New Jersey’s Little League Law (2A:62A-6 et. seq.)

Provides partial civil immunity protection to volunteer athletic coaches, managers, or officials for non profit sports teams who have attended a “safety orientation and training skills program”.

2A:62A 6. Volunteer athletic coaches, managers, or officials for non profit sports teams or teams in league affiliated with county or municipal recreation department; immunity from liability; exceptions

a. Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, no person who provides services or assistance free of charge, except for reimbursement of expenses, as an athletic coach, manager, or official, other than a sports official accredited by a voluntary association as provided by P.L.1979, c.172 (C.18A:11 3) and exempted from liability pursuant to P.L.1987, c.239 (C.2A:62A 6.1), for a sports team which is organized or performing pursuant to a nonprofit or similar charter or which is a member team in a league organized by or affiliated with a county or municipal recreation department, shall be liable in any civil action for damages to a player, participant or spectator as a result of his acts of commission or omission arising out of and in the course of his rendering that service or assistance.

b. The provisions of subsection a. of this section shall apply not only to organized sports competitions, but shall also apply to practice and instruction in that sport.

c. (1) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to grant immunity to any person causing damage by his willful, wanton, or grossly negligent act of commission or omission, nor to any coach, manage:, or official who has not participated in a safety orientation and training skills program which program shall include but not be limited to injury prevention and first aid procedures and general coaching concepts.

(2) A coach, manager, or official shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of this subsection if the safety orientation and skills training program attended by the person has met the minimum standards established by the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports in consultation with the Bureau of Recreation within the Department of Community Affairs, in accordance with rules and regulations adopted pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B 1 et seq.).

d. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to grant immunity to any person causing damage as the result of his negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

e. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to grant immunity to any person for any damage caused by that person permitting a sports competition or practice to be conducted without supervision.

f. Nothing in this act shall apply to an athletic coach, manager, or official who provides services or assistance as part of a public or private educational institution’s athletic program.

L.1986,c.13,s.1; 1988,c.87,s.1.

2A:62A 6.1. Compensated sports officials; immunity from liability; conditions

Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, a person who is accredited as a sports official by a voluntary association as provided by P.L. 1979, c. 172 (C. 18a:11 3) and who serves that association, a conference under the jurisdiction of the association, or a public entity as defined in Title 59 of the New Jersey Statutes in the capacity of a sports official, whether or not compensated for his services, shall not be liable in :any action for damages as a result of this acts of commission or ommision arising out of and in the course of his rendering the services. Nothing in this act shall be deemed to grant immunity to any person causing damage by his willful, wanton, or grossly negligent act of commission or omission, nor to any person causing damage as the result of his negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

L. 1987, c. 239, s. 1.

2A:62A 6.2. Sponsors of non profit sports teams or teams in league organized by or affiliated with county or municipal recreation department; immunity from liability; exceptions

Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, no person who provides goods, services, or other assistance as the sponsor of a sports team which is organized or performing pursuant to a nonprofit or similar charter, or which is a member team in a league organized by or affiliated with a county or municipal recreation department, shall be liable in any civil action for damages to a player or participant as a result of his acts of commission or omission arising out of and in the course of his rendering those goods or services or that assistance.

The provisions of this section shall apply not only to organized sports competitions, but shall also apply to practice and instruction in that sport.

Nothing in this section shall be deemed to grant immunity to any person causing damage by his willful, wanton, or grossly negligent act of commission or omission, nor to any person causing damage as the result of his negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

L.1988, c. 87, s. 3.