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Risk Management Plan

Marta HEINEN
Eastern Washington University
Due Monday, March 11th, 2019
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Table of Contents

1. Description of the agency/position

2. Risk identification

3. Risk Evaluation

4. Case Precedent

5. Risk Treatment

6. Risk Implementation
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1. Description of the agency/position:

Tennis tournaments are managed by different organization depending on the type of

tournaments it is. Women’s tournaments are managed by the Women Tennis Association

(WTA), while men’s tournaments are supervised by the Association of Tennis Professionals

(ATP). As well as being managed by different organization, depending on their location,

tournaments will also be dictated by the National Tennis Federation present in each country. In

the United States, tennis tournaments are regulated and sponsored by the United States Tennis

Association (USTA), it is the biggest sport organization in the country. One of their biggest

events takes place during the last week of August and the first week of September. It is the fourth

and last Grand Slam of the year, the US Open.

Working for the USTA encompasses many different kinds of positions. I would like to be a

tennis director, for one of the biggest tournaments of the circuit, in this case the US Open. Tennis

director can be considered like the oil in the engine, they make everything run smoothly. During

the year, they prepare the tournament by reaching to sponsors, overseeing the marketing the

public relations, the hiring process of the employees that will be working during the event,

overall tournament directors oversee all the operations concerning the tournament. During the

tournament, they make sure everything runs smoothly, they oversee operations and acts as the

link between the players, the sponsors and the tournament.

As a tournament director, it would be my duty to program the best event possible. Being the

link between each components of the operations is vital to the good organization of the event, we

need to satisfy the spectators, the players and their teams, but also the sponsors and the tennis
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associations. To satisfy each client and have the best tournament possible it is critical to have a

good organization and therefore being a good leader.

2. Risk identification

There are many different hazards that can occur during a tennis tournament of this

importance. They can involve the spectators, the players, the sponsors or even the tournament

itself. The most common hazards involve the spectators because they are the more present and

the most at risk. Spectators can encounter physical losses. Indeed, in New York during this time

of the year the temperature can reach 82° Fahrenheit, therefore spectators are more subject to

heat strokes due to their long exposition to the sun and the hot weather. Spectators can also injure

themselves on unprotected fences, non-functional or outdated seats and so on. The possibilities

of injuries in a stadium is medium, the highest hazard being a heat stroke. Spectators are also

exposed to financial losses, in case of bad weather and heavy rains, the tournaments might be

canceled for the day, or part of the day, the spectators will therefore lose the money they used to

pay for their tickets. Some players might also pull out of a match, and the spectators will have a

shortened day, therefore the spectators will not have gotten their money’s worth.

Spectators are not the only visitors at risk. Players can also suffer physical losses, for

example they can get injured on the court, which can cost them many month of inactivity, and

therefore financial losses. They are exposed to risk on court but also around the facility, in the

lockers for example if the maintenance of the facility is not thoroughly done. If a tournament

does not receive players well, and they have a bad experience, they may endure psychological

losses that will affect any future tournaments or competition they might have.
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The tournaments are also at risk of different hazards, mainly financial. If any spectator or a

player gets injured, the tournament is exposed to a lawsuit and therefore a possible financial loss.

If they receive a bad publicity from players or the media, they might receive less sponsors or less

important players might participant the following years which could conclude in a loss of money.

A poor publicity from the media can also lead to a decrease in spectators.

3. Risk Evaluation

A. Spectators

Severity
Negligible Moderate Severe

Very Likely Player pulling out of

the tournament for
injury.
Frequency

Possible Other Injuries (due to Heat Stroke.

outdated facilities).
Canceled Day (due to
weather).
Unlikely

Spectators can encounter physical losses. It is possible for spectators to suffer heat

strokes, because of the important chances of high temperatures; spectators usually stand in the

sun, with no shade and low intakes of water which can lead to a moderate loss. There is a

possible chance that spectator injure themselves on unprotected fences, non-functional or

outdated seats and so on. The physical loss following an injury like these are very negligible. It

is possible that during the period of the tournament some days might be canceled because of the
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extreme weather conditions. In such case spectators might have some financial due to these

cancellations.

B. Players

Severity
Negligible Moderate Severe

Very Likely
Frequency

Possible Players getting injured Players gets injured on

on the court. the court.

Unlikely Psychological losses Players getting injured

due to the poor in the surrounding
organization of the facilities.
tournament.

