Players Health delivers purpose-built insurance coverage tailored to meet the needs of the community recreation industry.
Tyrre Burks’ connection to community recreation first started through sports.
When Burks was a kid, he played just about every option imaginable. He went on to play football at Winona State University and later in the Canadian Football League. But it wasn’t until he stepped away from the game after a series of injuries that Burks began to understand why the systems around sports and recreation were breaking down.
“I spent years listening to organizations that were trying to keep kids safe and communities engaged, but they didn’t have the right tools or support to do it,” said Burks. “That experience shaped my perspective and became the foundation for building Players Health.”
As the founder and CEO, Burks created a company whose mission is to create the safest and most accessible environments possible for people to participate in recreation.
Those early conversations Burks had with rec directors, coaches, volunteers and community leaders who all care deeply about creating safe spaces is how Players Health was able to form its purpose.
“They were trying to do the right thing but felt overwhelmed by liability concerns, outdated systems and a lack of support,” said Burks. “Those early conversations made it clear that something needed to change. I wanted to build a company that could give people the tools to protect their communities and lead with confidence.”
That assistance comes in the shape of purpose-built insurance coverage tailored to the needs of community rec organizations. This coverage includes general liability, abuse and molestation, property, cyber, and more.
Players Health’s platform also includes tools for logging incidents, managing waivers and tracking certifications so teams can stay ahead of risk.
“One of our most important offerings is abuse prevention and crisis response support, which combines coverage with training and policy guidance,” explained Burks. “Everything we offer makes risk management more manageable for teams that are doing meaningful work.”
Of course, every community is different. Therefore, Players Health focuses on meeting people where they are and offering solutions that reflect how they actually operate.
For Burks, the overall vision of his company is simple — help organizations lead with safety, build trust with the families they serve and keep their focus on what matters most.
“When safety is built into the foundation, everything else works better,” said Burks. “Our success comes from staying close to our mission and the communities we serve. Recreation professionals are asked to do so much with limited resources, often without the support they really need. We take the time to understand that reality.”
What further sets Players Health apart from other similar entities is how the team there combines insurance with practical tools and everyday guidance. They aren’t just there to help when something goes wrong. Instead, Players Health helps organizations build a stronger culture of safety from within before problems happen.
Burks and his team recognize the weight that mounts and rec centers to create safe and welcoming spaces that bring people together. Because of that, the company knows true protection doesn’t come from just policies or checklists.
“It’s something that has to be lived out through daily decisions and consistent leadership,” said Burks. “We help organizations take that responsibility seriously without making it feel like an added burden. From incident tracking and staff certification to abuse prevention and compliance support, we make safety something you can manage confidently. That’s how we can help recreation professionals like no other brand can.”
For industry leaders searching for applicable keys to success in building truly welcoming spaces, Burks advised to first start by focusing on culture. Specifically, create an environment where safety is everyone’s responsibility.
“That means clear training, strong supervision and systems that make it easy to report and respond to concerns,” said Burks. “Make abuse prevention part of your everyday expectations — not just something you talk about once a year. Review your policies and coverage on a regular basis to make sure they still reflect the programs you are running. The best operators aren’t just prepared for the unexpected. They’re constantly building environments where people feel safe enough to show up fully.”
At a time when accountability is essential and wellness includes both physical and emotional safety, Players Health helps fitness leaders set that higher standard.
Through his experiences as an athlete to now seeing his company make a direct impression on the well-being of others, Burks has learned to love the small moments. He said much like the nonprofit recreation space, the road from A to B is rarely straight. Instead, it’s full of challenges, growth and unexpected turns.
“Over time, I’ve come to appreciate that it’s the journey — not just the outcome — that makes the work so meaningful,” said Burks. “That’s what makes this role so fulfilling. I don’t take that responsibility lightly. It reminds me that real impact often shows up in quiet, consistent ways. Every time I see the work we’re doing to prevent harm, create trust or help someone feel more secure doing what they love, I know I’m doing what I was built to do.”
