USRowing 2025 membership program

[fullmetal]

As per their Instagram announcement:

1. Organizational Dues: Lower rates for xx-small and x-small member orgs insured by USRowing; all other insured tiers remain unchanged
2. Individual Memberships: Rates stay same for all tiers
3. Learn-to-Row memberships: "For just $10, brand-new members can try rowing for 60 days with insurance coverage for practices, camps, clinics, and indoor regattas."
4. Free Regatta Sanctioning: No sanctioning fees for regattas using RegattaCentral's registration and compliance portal.
5. Coaching Education: Level 1 certification remains free through Dec. 31. Starting in Jan, Level 1 certification will be included with Championship membership.
6. Expanded Liability Coverage: Championship membership now includes extended professional liability insurance for USRowing-certified coaches and referees.

#3 seems like an interesting partial cash grab for LTR attendees -- I guess USRowing was on the hook for liability during a person's LTR class, and they wanted to recoup/grab some of that. Surely the cost will be passed on to the consumer.

#4 is interesting. Will the rise in fully compliant clubs (coaching fees, membership fees) offset losing regatta sanctioning costs? The regattas still have to pay to get referees anyway if they're sanctioned.

#5, hm. Is the cost of a Championship membership less than a Basic + post-Jan 1st Lvl1 cert?

[crewu]

Rowing News magazine said there was a big drop off in the number of total regattas being held. Guessing this is because the cost of getting insurance, paying USRowing fee, and paying for refs didn't make it worth having smaller regattas. So this is USRowing's solution.

Interesting that it only applies to regattas registered with Regatta Central. Why play favorites?

[fullmetal]

Probably because RegattaCentral is hooked into the USRowing membership database and can observe and enforce membership status at both the organizational and individual levels. It's good for data collection, that's for sure.

[FullSend]

Rowing News magazine said there was a big drop off in the number of total regattas being held. Guessing this is because the cost of getting insurance, paying USRowing fee, and paying for refs didn't make it worth having smaller regattas. So this is USRowing's solution.

This is spot on, you don't even really need to have a smaller regatta. USRowing doesn't provide a ton of support outstide of refs. I have worked with some really great refs that are really engaged and work to really be partners in putting on a good regatta. I have also dealt with a ton of refs who are... not that.

If you have enough experienced volunteers, you can save the money, do it yourself, and the "customers" (teams) won't really notice the difference.

[crewu]

Does USRowing ever really give anything away for free though? That free 'online waiver' a few years ago is now a $25 basic membership. Expect that number to be $50 in 3 years or less.

What if, in the new year we learn that these so called 'free' USRowing sanctioned regattas MUST use USRowing referees, USRowing insurance, and agree to many other conditions, which likely cost more money?

The very definition of 'sanctioned' means your event has approval or official permission. How could USRowing sanction an event it has no control over? Run a dangerous regatta? Oh, you are sanctioned. I think not.

So, by definition this 'free' sanctioning really means - your event WILL BE controlled by USRowing.

If RegattaCentral is seeing less smaller regattas now. Get ready for another wave of drop offs once USRowing starts putting the screws to regatta organizers.