RRCA highly recommends using an online registration system that allows you to collect waivers during the race registration process.  Utilize tools that allow you to collect waivers if a group sign-up option is offered to ensure you get waivers from ALL participants. If going old-school, be sure to include a waiver on paper forms. Don’t use a font that is so small it is impossible to read or easily ignored, use the same size font as other text.

All RRCA members are required to obtain waivers of liability from their participants and volunteers for every event.

This is a requirement for utilizing the RRCA insurance program.

Organizers should edit “stock waivers” provided by online registration companies to ensure the waiver is specific to your event. The more detail you can provide in the waiver about the dangers associated with participating in your event, the more useful the waiver will be in the event an incident results in a legal action.

Keep a file of waivers based on your state’s statue of limitation for a civil lawsuit.  These can be maintained as either a digital file or hard copies. Work with your online membership management system to ensure you can access waivers going back at least 2-3 years or more.

I know that running [EDIT RUNNING TO “VOLUNTEERING FOR” TO BECOME THE VOLUNTEER WAIVER] a road race [EDIT to TRACK or TRAIL as needed] is a potentially hazardous activity, which could cause injury or death. I will not enter and participate unless I am medically able and properly trained, and by my signature, I certify that I am medically able to perform this event, and am in good health, and I am properly trained. I agree to abide by any decision of a race official relative to any aspect of my participation in this event, including the right of any official to deny or suspend my participation for any reason whatsoever. I attest that I have read the rules of the race and agree to abide by them.  I assume all risks associated with running in this event, including but no limited to: falls, physical contact with other participants, volunteers, race personnel, contract service providers, employees, and spectators including the potential the contraction of a communicable disease resulting from contact with other participants, volunteers, race personnel, contract service providers, employees, and spectators.  I assume all risks including: the effects of the weather; high heat and/or humidity; freezing cold temperatures; traffic and the conditions of the road including surrounding terrain. [INSERT OTHER SPECIFIC THREATS ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR EVENT HERE: e.g. “the alligators who bask in the sun at the corner of 4th and Sunset St.”].  I further agree to abide by the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) recommendations for the prevention of the spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and other communicable diseases, and I attest to having read the CDC’s guidance at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html. I assume all such risks being known, appreciated, and accepted by me. 

I understand that bicycles, skateboards, baby joggers/strollers, roller skates or inline skates, animals, and personal music players are not allowed in the race, and I will abide by all race rules. Having read this waiver and knowing these facts and inconsideration of your accepting my entry, I, for myself and anyone entitled to act on my behalf, waive and release the __________________ [NAME OF EVENT], the city of ______________________ [CITY OR MUNICIPALITY NAME], and the Road Runners Club of America, all event sponsors, their representatives and successors from all claims or liabilities of any kind arising out of my participation in this event, even though that liability may arise out of negligence or carelessness on the part of the persons named in this waiver.  In addition, I acknowledge the contagious nature of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases and voluntarily assume the risk that I may be exposed to or infected by COVID-19 and/or other communicable diseases by participating in this event. I acknowledge that such exposure or infection may result in personal injury, illness, permanent disability, and/or death. I understand that the risk of becoming exposed to or infected by COVID-19 in connection with my participation in this event and personally assume this risk.

I grant permission to all of the foregoing to use my photographs, motion pictures, recordings or any other record of this event for any legitimate purposes.  I understand that this event does not provide for refunds in the event of a cancellation, and by signing this waiver, I consent that I am not entitled to a refund if the event is cancelled before or during the event.

Signature:
Date:

Parent’s Signature if under 18 years:
Date:

I know that running in an event that is organized as a virtual activity where I run on my own, at a date and time of my choosing, in a location and running route of my choosing, which will not have any support or security measures in place by [INCLUDE NAME OF ORGANIZER OF THE VIRTUAL EVENT] is a potentially hazardous activity, which could result in injury or death. I acknowledge that I am participating in the activity outlined by this virtual event by my own free will and at my own personal risk. I will not participate in a virtual event unless I am medically able and properly trained, and by my signature, I certify that I am medically able to perform this event, and am in good health, and I am properly trained. I further agree to abide by the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) recommendations for the prevention of the spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and other communicable diseases, and I attest to having read the CDC’s guidance at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html. I attest that if my community has a shelter in place order, that I will only participate in the virtual event by using a personal treadmill, and I will not run outside in the community during the duration of a shelter in place order. I agree to follow all pedestrian safety ordinances including running on a sidewalk where available and not in the road.  I agree to follow the rules of the road if no sidewalk or multi-use trail is available, and I will run against oncoming traffic and not with traffic. 

I agree to abide by any decision of a race official relative to any aspect of my participation in this virtual event, including the right of any official to deny or suspend my participation for any reason whatsoever.  I attest that I having read the rules of the virtual race scheduled for [ORGANIZERS SHOULD CLEARLY OUTLINE A TIME FRAME FOR THE VIRTUAL EVENT] including the terms in this waiver, the timeline of the virtual event, and agree to abide by them.  I assume all risks to me associated with running on my own as part of this virtual activity, including but not limited to: falls, contact with other pedestrians, the effects of the weather, including high heat and/or humidity, traffic and the conditions of the road or trail, all such risks being known or unknown and appreciated by me when out running on my own without any type of support from local officials or event organizers.