Players can suffer physical losses. It is very unlikely that players get injured in the

surrounding facilities, if an injury were to occur the severity would be moderate, like a rolled

ankle. It is very possible for a player to injure himself or herself on a tennis court. The severity

can be moderate or severe depending on the type of injury. Because an injury can impeach a

player to participate in any competition for a week, or a week, or it can even be an injury ending

career. Depending on the injury the player will go through physical losses, psychological losses

due to the injury and its consequences, but also financial losses due to their break. It is unlikely

that a player will get injured in the surrounding facilities, but if an injury were to occur it would

be moderate, like a rolled ankle. If a tournament does not receive players well, and they have a

bad experience, they may endure psychological losses that will affect any future tournaments or

competition they might have.

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C. Tournament

Severity
Negligible Moderate Severe

Very Likely Player pulling out of

the tournament for
injury.
Frequency

Possible Lawsuit due to injury. Bad publicity.

Unlikely

The tournaments are at risk of different financial losses. It is very likely that a player pulls

out of a tournament, the financial losses for the tournament in case of a player pulling out are

negligible. They will barely lose any money, but it might frustrate the spectator. There is a

possible chance that a tournament might be sued by a spectator or a player for an injury, but if it

were to occur, tournaments are usually well insured, and therefore will not lose any money that

could jeopardize the tournament itself. It is possible for a tournament to receive some bad

publicity from the players or the media, which can result in moderate consequences like the

decrease of spectator or the decrease in player participation. But because every season is

different, tournaments might attract different spectators and players every year, therefore they

would not lose too much money.

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4. Case Precedent:

a) Title: Eugenie Bouchard vs. The United States Tennis Association

b) Location: United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York (October 2015)

c) Overview of the Event:

c.1) Date of the action: The incident happened on September 4th, 2015 at the US Open.

c.2) Describe what happened: On September 4th, 2015, after entering the Training Room,

Eugenie Bouchard, in her way to take an ice bath, slipped and hit her head on the ground.

Following this event, she withdraws of the singles, doubles and mixed doubles draw and she did

not play for the rest of the season.

c.3) Describe what damages were sustained: she suffered physical damages, she sustained a

concussion after the fall, and states that she has not been the same player since then. She states

that she suffered psychological losses from the fact that she suffered such a traumatic experience

as well as financial losses for not being able to play for the rest of the season and being forced to

puled out of a Grand Slam.

c.4) Describe the plaintiff’s claim: The plaintiff claims that the USTA was negligent, they did

not maintain the ice bath section properly, which resulted in a wet floor and therefore concluded

in her falling. Due to her fall she suffered physical, psychological and financial losses.

c.5) Describe the defense’s response to the claim: The defense says that the cleaning crew as

well as the trainer believed that every player had left the area because it was the end of the day,

therefore it is the reason why the area was not secured. Bouchard should have waited for a

member of the personnel to accompany her and make sure of her well-being. Because Bouchard

had not been having good results for the past three years, her chances to win the Open or any
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tournaments following were very slim, therefore she would not have suffered any important

financial loss.

c.6) Explain the actual facts in this case: The only fact that both sides can agree on is that she

slipped in the ice bath area.

c.7) What is the verdict, award or settlement in the lawsuit: The court found the USTA liable at

75% for the fall of Eugenie Bouchard but found the player liable at 25% for her fall, because she

was aware that she was going into an unsupervised humid area (ice baths).

Like demonstrated by the risk evaluation, there is an unlikely chance for athletes to get an

injury outside the tennis courts. Although it is unlikely it is still potential risk, that can have

serious damages. In 2015, Eugenie Bouchard, an upcoming Canadian tennis player slipped in the

training room of the US Open and hit her head. Following that fall, Bouchard had to pull out of

the singles, doubles and mixed doubles draw and she did not compete anymore for the reminder

of the season. She sued the USTA for negligence and financial losses. Her lawyers put forward

that the USTA did not provide good facilities and maintenance which led to the injury of the

player. They put forward that she had big chances to win the US Open that year and therefore

win much more money, even though he results have been very mediocre for the past 5 years. Her

lawyers also put forward the possible loss of sponsorships due to this loss, even though she did

not lose one sponsorship deal following this fall. The defense replied with many arguments, the

fact that she was treated appropriately for what she said was a concussion, she had no chances of

winning the US Open that year comparing her stats to the one of the players she was going to

play against in the future rounds. This event shows the importance of every detail hen planning

an event, and the importance of maintenance and operations. Because of a minor incident, the

USTA got sued and could have lost a lot of money. Therefore, no matter the frequency or the
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severity of a risk it is important to be conscious of every risk and do everything in our power to

avoid these risks.

