Who pays when something happens to a volunteer at a club depends mainly on whether your voluntary work falls under statutory accident insurance. The Social Code Book VII (in German: Siebtes Buch Sozialgesetzbuch, SGB VII) lists the insured persons exhaustively. For many club roles this list does not apply automatically, so it helps to look closely at the type and mandate of your work.
Kurz beantwortet: Statutory accident insurance covers voluntary work only in the cases named in section 2 (1) of SGB VII. These include unpaid voluntary work in health care or welfare services and work on behalf of certain public bodies. For ordinary club work, check whether you have a private accident insurance policy. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- Statutory accident insurance does not automatically cover every type of club work for volunteers.
- Section 2 (1) no. 9 SGB VII covers unpaid, in particular voluntary work in health care and welfare services.
- Section 2 (1) no. 10 SGB VII covers voluntary work for certain public bodies where there is a mandate or consent.
- If no such case applies, only a private accident insurance policy pays out after an accident, provided you have one.
- Students are protected through the university in a different way than through voluntary work, so the two questions should be kept apart.
What does section 2 (1) SGB VII say about volunteers?
Section 2 of Book VII of the Social Code lists persons who are insured by law against occupational accidents. For volunteers, numbers 9 and 10 are the relevant ones. Number 9 covers persons who work independently or unpaid, in particular voluntarily, in health care or welfare services. Number 10 covers volunteers for public-law corporations, institutions, foundations and their associations, as well as for public-law religious communities.
For number 10 the form of the mandate matters. Private-law organisations are only covered if they act on behalf of the named bodies or with their express consent, in special cases with written approval. These conditions are often the decisive point in practice.
| Case | Under section 2 (1) SGB VII | What you should check |
|---|---|---|
| Unpaid voluntary work in health care or welfare services (no. 9) | Expressly covered | Whether your club or provider works in this field |
| Voluntary work for public-law bodies or their associations (no. 10 a) | Covered | Whether a mandate or consent exists |
| Voluntary work for private-law organisations on behalf of these bodies (no. 10 a) | Covered with mandate or consent | Whether written approval is required |
| Voluntary work for public-law religious communities (no. 10 b) | Covered with mandate or consent | Responsibility of the religious community |
| Ordinary club work without these features | Not generally named | Check a private accident policy |
The table summarises the list and does not replace the statute. Read the exact wording of number 9 or 10 in the original before relying on a case.
Who pays if something happens at the club?
An accident at a club can have many causes: a fall while setting up, an injury during training or an incident at an event. Who covers treatment costs and any loss of earnings depends on the insurance that actually applies. First, clarify whether statutory protection applies at all.
If it does not, the focus moves to contracts. Many clubs take out group accident insurance for their members, and some volunteers hold a private accident policy. Whether and to what extent these contracts cover club work is set out in the policy terms, not in this guide.
What role does a private accident insurance play?
A private accident policy can close gaps that statutory rules leave open. It typically pays fixed benefits, for example for permanent disability, regardless of whether a work accident is involved. However, it does not replace liability insurance, which covers damage to third parties.
Against such a policy speaks the fact that it costs money and that contracts differ widely in what they pay. Anyone who only helps occasionally at a club should weigh whether the cost is justified. Comparing the terms matters more than the price alone, and that includes whether club work is expressly covered.
What applies to students at university?
The question of accident protection in a club must be separated from insurance during studies. If you study at a university, the university setting gives you its own protection, which the guide Absicherung im Studium: Haftpflicht, Hausrat, Unfallschutz (in German) explains. Voluntary work in a club does not automatically change that protection.
If you combine both, for example as a sports coach alongside your studies, check both levels separately. That way you see which protection applies to which event and avoid gaps between university and club.
How to check accident protection in your club
If you take on a role, clarify the insurance early rather than after an accident. Ask the board which contracts the club has concluded and ask to see the policy terms. Note exactly which task you carry out, because protection often depends on the specific mandate.
An overview of your own contracts also helps. If you already have a private accident policy, check whether club work is included. If you find no protection, discuss with the club whether a group contract is possible.
Frequently asked questions
Am I automatically covered by statutory accident insurance as a club member?
Not in general. The list in section 2 (1) SGB VII names specific cases, for example voluntary work in health care, welfare services or on behalf of certain public-law bodies. Whether your activity falls under it must be checked case by case.
Does statutory accident insurance also cover trips to training?
Whether the journey to an activity is covered depends on whether a case under the statute exists at all. Commuting cover is therefore only relevant if the activity itself is insured. Clarify this with the provider or the responsible accident insurance institution.
Does club liability insurance replace accident insurance?
No. Liability insurance covers damage you cause to others. Accident insurance covers injuries that happen to you. The two have different purposes and should be checked separately.
Do I have to report my club role to the insurer?
That depends on the contract. Some accident policies require a professional or voluntary activity to be disclosed. Read the terms or ask the insurer before relying on any cover.
What to do now
- Clarify exactly which activity you carry out in the club and on whose behalf.
- Check against the list in section 2 (1) SGB VII whether statutory protection could apply.
- Ask the board about existing group contracts and ask to see the terms.
- If needed, compare private accident policies by benefits, not only by price.
Related reading
- Volunteering, voluntary services and engagement: the overview for students
- Ehrenamt und Haftung: Wer zahlt, wenn beim Verein etwas passiert
- Absicherung im Studium: Haftpflicht, Hausrat, Unfallschutz (in German)
- Engagement im Lebenslauf: So beschreibst du Ehrenamt richtig
- Ehrenamt und Familienversicherung: Ändert die Aufwandsentschädigung etwas?
Sources: Social Code Book VII, section 2 Insured persons by law (statute text on lxgesetze.de, retrieved November 2026, in German). The official text is available on gesetze-im-internet.de (in German).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
