaments

Travelling for a soccer tournament is an exciting opportunity for young athletes to bond, build lasting memories and represent Calgary minor soccer with pride. As parents and guardians, it’s important to help ensure everyone stays safe and prepared both on the road and away from home.
To make your family’s tournament experience as smooth and stress-free as possible, here are some practical tips for approaching travel thoughtfully with a solid game plan.

Make sure your vehicle insurance is up to date

• At the start of each soccer season, take a few minutes to review your auto insurance policy and confirm you’re properly covered:
• You’ll need a minimum of $1 million in third-party liability insurance. This is especially important if you’re driving players to games, practices or tournaments. This coverage protects you in the event you’re responsible for an accident that causes injury or property damage to others.
• Estimate how often you’ll be driving for soccer events and update your insurance details if needed to reflect the increased usage of your vehicle.
• Consider investing in winter tires. Having a set of four matching winter tires may qualify you for an insurance discount, and it helps keep your players safer during Alberta’s unpredictable weather.
• If you plan to rent a vehicle to transport teammates, confirm liability coverage is available for damage to non-owned automobiles. This provides collision and comprehensive protection for rental vehicles, though a deductible will apply.

Travelling to and from tournaments and games

When heading out for tournaments or games, remember to:

• Check weather forecasts and keep an eye on road conditions, so all drivers stay informed and prepared.
• Choose highways whenever possible, especially if the weather is bad or unpredictable.
• Never drink alcohol before driving players or other participants to or from any events.
• Create a clear policy for players who are legally able to drive themselves or other team members to games, practices or out-of-town tournaments. Communicate this policy to everyone and ensure there are no exceptions.

Booking accommodations

• When arranging accommodations for your team, consider key factors like how close the hotel is to the tournament site, available facilities and the overall safety of the neighbourhood.
• Ask for all rooms to be located on the same floor and near fire exits. For high-rise hotels, request rooms below the eighth floor –this is typically the height limit for fire department ladders.
• Review your team’s emergency action plan at the start of each season, and make sure everyone knows who the designated contacts are in case of an emergency.