AD Risk Management & Mitigation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student-athlete collapses on the field with suspected sudden cardiac arrest. According to best practices, what is the target time for first defibrillation using an AED?
- Within 2 minutes
- Within 3–5 minutes (Correct answer)
- Within 8 minutes
- Within 10 minutes
Correct answer: Within 3–5 minutes
Best practices and NATA recommendations call for AED use within 3–5 minutes of collapse to maximize survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes 'risk retention' as a risk financing strategy for an athletic department?
- Purchasing excess liability insurance
- Self-funding losses from an internal reserve rather than transferring risk to an insurer (Correct answer)
- Hiring a third-party risk management firm
- Requiring athletes to carry personal health insurance
Correct answer: Self-funding losses from an internal reserve rather than transferring risk to an insurer
Risk retention means the organization absorbs certain losses itself, typically for low-severity, high-frequency events where insurance premiums would exceed expected losses.
Question 3: An athletic trainer identifies that a football field has an uneven surface near the end zone that poses a tripping hazard. Under risk management principles, what is the FIRST action the AD should take?
- File an insurance claim
- Restrict use of that area and schedule immediate repairs (Correct answer)
- Notify parents of the potential hazard
- Conduct a full facility audit before taking action
Correct answer: Restrict use of that area and schedule immediate repairs
Immediate hazard abatement — restricting the dangerous area and scheduling repair — is the first priority to prevent foreseeable harm.
Question 4: Which piece of federal legislation requires schools to ensure students with disabilities have equal access to athletic programs and directly influences risk management accommodations?
- Title IX
- IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Correct answer)
- FERPA
Correct answer: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Section 504 requires schools to provide reasonable accommodations so students with disabilities can participate in athletic programs, shaping safety planning and liability exposure.
Question 5: A booster club member volunteers to drive athletes to an away game in a personal vehicle. From a risk management standpoint, what is the GREATEST concern for the athletic department?
- IRS tax liability for the booster club
- Insufficient commercial auto insurance coverage for passenger transport (Correct answer)
- Violation of Title IX equity requirements
- FERPA privacy issues related to student travel records
Correct answer: Insufficient commercial auto insurance coverage for passenger transport
Personal auto policies often exclude commercial or organized group transport, leaving the school exposed to significant liability in the event of an accident.
Question 6: What distinguishes a 'general liability' policy from a 'professional liability' policy in the context of athletic department insurance?
- General liability covers bodily injury and property damage; professional liability covers errors in administrative or coaching judgment (Correct answer)
- General liability covers staff; professional liability covers athletes
- General liability is required by law; professional liability is optional
- General liability applies to competitions; professional liability applies to practices
Correct answer: General liability covers bodily injury and property damage; professional liability covers errors in administrative or coaching judgment
General liability addresses physical harm and property damage, while professional liability (errors & omissions) covers claims arising from professional decisions and advice.
Question 7: An athletic director must implement a concussion management protocol compliant with state law. Which element is universally required in all 50 states' youth concussion laws?
- Annual ImPACT baseline testing for all athletes
- Removal from play on same day of suspected concussion and clearance by a licensed health professional before return (Correct answer)
- Mandatory helmet sensor technology
- Parent-signed concussion waiver before each season
Correct answer: Removal from play on same day of suspected concussion and clearance by a licensed health professional before return
All state youth concussion laws include same-day removal from play and return-to-play clearance by a licensed health professional as minimum requirements.
AD Risk Management & Mitigation 3
A student-athlete collapses on the field with suspected sudden cardiac arrest.
According to best practices, what is the target time for first defibrillation using an AED?