5. Risk Treatment

A. Spectator

 Heat Strokes: It is possible to reduce the risk of heat strokes by developing shaded areas where

the spectators can enjoy watching tennis in fresh atmospheric conditions. It is also very

important many different free water fountains, so everyone can stay hydrated, as well as

authorizing the spectators to bring their own water bottles.

 Other Injuries (due to outdated facilities): It is possible to reduce any kind of injuries due to

outdated facilities, by maintaining the facilities in good shape by building new stadiums or

maintaining the good condition of the equipment by undergoing reparation during the time the

tournament is not on.

 Canceled Tournament Day: It is possible to reduce the chances of having to cancel all the

schedule for one day of tournament by building new facilities with removable roofs, to offer to

the spectator’s tennis throughout the entire day without worrying about the weather conditions.

The tournament can provide refunds or other activities around the site when the weather is too

bad for the players to play.

 Player Pulling out due to injury: There are no ways to prevent players to pull out due to injury,

tournaments need to acknowledge the risk and act in consequence of it.

B. Player

 Psychological losses due to the poor organization of the tournament: It is possible to reduce any

psychological losses a player might go through due to the poor organization of a tournament by

offering the best services possible and making sure of the comfort and happiness of the players.
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 Players getting injured in the surrounding facilities: It is possible to reduce any kind of injuries

due to outdated facilities, by maintaining the facilities in good shape by building new stadiums or

maintaining the good condition of the equipment by undergoing reparation during the time the

tournament is not on.

 Players getting injured on the court: It is difficult to reduce the risk of injury on court, but a

tournament can offer the best medical support thus in case of injury the players can be treated in

the best way possible, and therefore avoid any further complications.

C. Tournament

 Player pulling out of the tournament for injury: There are no ways to prevent players to pull out

due to injury, tournaments need to acknowledge the risk and act in consequence of it.

 Lawsuit due to injury: A tournament can reduce the risk of lawsuits by providing the best

services possible in the best facilities possible. To avoid any lawsuit, they need to make sure that

their facilities are well maintained and the services they offer in case of injure are efficient.

 Bad publicity: It is possible to reduce any bad publicity a player or the media might relate go by

offering the best services possible and making sure of the comfort and happiness of the players

the spectators and any visitors that might come on the site of the tournament during these two

weeks.

6. Risk Implementation

To reduce the risk of heat stroke, facilities like the Flushing Meadows (location of the US

Open) need to change their site plan by offering shaded areas and water fountains as well as

letting spectators enter with their own water bottle. To avoid any kind of injury, whether it is the

players or the spectators, is to maintain the facilities properly during the off period, which are 50

weeks the tournament is not on. And having a well-run operation and maintenance crew during
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the 2 weeks of the tournaments to avoid any major incident. Tournaments need to invest a lot of

money in their facilities if they want to offer the best services possible to their clients. They want

to make the spectators and the players feel comfortable and happy with their experience. To

satisfy the spectator in case of cancellation, the tournament can refund the spectators, give they

tickets for the following year or provide other activities they can have access to free of cost to

make up the cancellations of the matches. The ultimate goal of the tournament and the

tournament director is to offer the best and safest experience to every client enjoying the

facilities.
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References:

CBC. (2018, February 22). USTA found “mostly liable” for Eugenie Bouchard’s locker room
fall. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/sports/tennis/eugenie-bouchard-tennis-lawsuit-
1.4547994

Rothenberg, B. (2018, February 23). Eugenie Bouchard and U.S.T.A. Reach Settlement.
Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/23/sports/tennis/bouchard-usta-
lawsuit.html

Rothenberg, B. (2015, October 15). Eugenie Bouchard Sues Over Injuries From Fall at U.S.
Open. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/15/sports/tennis/eugenie-
bouchard-sues-over-injuries-from-fall-at-us-open.html?module=inline

Sadler, J. (2016). Implementing a Risk Management Program for Sports Organizations.

Retrieved from https://www.sadlersports.com/implementing-risk-management-program-
sports-organizations/

Sprecher, M. H. (2017). Implementing a Risk Management Program for Sports Organizations.

Retrieved from http://www.tennisindustrymag.com/articles/2007/04/safe_sound.html

WTA. (2016). Go inside a day in the life of Anne Worcester, tournament director at the
Connecticut Open, and see what goes into running a WTA tournament. Retrieved from
https://www.wtatennis.com/news/behind-tour-tournament-directors