USMS Open Water Sanction Benefits
Sanction Your Event Through USMS and Reach 60,000 Swimmers Across the U.S.
U.S. Masters Swimming is revitalizing and expanding the benefits available to open water event directors who sanction through us. Our national audience of nearly 60,000 members and marketing capabilities will help you grow your event, and our cost-effective insurance policy provides worry-free coverage.
Learn more about the benefits we offer below. If there's more we could offer, please let us know.
Nationwide Marketing
U.S. Masters Swimming provides nationwide marketing support to reach nearly 60,000 USMS members and help grow your race. We'll run geotargeted ads on social media to promote your specific event. A personalized event preview will be listed on our Calendar of Events. You'll have access to connect directly with members through the new USMS Community platform. USMS also promotes sanctioned events in our magazine, emails, and social media channels.
Registration
U.S. Masters Swimming has partnered with Club Assistant and RunSignUp to provide simple and effective registration platforms for USMS-sanctioned events. Both options instantly verify USMS membership and process one-event swimmer fees if applicable.
Sanction Support
Our dedicated open water coordinator will respond to your sanction request within two business days and help you finalize your safety plan application, course map, referee and safety director certifications, and event registration details and provide best practices and additional resources.
Safety and Insurance
Comprehensive insurance coverage is included as part of the sanction fee. Our zero-deductible, general liability policy covers all event participants, volunteers, officials, lifeguards, support boat operators, and more, with $1 million coverage per occurrence and $5 million aggregate per event. We invite you to compare our coverage with any other option to see the value USMS provides. We also provide complimentary online referee and safety director training and an expert review of your event's safety plan application.
Simple Cost Structure
We have a straightforward structure for partnering with USMS. Effective Jan. 1, 2025 pool and open water sanction fees have been eliminated. All adult swimmers (18+) will be covered by the sanction, though swimmers who aren't USMS members will need to pay a $20 one-event fee that can be passed on during registration or built into your entry fee.
