Lawsuits - Preventative Measures
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Preventative Measures
- Have each student (or a parent or legal guardian of each minor student) read and sign a waiver and consent form. Your waiver should be tailored to suit the particular practices of your school and your state's laws. It should advise of the nature and risks of studying Taekwondo, and it should be drafted to protect your school and its instructors, assistant instructors, and visiting instructors adequately from legal liability. Your waiver form should be drafted (or at least reviewed) by an experienced attorney.
- Ensure each student is ready to participate in the specific class activity.
- Ensure all class activities are supervised by a qualified, experienced instructor. Assistant instructors may conduct certain class activities if an experienced instructor is also present.
- All instructors should be properly trained in the art of teaching. Possessing a black belt does not automatically qualify a person to teach.
- The rules of each class activity should be fully explained to each student before he or she is allowed to participate, such as sparring rules. Rules should be strictly enforced, and students should be disciplined for violating the rules.
- The discipline should match the offense. Ignoring offenses will convey that you condone the activity.
- Due to the risk of disease, do not allow students to share sparring equipment, especially at tournaments. Each student should be required to own his or her own gear.
- Students of similar physical size and ability should be paired during partner activities, such as sparring.
- Beginning students should be encouraged to practice alone at home, but not to engage in group activities or pair practice.