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 Feb 20 Board Adopts No Headphone Friendly Event PolicyRRCA BOARDS APPROVES POLICY THAT RRCA INSURED EVENTS CANNOT ACTIVELY INVITE PARTICIPANTS TO WEAR HEADPHONESAs an association of running clubs and events, the Road Runners Club of America does not usually dictate rules to our members; we offer guidelines on general safety that race directors and club leaders are encouraged to adopt as guidelines, rules or policies for their local events. Since the mid 1980’s the Road Runners Club of America has maintained a long-standing guideline against the use of headphones or personal music devices in running events and group training runs. This is a safety precaution and a risk management responsibility for race directors and run leaders. As such, race directors and group run leaders are encouraged to ban or strongly discourage the use of headphones in races and group runs. In February 2008, the RRCA issued a press release supporting the use of the universal no headphone icon designed by Jim Gerwick. (Read the press release at http://www.rrca.org/news/index.php?article=2265) "I reiterate what I said in that press release”, commented Jean Knaack, RRCA executive director. “Banning headphones or advising participants to leave them at home or in the car is part of the risk management responsibility of a race director. Many participants do not understand or respect the awesome responsibility a race director shoulders to ensure the safety of every single participant in an event. Respecting an event director's choice to prohibit headphones in an event or a group run is a shared responsibility of every participant to ensure the safety of all runners, the future success of the event, and the sport as a whole." The RRCA understands that enforcement of a headphone ban or discouraging headphone use can be a challenge for race directors, especially for races that exceed several thousand runners. Because of this, the use of headphones in events and group runs are not excluded from the RRCA insurance policy. This means that if a race director promotes that headphones are not allowed or their use is discouraged in the event, but a participant shows up, runs the race in headphones, and has or creates an incident, the race director is still entitled to have the insurance company fund their defense or negotiate settlement in a legal case. While the insurance policy does not exclude headphones, and the RRCA does not have an outright ban on their use during events, this does not mean that RRCA members taking advantage of the group insurance program can actively encourage runners to show up and run with their headphones. That practice could jeopardize the integrity of the insurance program that benefits thousands of events and group runs every year. On January 17, 2009, the RRCA Board of Directors met in open session to discuss the practice of active promotion of headphone friendly events. Under the advisement of the RRCA Insurance broker, Terry Diller, and on behalf of the insurance underwriter, the RRCA Board of Directors unanimously passed a policy stating that RRCA members taking advantage of the group liability and Directors & Officers insurance program may not actively promote that headphones are welcome at RRCA insured events. Meaning RRCA members utilizing the insurance program should not engage in marketing campaigns that invite people to show-up with their headphones and run in events or group runs. (Read minutes posted at http://www.rrca.org/rrca/business/20090109minutes.pdf.) “The RRCA Board has a responsibility to protect the integrity of the insurance program on behalf of all of our members”, explained Brent Ayer, RRCA President. “We believe this pro-active stance against the promotion of headphone friendly events is prudent management of the insurance program on behalf of all of our members.” To assist members, the following information outlines sample language that may be included in a race entry form or on a website relating to headphone use at an event: Sample Language I – Voluntary Banning of Headphone Use: The use of personal music devices is strictly prohibited on course at this race. (Include your own language explaining your enforcement plan). Sample Language II – Race Guideline Against Headphone Use: The use of personal music devices is strongly discouraged at this race. To enjoy all that our race has to offer and for the safety of all participants, (YOUR RACE NAME) encourages a headphone-free environment during the running of (YOUR RACE NAME). We believe your race experience and those around you will be greatly enhanced by leaving the headphones at home or in the car. Running headphone-free allows opportunities to develop camaraderie with your fellow runners and to enjoy everything the race has to offer. Plus, volunteers and spectators will be on course cheering you on and providing directions to help get you to the finish line. Runner safety has always been, and will continue to be, a top priority for our event. Please be mindful of the other participants and respect the race personnel to ensure a safe and enjoyable race for everyone. Any questions regarding this new policy may be direct to Jean Knaack to . ###
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