When will USMS allow for private company open water race directors to sanction events that part of a Masters team?
Has anyone been able to get a sanction?
Or will many of these remain self insured and not recognize masters or USA Swimming?
I would like to open my event with separate categories for USMS and USA Swimming.
"No sanction may be issued to any organization whose interest in sports and games is purely commercial..."
As a former LMSC sanctions officer, I can say that I interpreted this rule to say that an events promotion company (like the ones who put on many triathlons today) would not qualify for a USMS event sanction because such a company is a commercial business...the business of sports.
"...or where the event is to be promoted purely for the profit or the advertising value derived therefrom..."
I understand this rule as a whole probably goes back to the halcyon days where in order to preserve "amateurism" in swimming (and other Olympic sports), sanctions were not given to such things as prize-money contests. However, in the 21st century, it's construed to suggest that a professional business that specializes in organizing sporting events isn't eligible for a USMS sanction...nor can a large sponsor prominently support an event (e.g. "The General Motors Great Lakes Zone Championships).
"Any income derived from sanctioned events must be used for the general welfare of the promoting organization as a whole."
This is a sentence that wasn't crafted for the private company in mind. If you are talking about reserving the profit "for the general welfare of the promoting organization", it suggests that the "promoting organization" is a non-profit entity rather than a for-profit enterprise.
Rob, it's not that I ever denied a sanction to a non-USMS or USA-S entity...None ever applied to me for a sanction, and I never solicited any such entities, because of this rule.
I would also respectfully suggest that most LMSCs would choose to attempt to continue to keep USMS sanctioned events "in house"...that is, they would favor sanctioning events organized by USMS entities over those outside of USMS...to the point where if a LMSC desired to have more events on its calendar, they would first push more (USMS or USA-S) clubs to be meet/event hosts rather than open more bidding to the outside. To the LMSCs, this is how they (reasonably?) feel they need to promote Masters...by trying to promote from within.
"No sanction may be issued to any organization whose interest in sports and games is purely commercial..."
As a former LMSC sanctions officer, I can say that I interpreted this rule to say that an events promotion company (like the ones who put on many triathlons today) would not qualify for a USMS event sanction because such a company is a commercial business...the business of sports.
"...or where the event is to be promoted purely for the profit or the advertising value derived therefrom..."
I understand this rule as a whole probably goes back to the halcyon days where in order to preserve "amateurism" in swimming (and other Olympic sports), sanctions were not given to such things as prize-money contests. However, in the 21st century, it's construed to suggest that a professional business that specializes in organizing sporting events isn't eligible for a USMS sanction...nor can a large sponsor prominently support an event (e.g. "The General Motors Great Lakes Zone Championships).
"Any income derived from sanctioned events must be used for the general welfare of the promoting organization as a whole."
This is a sentence that wasn't crafted for the private company in mind. If you are talking about reserving the profit "for the general welfare of the promoting organization", it suggests that the "promoting organization" is a non-profit entity rather than a for-profit enterprise.
Rob, it's not that I ever denied a sanction to a non-USMS or USA-S entity...None ever applied to me for a sanction, and I never solicited any such entities, because of this rule.
I would also respectfully suggest that most LMSCs would choose to attempt to continue to keep USMS sanctioned events "in house"...that is, they would favor sanctioning events organized by USMS entities over those outside of USMS...to the point where if a LMSC desired to have more events on its calendar, they would first push more (USMS or USA-S) clubs to be meet/event hosts rather than open more bidding to the outside. To the LMSCs, this is how they (reasonably?) feel they need to promote Masters...by trying to promote from within.
