HOW TO START A USATF CLUB

Membership

DURATION

Memberships are on a calendar-year basis and expire on December 31. However, if your club/organization joins between November 1 and December 31 of the current year, the membership will be valid for the following year as well.   

Costs

The calendar year membership fee will vary by USATF Association, but are typically between $35 to $100 per year. Find your local Association fees HERE. 

Club Requirements  

• Clubs must list all coaches, volunteers and club administrators as part of their application.  

• All of these individuals must be SafeSport Compliant in order for the club to be approved and to remain active.  

• SafeSport Compliance requirements include having a current Individual Membership, a successfully passed background screen, and a successful completion of the SafeSport Course.  

• Clubs who do not follow these requirements will not be approved for club membership, or be covered by the General Liability Insurance policy.  

• All coaches, volunteers and club administrators must remain compliant at all times, or the club’s membership will be deactivated. 

Benefits

Competitive Club Membership

• Opportunity to enter relay teams and have athletes represent your club at USATF Championships 

• General Liability Insurance Coverage (Availability of D & O Insurance) 

• Access to Club’s Own Management Area 

• Athlete Membership Reports 

• Manage Club Practice Schedule 

• Order Certificates of Insurance 

• Club Listing on USATF Website 

• Use of USATF Member Club Logo 

• Grant Opportunities 

• Discount on Sanction Fees (as offered by local USATF Association) 

• Digital Club Membership Certificate 

• Association-Specific Benefits 

Organizational Club Member

• Organization Listing on Website 

• Access to Organization’s Own Management Area 

• Use of USATF Member Organization Logo 

• Discount on Sanctions Fees (as offered by local USATF Association) 

• Digital Member Organization Certificate 

• Association-Specific Benefits 

Approval Process/ Sign up Process

Creating a club involves having an individual membership with 3-step compliance and a club membership.

Part 1: individual membership & 3-Step Compliance

1. Club admin will need to create a personal individual membership through USATF Connect (click here to access)
2. In your USATF Connect profile you will need to request a background screening
   1. Click the background screenings tab, click Add Background Screening
   2. Request a volunteers or youth coach
   3. Background Screenings are $22 unless you have lived internationally
      1. Note: if you have lived internationally screenings are subject to additional fees (more information)
3. Club admin will need to take Safe Sport Core Training 
   1. Click the Center for SafeSport Training tab
   2. Click Actions
   3. Take the Core Training
      1.  Note: Only the Core training fulfills requirements for 3-Step Compliance
      2. If you have taken SafeSport Core Training through another entity, please reach out to USATF Customer Service and we can ask the Center for SafeSport to connect this to your membership

Part 2: Setting up your club

1. Click Set Up Club (bottom left of screen in USATF Connect)
2. Add the Club Super Admin to yourself and any other roles to other members that are needed (ie. Club Coaches, Club Volunteers)
   1. Note: All role holders will need to be 3-Step Compliant
3. Fill out the Club Membership form and purchase the membership

Your club will show as Pending Approval until your local association approves your club. If your club has not been approved in 5 business days, you can reach out to USATF Customer Service for assistance.