Posted: December 23, 2004

Triathlon: 2005 USAT Sanctioning - Membership Changes

What USAT members need to know:

1. Duplicates: No Longer Offered
The duplicate membership option on the one-day forms has been deleted. Athletes must bring proof of annual membership or purchase a one-day permit. An athlete without proof of a USAT membership is a serious liability risk to a race director. If an athlete forgets his/her card, they have four options:

1. Go back and get it

2. Print off a temporary membership card from the USAT web site

3. Purchase a one-day license

4. Renew annual membership (extends current membership 12 additional months) online and bring proof of renewal.

2. Annual Membership at Events: Limited Availability
Athletes might not have the option to purchase annual memberships at events. This will alleviate a lot of confusion on the one-day/waiver form, as well as make the accounting process for race directors much smoother. For 2005 and beyond, athletes must be current annual members on race day and provide proof of membership or purchase a one-day permit. The receipt on the one-day/waiver form must be given to all athletes that purchase a one-day permit at packet pick-up so that they can apply the $9 to an annual membership. Proof of online payment of the one-day permit can also be applied to an annual membership.

What race directors need to know:

The reasons for these changes is the high cost of processing duplicates and the unfortunately high rate of mishandling of the membership process by event staff and volunteers. Additionally, many annual members, rather than simply carry their membership card to packet pick-up, rely on the very expensive duplicate membership process.

However, USAT absolutely wishes to encourage outreach and customer service by event directors. A membership kit will be made available to sanctioned race directors who wish to offer annual memberships at their events as a service to the participating athletes. Note this is distinct and separate from the event sanction package and not a requirement for event sanctioning. Annual membership kits, for those who request them, will be included in the sanction packet/box that is sent approximately two2 weeks prior to race day. Please contact sanction@usatriathlon.org for further information or more details.