Sports Underwriting Since 2006

INSURE EVERYATHLETE.EVERY SPORT.EVERY LEVEL.

£2.1B in claims settled across 54 sports since 2006.

54
Sports Covered
£2.1B
Claims Settled
98%
Claims Paid
18yrs
In Operation
Rugby Union·Football·Cricket·Boxing·Gymnastics·Cycling·Swimming·Athletics·Hockey·Netball·Tennis·Rowing·Martial Arts·Skiing·Equestrian·Lacrosse·Volleyball·Basketball·American Football·Rugby Union·Football·Cricket·Boxing·Gymnastics·Cycling·Swimming·Athletics·Hockey·Netball·Tennis·Rowing·Martial Arts·Skiing·Equestrian·Lacrosse·Volleyball·Basketball·American Football·
Finding 01

Injury Frequency by Sport

Injuries per 1,000 participant-hours across 18 years of Shield claims data. Every cell represents a covered risk — from a Saturday league to international competition.

Low (0–24)
Low-Mod (25–39)
Moderate (40–54)
Elevated (55–69)
High (70–84)
Critical (85+)
Rugby Union
94
Critical
Boxing
88
Critical
American Football
85
Critical
Ice Hockey
79
High
Rugby League
91
Critical
Martial Arts
76
High
Football
68
Elevated
Gymnastics
72
High
Cycling
61
Elevated
Basketball
58
Elevated
Cricket
44
Moderate
Hockey
47
Moderate
Tennis
38
Low
Athletics
42
Moderate
Rowing
29
Low
Swimming
22
Low
Netball
35
Low
Equestrian
55
Elevated
Skiing
63
Elevated
Lacrosse
48
Moderate

Source: Shield internal claims database, 2006–2024. All figures per 1,000 participant-hours.

Finding 02

Average Claim Values

What each injury type has cost across Shield-underwritten policies. Figures represent settled averages — the numbers your committee needs to see before the season starts.

Career-ending concussionRare
Avg claim
£485k
ACL reconstructionCommon
Avg claim
£39k
Fractured vertebraeUncommon
Avg claim
£142k
Dislocated shoulderVery Common
Avg claim
£12k
Broken collarboneCommon
Avg claim
£9k
Knee ligament (MCL)Common
Avg claim
£14k
Fractured jaw / facialUncommon
Avg claim
£22k
Ankle ligament ruptureVery Common
Avg claim
£7k

Figures derived from 47,312 settled claims, 2006–2024. All amounts in GBP. Professional athlete figures excluded from averages.

Finding 03

Claims We've Settled

Anonymised case studies from real Shield-underwritten policies. Every scenario your committee is worried about — we've already seen it.

CS-2847
Thornfield Gymnastics Club
Gymnastics · Leeds, England
Claim Settled

During a regional competition, a 16-year-old gymnast sustained a compound wrist fracture and radial nerve damage. Surgical intervention required, rehabilitation extending 14 months.

Claim Value
£34,200
Resolution
23 days
Junior Athlete Personal Accident
"Shield had the payment processed before the physio discharged her. No argument, no delay — just the number we agreed at sign-up."
Club Treasurer
CS-5193
Hartwell RFC
Rugby Union · Bristol, England
Claim Settled

A semi-professional flanker suffered a career-ending C5 vertebral fracture in a collapsed scrum. Total loss of playing earnings assessed at £2.1M over projected career.

Claim Value
£1,840,000
Resolution
47 days
Player Career-Ending Injury Policy
"Every club thinks it will never happen to them. When it did, Shield was the only reason we didn't face a legal action that would have ended the club."
Club Secretary
CS-7021
Meridian Boxing Promotions
Boxing · Manchester, England
Claim Settled

A contracted super-middleweight sustained a retinal detachment in a televised bout, requiring emergency surgery and resulting in permanent partial vision loss in one eye.

Claim Value
£218,500
Resolution
31 days
Professional Boxer Accident & Liability
"As a promoter you carry the risk everyone else ignores. Shield understood our exposure from the first call — no sports underwriter has ever read our contracts before writing the policy."
Promoter / Agent

All case studies anonymised in accordance with FCA data handling guidelines. Organisation names changed. Claim values are accurate.

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Shield
2024 Sports
Risk Report
54 sports · 18 years · 47,312 claims

Download the 2024 Sports Risk Report

48 pages of injury frequency data, claim benchmarks, and coverage gap analysis across 54 sports. The document your committee should read before renewing any policy.

  • Full injury heat map (54 sports)
  • Claim value benchmarks by sport & injury
  • Coverage gap analysis: what clubs underinsure
  • Junior athlete risk profiles
  • Professional athlete earnings protection guide

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