Why Every Race Director Needs Certification—Before It’s Too Late

January 13, 2026

$6.75 Million—When Tort Immunity Failed

DEKALB, IL /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Every year, thousands of people are handed the responsibility of directing a race without formal training. They may be called Event Director, Race Organizer, Special Events Coordinator, or Parks and Recreation Director—but the liability they carry is the same. And one lawsuit can end everything.

Race Director University (RDU), the nation’s first certification program for race directors, relaunches in 2026 with comprehensive training designed to protect events, organizations, and careers.

The Hard Truth About Tort Immunity

Municipal agencies, counties, parks and recreation departments, and park districts often operate under the dangerous misunderstanding that their governmental tort immunity protects them from legal liability. It doesn’t always work.

In Village of Hanover Park (Illinois), a $6.75 million judgment was upheld against the municipality when tort immunity failed to shield them. The Illinois Municipal League and Park District Risk Management Agency scrambled afterward to fortify the Tort Immunity Act—proof that governmental immunity is not the bulletproof shield many assume it to be.

The courts have consistently ruled that “willful and wanton conduct” pierces immunity protections. Failure to properly train staff, inadequate safety protocols, and lack of documented risk management procedures can all constitute the negligence that exposes your organization to liability.

What RDU Certification Provides:

• Risk management and legal liability training
• Course safety and emergency response protocols
• Documentation and waiver best practices
• Vendor and volunteer management
• The RDU Legal Playbook—essential documentation every race needs

The RDU Legal Playbook is available to all race directors, regardless of certification status. This critical resource provides the foundational legal protections every event requires—because whether you’re certified or not, you need this playbook.

NEW: Park District & Parks and Recreation Certification Track

Specifically designed for municipal employees who find themselves responsible for community races and special events.

Who Needs This Training:

• Park District staff assigned to produce community races
• Parks and Recreation directors overseeing 5Ks and fun runs
• Municipal employees coordinating special events
• Nonprofit organizations hosting charity runs
• Timing companies and event production firms
• Anyone whose job title suddenly includes “race director”

About Race Director University

Founded in 2012, Race Director University is the first and only national certification program for race directors in the United States. RDU has trained hundreds of race directors and hosted annual conferences from 1991-2011. The 2026 relaunch brings comprehensive online curriculum with certification levels ranging from foundational to advanced.

For More Information:

Race Director University

www.racedirectoruniversity.com

Contact: Gregory J. Evans, M.S., Ed.

Founder & CEO

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