Insurance for sport

Verified 29 May 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Are you practicing a sport and wondering if you should take out insurance to protect yourself against injuries sustained or caused during your activity? It depends on the setting in which you practice sport: in free practice (regardless of any structure), in a club or in the school setting. Here are the rules to know.

Free practice

The free practice consists of practicing a sport without being part of a sports structure (club or sports federation). For example, the practice of running on the street, alone and without supervision.

You can choose to take out personal insurance.

However, the insurance is not not mandatory.

The risks covered (injuries sustained or caused) are defined in the insurance contract. You can opt for the following protections:

Warning  

If you do not have personal insurance, you will have to pay for the costs of the injury caused to yourself or to another person.

In a club

It's compulsory insurance of the sports structure which covers damage caused by one athlete to another.

Indeed, any organizer of sporting activities must subscribe to collective insurance contracts covering the civil liability of all participants. The contract must be posted on the premises of the Physical Activity and Sports Establishment (EAPS).

The subscription of a personal insurance is therefore optional. It is mandatory only in the case of underwater fishing if you do not have the federation license.

You can choose to purchase a insurance personal (e.g. life accident guarantee).

However, the insurance is not not required.

If you do not have personal insurance, you will have to cover the costs related to your injury (rescue, care, loss of income following a work stoppage).

Please note

Sports facilities must inform their practitioners of the possibility of taking out insurance covering damage caused to oneself.

School setting

You can subscribe to a school insurance for your child, but it's not not required.

School insurance consists of the following guarantees:

  • One civil liability guarantee which covers damage caused by your child
  • A personal injury guarantee that covers the damage suffered by your child, including if he or she injures himself or herself.

Warning  

If you choose not to take out school insurance, you will have to pay all the costs related to the damage caused or suffered by your child.

For the after-school activities practiced by your child, you have the obligation to subscribe to a school insurance.

This school insurance mandatory consists of the following guarantees:

  • One civil liability guarantee which covers the damage caused by your child
  • One personal injury guarantee which covers the damage suffered by your child, including if he or she injures himself or herself.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • For information on physical and sporting activity establishments or on collective reception of minors

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