1. Objectives of University Sports

The Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs described the tasks of university sports in its resolution of November 9, 1990. Given the ergonomic study and work conditions at universities and the social circumstances of students, general university sports are to fulfill “important health-related, social, and character-building tasks.” In particular, it should:

• “provide a health-promoting balance to one-sided physical strain,
• serve as a meaningful form of leisure and recreation,
   
• open up a space for getting to know one another through shared sports activities,
• promote the integration of different university groups through shared sports activities and socializing,
• positively influence the identification of university members with their institution,
• make the integrative potential of sports accessible to disabled and international university members, and
• encourage independent participation in sports.”

2. University sports are organized by the Sports Institute and the Student Sports Office.

3. Insurance

In principle, members of Clausthal University of Technology are covered by accident insurance when participating in university sports in accordance with the following regulations. The insurance coverage applies only to bodily injury, not to property damage (e.g., eyeglasses or similar items). Further details may be obtained from the Lower Saxony State Accident Insurance Fund.

No grounds for liability against the university or its employees can be derived beyond statutory liability.

Use of the sports facilities and equipment of the Sports Institute is at your own risk! Neither the state nor the university is liable for accidents, damages of any kind, or losses due to theft, etc.

Guests are not covered by accident insurance through the Sports Institute!

a) TUC Students

Students are insured against accidents pursuant to Section 2(1)(8)(c) of the Social Code Book VII (SGB), provided that the sporting activity takes place within the framework of officially announced SITUC events. This does not include sporting activities for which the SITUC merely makes sports facilities available for free use (e.g., free tennis play, open groups, etc.)

High-performance sports, sports trips, and competitive sports are not covered by LUK.

b) TUC Employees

To ensure insurance coverage for university sports, the following criteria must be met for insurance coverage, according to the ruling of the Federal Social Court of December 13, 2005 (B 2 U 29/04 R):

• official university sports event
• appointed instructor
• Recreational purpose
• Regularity
• limited group of participants
• Temporal connection to working hours
• Company-based organization

For further information, see the article on company sports in the journal of the General Accident Insurance Association of Hanover and the Lower Saxony State Accident Insurance Fund, “Faktor Arbeitsschutz” (06/2006). According to this, there is a restriction on sports that require an opponent, such as soccer. These events are not insured in every case. For example, there is no insurance coverage if top performance is to be achieved or if the competitive nature of the event predominates.

c) TUC Civil Servants

For civil servants, an accident during university sports is only considered a work-related accident if additional requirements beyond the aforementioned criteria are met.

These should be inquired about at the respective department and clarified on a case-by-case basis.

In the case of accidents covered by the LUK (see below), a D-Arzt (designated physician) must be consulted as soon as possible, ideally within 3 days of the accident.

The nearest one is located at the Clausthal-Zellerfeld Hospital.

Accident Reports

For student accidents, an accident report must be filed using forms available at the Sports Institute’s office. A current certificate of enrollment must be attached. Accident reports for staff members must be completed and submitted to the respective department.

Since 2007, an additional questionnaire from the State Accident Insurance Fund (LUK) must always be completed in the event of accidents during university sports. Without this information, insurance coverage cannot be conclusively verified. Statutory accident insurance coverage during participation in university sports is always reviewed and determined by the LUK on a case-by-case basis according to the actual circumstances (letter from the LUK Lower Saxony dated December 4, 2007)