Risk Management for Recreation Professionls

An Introductory Online Course

Course Instructor: Ian McGregor, Ph.D., Ian McGregor and Associates Inc.

Course Goal

The primary goal of this online course is to increase staff awareness in the area of Negligence, Legal Liability and Risk Management, and provide participants with the knowledge and skills needed to reduce the risk of participant injury – and the potential of negligence litigation.

Course Description

This course explores Negligence Liability and the Risk Management planning process. Students will learn the critical concept of Reasonable Standard of Care and how this impacts and guides all risk management planning efforts. By the end of the course, students will have a clear understanding of the concept of negligence as it applies to the area of sport and recreation, and will acquire valuable risk management planning tools and the skills necessary to develop and implement a simple risk management plan for their work situation.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Describe and explain the key negligence liability issues facing the Recreation field today
  2. Apply the ‘Reasonable Person’ test to a variety of real life scenarios, based on the concept of ‘Standard of Care’
  3. Recognize situations which have potential for injury (and litigation), and know what to do about it
  4. Use the risk management planning process to develop effective Risk Management plans
  5. Develop an audit checklist to use to assess the risks in your program and/or facility
  6. Develop a prioritized Risk Management Action Plan based on the risks identified in your audit.

Course Length

4 week course is divided into two main sections:
(a) Negligence Liability and (b) Risk Management

  • In weeks 1-2, the focus is on negligence in the recreation and sport setting
  • In weeks 3-4, the risk management planning process becomes the focus

Course work and assignments should take approximately 3-5 hours per week.

Course Features

  • Online format means students work at their own speed, in their own time
  • Webinars used to deliver online ‘lectures’ – also incorporate student Q&A
  • Small class size maximizes class interactions
  • Course participants establish a network with colleagues from across N. America
  • Results-oriented assignments are based on real department situations
  • ‘Certificate of Completion’ issued to all participants who successfully complete the course (you must complete a min. 75% of each week’s assignments)

Course Text

SportRisk: Risk Management Planning Resource by Dr. Ian McGregor.

Who is Course aimed at?

This is an ‘introductory’ course and as such is aimed primarily at new Recreation professionals who need to (a) understand the basic principles of negligence and legal liability, and (b) know how to apply simple risk management planning skills to their job situation.  For more seasoned professionals, the course provides a refesher on the legal principles surrounding negligence, and the benefits of a simple risk management planning  process.

Course Outline

Upcoming Course:

Next Course: May 12 – June 6, 2014 (4 weeks)

To secure your place register now for the Spring 2014 course !  To Register: go to ‘Add to Cart’ and pay through PayPal – you are then automatically registered and you’ll receive confirmation within 24 hours.

Fee: $455 USD

To get more information contact Ian McGregor directly at mcgregor@sportrisk.com




In July of 2015 California State University, Chico had the opportunity to participate in Sport Risk’s new ‘Best Practices’ risk management review conducted by Ian McGregor & Associates. Ian is clearly one of the most knowledgable and experienced leaders in risk management practices and our institution was excited to be one of the first Universities to use this new evaluation process. 

 While evaluating our programs we found his work to be innovative, comprehensive, and easy to use throughout all aspects of our various recreation programs. Because of his outstanding work we are using the recommendations as a catalyst for program improvement.  Being able to contrast our practices with other NIRSA institutions is invaluable in bringing our programs to a higher standard of excellence. Without hesitation, I would recommend this process to any collegiate recreation program who is interested in current, state of the art, risk management practices. You will find Ian McGregor and Associates to be professional and cost effective in helping you meet your administrative responsibilities.

Kimberly Scott

Director of Recreational Sports
Associate Director of Student Life
California State University, Chico

For more information on our Online Courses,
contact us now!