Dear Coaches, Event Directors and Volunteers,

The AAU Executive Committee adopted an important policy statement about the use of 15-passenger vans used in team travel. We want you to have this information for your consideration when making travel plans. Please take the time to read through the statement. We want you to travel and return home safely.

Bobby Dodd
President
Amateur Athletic Union, USA, Inc.

The Amateur Athletic Union established the Risk Management Task Force as a means to address the rapidly changing risk environment closely associated with youth participants. The first priority of the AAU is to protect the children who participate in AAU sports. Every sport has its risk but policies, procedures, screening and monitoring are the keys to reducing loss.

As a result, the AAU Risk Management Task Force is developing a comprehensive coaches education curriculum to assist AAU employees and volunteers in providing an environment that minimizes risks for AAU participants. In the interim, the AAU will be providing its members with valuable risk management information such as event checklists that are sport specific, and similar information that will help to reduce the risk of loss. The following information regarding the use of 15-passenger vans, recently adopted by the AAU Executive Committee in March 2003, is a result of this risk management effort.

AAU Policy Statement

Effective immediately, the AAU recommends that 15-passenger vans NOT be used for the transport of athletes, coaches or volunteers for any AAU sanctioned activities.

Background

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recently reissued the consumer advisory of a year ago, warning that 15-passenger vans have an increased rollover risk under certain conditions. The rollover risk increases dramatically as the number of occupants increases from fewer than five to more than ten. Fifteen passenger vans, with 10 occupants, had a rollover rate in single vehicle crashes nearly three times the rate of those that were lightly loaded. The vans have a high center of gravity and, when loaded with more than 10 passengers, become extremely vulnerable to a rollover.

Federal law prohibits the sale of 15 passenger vans for the transportation of elementary and high school students, but no law exists prohibiting any other group from transporting passengers in these vans. Further, universities and colleges are increasingly banning or restricting the use of 15-passenger vans in response to several fatal accidents involving athletic teams. In 2000, within a three month period, accidents claimed the lives of athletes from Urbana University, Kenyon College, DePaul University, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Prairie View A&M University. Some insurance companies have refused to cover 15-passenger vans.

Adopted by the AAU Executive Committee, March 2003