2010 USATF bylaws posted: No limit on masters transfers
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Late Friday night, after renewing my USATF membership online, I got this note from USATF’s Andy Martin: “Your member profile has been updated to reflect your Association as Southern California and your club affiliation with Southern California Striders.” Finally! After years of fighting for freedom of movement, masters tracksters finally can choose the association (and club) they want to represent. And last night I discovered the new USATF bylaws, which suggest that all transfers are automatic for masters track — not just for folks within 100 miles of their desired association. See the new bylaws here. The transfer process hasn’t been spelled out publicly, but it involves sending your request to the mother ship in Indy.
The new bylaws state:
Except as provided in the USATF Competition Rules governing Youth Athletics, USATF shall permit an athlete to transfer membership to an Association other than the one in which the athlete resides.
And also:
In order to transfer membership from one Association to another, an adult athlete age 19 years and older shall send a request in writing or by email to membership@usatf.org. USATF shall notify the affected associations and the athlete.
So it’s done! Folks at the Indy convention did the right thing.
Thank you, delegates! We are in your debt.
4 Responses
thank Ken for putting input in this matter I live in wisconson but IM A life time member for the shore A.C in New Jersey I run with them in a few meets in the outdoor season this is only fair because of the fact that there are not that many masters clubs around we should be able to run for any club we like,I think we all over 20-30 yrs in the sport finaly get respect.
From what I know, this transfer process isn’t “automatic”. I understand that the process was set up to remove much of the subjectivity of either the sending or receiving association as to allowing the transfer.
However, the national office will still check with the two associations for their input on the transfer. So they’ll hear if an athlete is club hopping multiple times during a year, is transferring right after getting an equipment allotment or travel support, or there are questionable activities (is a club “loading up” from around the country before a championship. They’ll look at the various time lines for competing unattached, eligibility to represent the new club, etc.
And, the athlete will be made quite clear as to how the transfer will affect their situation in the association where they live; that is, they are not members of that association. So, for example, they are not eligible to vote in the home association; they can compete in but are not eligible for awards in the association of residency; they’re not eligible for grants, travel funds, other awards, or other amenities.
I am amused of the argument about there not being clubs to join. Putting a club together and managing activities takes work. So the path of least effort is to join a club across the country vs getting one started where there is a need for a club. Local area remains poor in regard to having clubs.
Steve Vaitones
I just found out you get your money back if you paid the late fee. Yeah!
I pay my $102.50 for club and insurance so me and my three buddies can vault at the local high school. Works for us. The Woodlands Pole Vault Club was born. No dues, no uniforms, just buddies getting together to jump at a place that takes USATF insurance. Bubba
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