FAQs for USMS's Interim Eligibility Policy
U.S. Masters Swimming's interim eligibility policy went into effect July 1, 2025, and was updated February 21, 2026. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions and a document to help understand the policy. You can find USMS's previous policy here.
How has the interim eligibility policy been updated?
USMS updated its interim eligibility policy to comply with state and local nondiscrimination laws that include gender identity protections. These refinements allow USMS to continue hosting sanctioned events nationwide while administering recognition programs in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
USMS has also renamed the men’s competition category to the men’s/open competition category.
In state and local jurisdictions with laws that require recognition based on gender identity or gender expression:
- Eligibility for local recognition programs (such as awards and points) is determined in accordance with applicable state or local law.
- Eligibility for national recognition programs in the women’s category (Top 10, records, and All-American and All-Star honors) continues to be determined by sex assigned at birth.
In state and local jurisdictions that do not have nondiscrimination laws that include gender identity protections:
- Eligibility for both national recognition programs and local recognition programs in the women’s category continues to be determined by sex assigned at birth.
All members remain eligible to participate in events regardless of location. Eligibility for national and local recognition programs is determined in accordance with the interim eligibility policy.
These refinements are intended to ensure legal compliance while preserving USMS’s mission to empower adults to improve their lives through swimming.
Can I still swim in the gender category I identify with?
Yes, you can swim in the competition category that aligns with your gender identity. This policy does not limit participation in events. It only affects whether competitors are eligible for recognition programs.
How does the policy work?
USMS administers participation and recognition through three simple principles:
- Participation: All members may swim in the competition category that aligns with their gender identity.
- National recognition procedure: Eligibility for national recognition (such as Top 10 times, USMS records, and All-American and All-Star honors) in the women’s category is limited to swimmers whose sex assigned at birth is female. National Recognition in the men’s/open category is open to all.
- Local recognition procedure: Eligibility for local recognition (such as event awards and points scored) may vary depending on the laws or facility policies in the jurisdiction where the event is held, as described above.
This structure allows USMS to keep participation open nationwide while complying with applicable law and maintaining consistent national recognition standards.
Why does eligibility for local recognition programs vary depending on where an event is held?
Nondiscrimination laws vary by state and municipality. Because USMS hosts events nationwide, local recognition programs (such as awards and points) must comply with the legal requirements that apply in the jurisdiction where an event is held. Where applicable law requires local recognition based on gender identity or gender expression, USMS administers local recognition programs accordingly.
How will I know if my event is in a jurisdiction with laws that cover gender identity or gender expression?
Meet information will indicate whether the national recognition procedure or local recognition procedure applies.
Why did USMS adjust its policy to have local recognition program eligibility vary depending on where an event is held?
USMS adjusted the policy to:
- Maintain open participation opportunities for members
- Comply with state and local legal requirements
- Administer national recognition programs (such as Top 10 times, USMS records, and All-American and All-Star honors) consistently
- Reduce legal and operational risk to ensure events can continue and USMS can pursue its mission of empowering adults to improve their lives through swimming
What remains unchanged in USMS’s interim eligibility policy?
Several aspects of USMS’s interim eligibility policy remain unchanged:
- All members may continue to participate in events in the competition category that aligns with their gender identity.
- Participation in events is not restricted by eligibility for recognition programs.
- National recognition programs (such as Top 10 times, USMS records, and All-American and All-Star honors) continue to be determined by sex assigned at birth.
- Volunteers, officials, event directors, and facility staff members are not responsible for verifying eligibility on deck.
- Past results and awards are not affected.
These updates affect how local recognition programs (such as event awards and points scored) are administered in certain jurisdictions but do not change participation access or national recognition standards.
I swim primarily for fitness and don’t participate in events. Does this policy affect me?
No. The interim eligibility policy only affects eligibility for national recognition programs (such as Top 10 times, USMS records, and All-American and All-Star honors) and local recognition programs (such as awards and points) in sanctioned USMS events.
What are USMS’s recognition programs?
USMS administers two types of recognition programs:
- Local: Local recognition programs cover awards and points at events. Eligibility for local recognition programs is determined in accordance with applicable state or local law and/or facility use agreements.
- National: National recognition programs cover Top 10 times, USMS records, and All-American and All-Star honors. Eligibility for national recognition programs in the women’s category continues to be determined by sex assigned at birth.
Why doesn’t USMS adopt the entirety of World Aquatics’ policy?
World Aquatics provides a global framework for elite-level competitions such as World Championships and the Olympics, whereas USMS serves a very different community. Our policy addresses the unique needs of our members to pursue our mission of empowering adults to improve their lives through swimming.
World Aquatics specifically recommends that its member federations such as USMS adopt policies that reflect their own environment, one that supports safe, respectful, and inclusive participation for all athletes, including transgender and nonbinary members. World Aquatics suggests its policy be used as a guideline, not a mandate, which is how USMS approached our prior policy and our interim eligibility policy.
