This is probably a subject that could be over on the Convention thread but since more people are likely to see it here and hopefully engage in some discussion I'll go ahead and post (and see if i get chastised by the moderator!)
If you are out of the loop on convention topics this one is pretty important and will have an impact most likely on just about everyone who swims in pool and/or open water events.
Here is a quick overview of the proposal but be sure to click on this link and read through carefully: www.usms.org/.../eventsanctionfeeproposal.pdf
TASK FORCE CREATED TO DEVELOP A NEW SOLUTION
A task force was constituted at the 2014 convention with representation from open water,
pool swimmers, LMSCs, Finance Committee and the National Office. Their charge was to
study the issue of event sanction fees and bring forward a recommendation that would provide
opportunity for open water growth without taking dollars from existing programs.
The task force looked at all USMS sanctioned events concluding the cost of insurance and
event risk is not isolated to only open water events. Sanctioned pool events benefit from
USMS insurance and other event costs and should be contributing to help offset USMS insurance
costs just like open water events, clubs and workout groups. Therefore, the task
force recommended an event sanction fee model that adjusts the fee for open water events
and adds a fee for pool events.
Some thoughts:
- With regard to OW, we have already seen where events in our area have chosen to NOT use the USMS sanction because they can obtain 3rd party insurance at a lot lower cost. Is having the USMS affiliation important/necessary to run a successful event?
- Sanction fees are inconsistent in the USMS world but standard in USA Swimming. The difference is in USA sanction fee of $50 goes to the local LSC (USA swims version of masters LMSC) not the national office which is what USMS is proposing (and at a cost of $70), there is also a splash fee that is charged in USA swimming of $6 which again goes to the LSC. Both organizations charge a membership fee, for USA swimming the LSC gets to keep $12 of that fee the rest goes to the national office. Point being, I would support a local sanction fee not a national one.
Lot's more to all of this...as a meet host I look at things very different than a person who is a club member and competes but not involved with the financial side of the business. My concern is any increase in cost will go almost 100% to participants given the very low return on hosting meets (other than things like nationals or select invites)...just for a point of reference in AZ 2 of the largest facilities now charge about $2000-$2500 per day in pool rental.
Smaller LMSCs would hurt from such a thing where a meet would bring in less than 50 participants. :2cents:
From the proposal: "USMS will continue our sanction rebateprogram for LMSCs that are not able to absorb the new model."
Honestly, I'm surprised to learn that none of the regular pool meet entry fee goes to insurance.
I'd rather see a two-part fee like they have with open water (a smaller flat fee plus a per-participant fee), but it seems reasonable to allocate some of the insurance expense to those who are participating in pool events since pool events represent a fairly significant source of potential liability.
Based on projections, 93% of the club's insurance costs would still be covered by membership fees (77%) and open water event sanction fees (16%).
Smaller LMSCs would hurt from such a thing where a meet would bring in less than 50 participants. :2cents:
From the proposal: "USMS will continue our sanction rebateprogram for LMSCs that are not able to absorb the new model."
Honestly, I'm surprised to learn that none of the regular pool meet entry fee goes to insurance.
I'd rather see a two-part fee like they have with open water (a smaller flat fee plus a per-participant fee), but it seems reasonable to allocate some of the insurance expense to those who are participating in pool events since pool events represent a fairly significant source of potential liability.
Based on projections, 93% of the club's insurance costs would still be covered by membership fees (77%) and open water event sanction fees (16%).
