Sports Law • Risk Management

katharine's blog

October 22, 2010: The Golden Rule of Risk Management

Most people are familiar with the “Golden Rule” of treating people as you would like to be treated. This rule is considered the most essential basis for human rights. What if there was a golden rule for risk management? What if there were a principle that if followed, would reduce risk significantly and make for a much safer sports and recreation environment? I propose that the golden rule of risk management should be, “watch where you’re going”.

October 19, 2010: Lessons from a Haunted Marathon Training Run

A number of years ago, my marathon club enjoyed a Halloween themed training run. We wore costumes and ran through a graveyard. My friend, Cindy, and I dressed in t-shirts that had pictures of beautiful, fit bodies, wearing bikinis. The great thing about those costumes (besides their obvious appeal to the opposite sex) was that they were easy to run in. I’m sure that there were some costumes that would not have been safe and so the coach should certainly have put some restrictions on the costumes of the night. Also, running in the dark is always perilous.

October 15, 2010: Locker Room Risk Management

Injuries occurring in saunas, locker room, bathrooms and shower facilities have been the source of much litigation. Wherever there is water, slip and falls are bound to occur. There are also concerns with security from intruders and cell phone cameras. Sexual harassment and bullying have also occurred in locker rooms. The following factual scenario resulted in litigation, which ultimately found its way to an appellate court:

October 12, 2010: Doping Risk Management

Alberto Contador was victorious in the 2010 Tour de France, but has been provisionally suspended by the International Cycling Union because of positive testing for clenbuterol. The famous bike race has experienced years of bad press with allegations and charges of doping. Surprisingly, doping goes back to the races origins in 1903 when participates used ether and consumed alcohol in an effort to gain an advantage.

October 8, 2010: Violence Breaks out at Kukui High School Football Game

More than 12 million viewers watched a gunfight break out at a Kukui High School football game. Of course, the gang violence was not viewed from the stands, but rather on national prime time television during this week’s episode of Hawaii 5-0. It was a scary scene when men armed with guns walked onto the fictitious Kukui High School football field during the game and shots were fired. Fortunately, police officers Steve McGarrett, Danno, Chin Ho Kelly and Kono Kalakaua were conveniently watching the game and were armed and ready to instantly rush the field and apprehend the suspects. This scene made me wonder how often gun fights, gun fire, and gang fights are actually occurring at football games.

October 4, 2010: No Texting While Supervising

While swimming my usual mile in a lifeguarded pool, I noticed something horrifying---at least to my safety trained eyes. The lifeguard had his cell phone in hand and appeared to be texting! He did this while small children and adults swam at their own peril. The scene was less dramatic than it might appear. Swim lessons were taking up half the lanes and there was an instructor in the pool for every few children. Parents filled the stands as well, some of them also focusing more on their cell phones than on their young charges. If texting while driving is dangerous, isn’t supervising children swimming or playing sport equally as hazardous?