Head geezerfish weighs in on masters secession
Rob Copeland is president of U.S. Masters Swimming, a stand-alone group that runs masters swimming without being part of USA Swimming. In reply to an email query, Rob tells me that USATF Masters Track & Field, if it split off from USATF, could still be recognized by World Masters Athletics as a national governing body. That’s been a side issue in whether USATF Masters should secede from USATF. (Some had argued that WMA might not recognize an independent U.S. Masters Federation, or whatever it ended up being called.
Here’s what Ron says:
“As I understand the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, it charters and grants monopoly status to the United States Olympic Committee, and specifies requirements for its member national governing bodies for individual sports. However it does not address the world governing bodies of the individual sports or other governing entities. It is my understanding that USMS is not recognized as an NGB by USOC (just as the NCAA is not recognized as an NGB), but we are recognized by FINA.
“And since we are not an Amateur Sports Act NGB we are not bound by the constraints of the act. But that’s a different discussion.
“I would assume, if Masters TF received official recognition from the international governing body, that they could be organized and operated in a manner similar to USMS.
“So the short answer to your question below “How does U.S. Masters Swimming act as a NGB? How do you operate under the Amateur Sport Act , which stipulates only one NGB per sport?” We act as an NGB under the auspices of FINA. We do not operate under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act.”
Me again:
Of course, the ability to split and the willingness (or wisdom) to split are two different puppies. The mechanics of forming an independent U.S. Masters governing body are beyond my feeble comprehension at the moment. But I’m sure smarter folks know how to incorporate as a non-profit and start the proces of building a grass-roots organization that puts on regional and national championships.
It’s been done before.
Just look at the fish.