Many of our members are elite in the Masters ranks, but USMS is much more than just high-level competition. Only about 25% of our membership participates in USMS events and an even smaller percentage are aiming for recognition. Many of our members solely enjoy the lifelong mental and physical health benefits swimming provides. That context is central to how we’ve shaped our policy.
USMS has valued inclusion, fairness, and the integrity of competition throughout our 50-plus-year history. By allowing everyone to participate in the competition category that aligns with their gender identity and gender expression, while aligning our eligibility for recognition programs more closely with World Aquatics’ policy, we believe we’ve found a balanced approach to those values.
What are the differences between World Aquatics’ policy and USMS’s interim policy?
USMS’s interim eligibility policy was modeled after World Aquatics' policy and closely aligns with it in terms of eligibility for national recognition programs (such as Top 10 times, USMS records, and All-American and All-Star honors). They differ in a few areas.
USMS’s policy applies only to eligibility for USMS’s national recognition programs while allowing full participation in events regardless of gender identity or gender expression. It also allows all members to participate in the competition category that aligns with their gender identity or gender expression while limiting eligibility for national recognition programs based on sex assigned at birth. Eligibility for local recognition programs (such as awards and points) is determined based on whether the event takes place in a jurisdiction with public accommodation laws or facility use agreements that include gender identity or gender expression.
USMS’s policy serves a broad, diverse group of adult swimmers, many of whom swim for fitness, recreation, or community, whereas World Aquatics’ policy was designed for elite, high-performance athletes. USMS’s policy also balances fairness in recognition programs while maintaining a strong commitment to inclusive participation for all adult swimmers.
Why doesn’t USMS adopt the NCAA’s policy?
The NCAA oversees a specific population: college athletes competing for teams. In contrast, USMS is a private organization that serves adult swimmers of all ages, motivations, and backgrounds, the vast majority of whom do not participate in formal recognition programs or pursue elite competition.
The NCAA is also not part of World Aquatics, of which USMS is a member federation. World Aquatics governs international competitions, including the World Aquatics Masters World Championships, an event some USMS members participate in, and has created a separate category of World Aquatics World Masters Records and a World Aquatics Masters Top 10 recognition program.
Does the interim eligibility policy mean transgender swimmers aren’t welcome?
Not at all. Every swimmer is welcome within USMS. Our community is built on inclusion, respect, and support.
Members can continue to participate fully in the competition category that aligns with their gender identity. Transgender women are also eligible for local recognition programs (such as awards and points) at events held in places where the non-discrimination laws so require.
How do I find out whether I’m eligible for recognition?
If you're unsure whether this policy applies to you, please reach out to us directly at eligibility@usmastersswimming.org. We’ll guide you through the process respectfully and confidentially. Our goal is to make sure you feel supported and informed.
If I don’t meet the eligibility criteria for recognition, what happens to my results?
A swimmer who doesn’t meet the eligibility criteria for recognition programs can still participate in any event they wish, and their swims will still appear in their member record. However, their results will not be included in USMS’s recognition programs.
Does this interim policy affect past results or awards?
No. The changes to the interim eligibility policy apply effective immediately and do not retroactively affect prior awards or rankings.
Why is this policy still interim?
USMS continues to designate this policy as interim because the legal landscape continues to evolve. Maintaining interim status provides flexibility to:
- Monitor implementation
- Incorporate member feedback
- Align with governing body standards
- Adapt to changes in state, local, or federal law
USMS will continue to work toward a final policy that reflects the organization’s mission of empowering adults to improve their lives through swimming and operates effectively nationwide.
Will this policy change again?
USMS will continue to evaluate adjustments to the policy and associated procedures when World Aquatics’ policy is amended; when additional information on transgender, nonbinary, and DSD participation evolves as it relates to swimming; or when deemed necessary by the organization.
What's the history of USMS's transgender eligibility policy?
USMS first adopted a transgender eligibility policy around 2005. The policy has been revised multiple times, in 2012, 2016, 2022, 2024, 2025, and 2026, to align with evolving understandings of gender identity and gender expression, differences in sexual development, USMS’s values of fairness of competition and inclusion, our members’ varied perspectives, various state and local laws, and World Aquatics’ policy. USMS has regularly modeled its policy along guidelines established by the International Olympic Committee or World Aquatics.
How does USMS address the usage of bathrooms and locker rooms at USMS events?
USMS’s interim policy is solely focused on event participation and requirements to be eligible for recognition. The policy doesn’t address or apply to the use of bathrooms and locker rooms. As always, USMS encourages host facilities, clubs, and meet organizers to create a welcoming space for all participants and expects that all USMS members and all individuals attending a USMS event to follow all local, state, and federal laws regarding access to bathrooms and locker rooms.
How can I provide feedback or ask questions about USMS’s interim eligibility policy?
Feedback or questions on the interim eligibility policy can be submitted to eligibility@usmastersswimming.org.
