What does USAT Do For You? (Page 2)

If nothing else, paying for a membership keeps me motivated to do at least 4 events so I can recoup my membership fee. Doing those 4 events makes sure I keep training.

It might be small, but it still motivates me.

Also, to make a comparison, I have never been offered a $10 discount to race any USATF certified course/races, so USAT a least has that over some other 'governing bodies'.

Edited by nhunter344 2010-09-03 9:53 AM

?

Only 2nd yr & maybe luck of the draw, but I've seen USAT official(s) at every sanctioned event I've raced (Midwest US).  They are at pre-race briefings (rules, safety, etc.) and out on the course.  They've also made themselves available post-event for informal discussion- even for BOP athletes just wanting to rant about getting a 2min penalty   I seriously doubt these folks are getting rich officiating local tris.

As an ex-baseball ump, seems to me that tri is a particularly difficult sport to officiate well.  Many judgment calls balancing technical rules violation vs athlete safety/etc..  Overall these USAT officials do a decent job & are good ambassadors for the sport.  I make a point to thank 'em. 

And BTW- Insurance for athletic events is no small expense these days.  I'd guess that USAT's $10 per event is a relative bargain for the athletes.

Edited by Oldteen 2010-09-03 10:11 AM

Yes, this is a wonderful suggestion. Let's get rid of USAT. That way we can get rid of the junior development team, elite athlete support, and...oh, yeah, any US entrants in the Olympics for triathlon.

John

USAT feeds my dog, grills my tuna steak and artificially inseminated my goldfish.  On top of that, I can't tell you how many times I have been propositioned about a wild threesome from chicks at the gym who see my USAT sticker.  I think I saved $10 a few times as well.

That's more than "Brown" has done for me and the USAT doesn't even have a commercial with that slogan.

This is all very interesting.
1) How does one (Joe Schmoe beginner triathlete) go about becomming a voting member of the USAT governing body?

2) Most of the benefits listed on this threat seem to be fluff... you get many of the same benefits from this website... free in most cases.

3) What is USAT insurance covering?  The directors from liability, or the athletes from neglegance- both?  I believe all race entries require you ti sign and date a hold harmeless agreement... so who is being insured for what loss? 

4) Is the $10 really a "savings" or is it just money that you have already paid?  You still have to pay the entry fee- right? 

5) Where does the money go?  Seriously.  Insurance coverage is one thing, but it is a one time fee.  Like hole in one insurance... not like auto insurance.  

6) Does the USAT not sponsor or co sponsor olympic triathletes?  Interesting...  

To answer your question they have THIS on their website.

And just because there seems to be some confusion on what USAT does check out their Member Services page (a bunch of links here).

Never realized it until now, but you can get some pretty good discounts and all kind of stuff.

For perspective on another sport's version of USAT...
Before triathlon I was a squash player (now on hold for a year or two) and to play at most competitions you HAD to be a US Squash member, or PSA registered pro.
To go to the nationals you have to place high enough in your division within the US Squash national rankings = lots of competitions and sanctioned matches + $200 entry.
OR win/be in the final of a sanctioned event and US Squash waves the entry fee for the nationals for you.
I won the windy city open 4.0 division and went to the nationals for free! However I still spent more on that season of squash comps than I did on a year and a half of triathlon so far.

That membership was around $120/year and you got 3 magazines a year and access to their forum on their website. Insurance thing was similar, it was for the events sake not realy for you.
Before US I lived in the UK where the set up was about the same.

The USAT fee is tiny in comparison to many other organisations. The $10 saving on each sanctioned race will pay for the membership for most people.

My wife and I were following the yellow brick road of race I'm doing that qualifies me for something else, then that race qualifies me for something else... potentially earning a Team USA spot.  Then I started digging into what being on Team USA meant and it seemed like an honor, but an added expense of having to buy team kits, travel, etc.  

i joined USAT to save the $10 on USAT sanctioned events.  Hopefully they are doing some good for the sport.   

So, if it doesn't catch on then USAT stays and all that stays as well.

Which do you think is going to happen?

However, it's always an option if people do not like the current situation to create their own situation without the offending part. It's all about choices and how motivated the complainers are.

Not much for me personally, as I race 4 times, so the fee cancels itself out. I do like getting the magazine, even if the writing is incredibly dull and repetitive.

I believe it is important to have an organization that supports my hobby and cultivates participation and the development of elite athletes. Having a big umbrella out there makes for a safer, smoother race environment and certainly more racing opportunities than if it did not exist.

Don't get me wrong...it's a HUGE honor to be on TeamUSA.  I'm trying to get a slot this year so I can race in Bejing next year. 

But you do have to save up for it.

Actually, this is an interesting question.
I know that they are working on a developmental program for Olympic athletes.
I agree it would be nice to see more hype around the national championships.
I don't know the cost, but have heard that costs of making team USA can be daunting.

As a member, do I have access to their annual report? THAT would be interesting.
 

For the annual report: from the website, go "AboutUSAT" then "Governance." Financial info is lacking in detail, IMHO.

Most companies do that on purpose...they only report what they HAVE to.