Having read this waiver and knowing these facts and in consideration of your accepting my entry, I, for myself and anyone entitled to act on my behalf, waive and release the __________________ [NAME OF EVENT AND EVENT ORGANIZER], the city of ______________________, and the Road Runners Club of America, all event sponsors, their representatives and successors from all claims or liabilities of any kind arising out of my participation in this virtual event, and waive my ability to bring any legal action against the entities outlined in this waiver as I am voluntarily electing to run on my own as part of this virtual event.  I grant permission to all of the foregoing to use my photographs which I may share online as part of the event, personal data provided during registration and post-event reporting, video or audio recordings, or any other record of this event for any legitimate purpose.  I understand that this event does not provide for refunds in the event of a cancellation, and by signing this waiver, I consent that I am not entitled to a refund if the event is cancelled before or during the event.

From time to time, medical directors for a race may experience someone that refuses to accept medical assistance or refuses to drop out of the race at the recommendation of medical staff. The following is a sample waiver that race directors and or race medical directors can have a participant sign if they refuse to medical treatment on course or refuse to drop out of an event against the recommendation of medical staff.

(Name & Date of Race Here)

I,______________________________________, the undersigned participant in the above event, acknowledge that I have suffered an injury or illness during said event and have been offered medical assistance and/or transport to a medical facility for said injury. However, I have declined such medical assistance/transport to a medical facility and have willingly elected to continue in the above event with full understanding that my conduct may increase my risk of serious injury or death, including other unknown risks not reasonably foreseeable at this time, and that I willingly agree to assume all risk and accept personal responsibility for my actions and any damages as a result of such injury, including permanent disability or death, and I do hereby release, discharge and covenant to indemnify and not to sue the organizer(s) of said event, its affiliated organizations and sponsors, employees and associated personnel, officers, directors, agents, including the owners and lessors of premises used to conduct the event, and I also agree to save and hold harmless and indemnify each and all parties herein referred to above from all liability, loss, cost, claim or damage whatsoever as a result of my actions referenced herein.

I have read the above waiver/release and understand that I have given up substantial rights by signing this release and sign below voluntarily.

Participant Print Name:
Date:

Participant’s Signature:
Race Number:

Witness Print Name::
Date

Witness’s Signature:

For events that take place on Federal Lands such as National Forest Service land, National Park Service Land, etc. you may be instructed that your waiver may not “waive liability” and that you may only be allowed to require a signed “Acknowledgement of Risk” form.  For the purposes of RRCA insurance compliance for events that take place on Federal Lands, you will be required to use the following “Acknowledgement of Risk” language.  Below is the RRCA’s recommended Acknowledgement of Risk language, which may only be used for events held on Federal Lands, all other events must use the waivers above. Fill in the blanks with your event details, but do not edit the language.  Visit NPS.gov for more information.

VISITOR’S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RISKS

In consideration of the services of ____________(EVENT NAME OR MANAGEMENT COMPANY) their officers, agents, employees, and stockholders, and all other persons or entities associated with those businesses (hereinafter collectively referred to as “_____”) I agree as follows:

Although ____________ has taken reasonable steps to provide me with appropriate information, skilled event directors, and volunteers for _______________ (EVENT NAME AND DISTANCE) so I can enjoy this activity for which I may not be skilled, and ____________ has informed me this activity is not without risk.  Certain risks are inherent in this activity, _______________________ (EVENT NAME AND DISTANCE), including and cannot be eliminated without destroying the unique character of the activity.  These inherent risks are some of the same elements that contribute to the unique character of this activity and can be the cause of loss or damage to my equipment, or accidental injury, illness, or in extreme cases, permanent trauma or death.  ____________ does not want to frighten me or reduce my enthusiasm for this activity, but believes it is important for me to know in advance what to expect and to be informed of the inherent risks.  The following describes some, but not all, of those risks.

[Include detailed description of risks]

I am aware that ____________ entails risks of injury or death to any participant.  I understand the description of these inherent risks is not complete and that other unknown or unanticipated inherent risks may result in injury or death.  I agree to assume and accept full responsibility for the inherent risks identified herein and those inherent risks not specifically identified.  My participation in this activity is purely voluntary, no one is forcing me to participate, and I elect to participate in spite of and with full knowledge of the inherent risks.

I acknowledge that engaging in this activity may require a degree of skill and knowledge different than other activities and that I have responsibilities as a participant.  I acknowledge that the staff of ____________ has been available to more fully explain to me the nature and physical demands of this activity and the inherent risks, hazards, and dangers associated with this activity. I acknowledge that I have read information provided by _______________ that is related to the nature and physical demands of this activity and the inherent risks, hazards, and dangers associated with this activity.

I certify that I am fully capable of participating in this activity.  Therefore, I assume and accept full responsibility for myself, including all minor children in my care, custody, and control, for bodily injury, death or loss of personal property and expenses as a result of those inherent risks and dangers identified herein and those inherent risks and dangers not specifically identified, and as a result of my negligence in participating in this activity.

I have carefully read, clearly understood and accepted the terms and conditions stated herein and acknowledge that this agreement shall be effective and binding upon myself, my heirs, assigns, personal representative and estate and for all members of my family, including minor children.

____________________________ ____________________
Signature Date

Signature of Parent of Guardian, if participant is under 18 years of age

____________________________ _____________________
Signature Date

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