USA Swimming proposes a 221% increase in club dues starting September 2025

USA Swimming proposes a significant increase in membership fees beginning with the 2025/26 season.

The national umbrella organization proposes that clubs pay an additional $155 annually, from $70 to $225. This would be the first increase in annual dues since at least 1990.

The bigger change affects clubs that purchase membership in their first year of operation. Under the proposal, they would have to pay $700 for the first three years, an increase of $900.

In 2019, an increase to $250 annually for clubs starting in 2021 was proposed, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was not implemented.

Note that these figures do not include the $50 annual fee that clubs pay to LSCs. In total, year-round clubs would pay an annual fee of $275 and new clubs would pay $750 for their first three years of existence.

At USA Swimming’s April board meeting, recommendations for changes to membership dues were presented by Ira Klein with the aim of using the increased fees to finance more club visits and national in-person events.

The proposal is also included in USA Swimming’s 2024 bill, which is scheduled to be voted on at its annual business meeting in September.

The proposal states that USA Swimming staff may establish reduced fees for new clubs “based on the scope of membership and/or geographic isolation.”

In 2023, USA Swimming reported that there were 2,579 year-round clubs. At that number, USA Swimming’s revenue from membership dues paid by clubs would increase by $399,745 annually, from $180,350 to $580,275, if the proposal is adopted (excluding clubs in the first year).

In the proposal for the increased club dues, USA Swimming outlined the results of a coach survey conducted during the 2022-23 season. Coaches requested the following changes:

• More USA Swimming visits to LSCs
• Coordination with LSCs regarding club support
• More club visits at different club sizes
• Giving trainers a greater voice at the local level
• More recognition for clubs (especially those that are successful at age group level)
• Regular meetings in the LSC with trainers and LSC boards
• Personal trainer training
• Involve coaches in the decision-making process, both personally and through broad grassroots participation.
• Help when clubs face major challenges with regard to facilities, board changes, etc.

The increase in club dues is intended to allow for expanded services. The proposal also states that the additional $155 per club will help adjust annual fees for inflation.

The “extended services” include:

• An increase in LSC/Club attendance ($150,000 investment)
• Investment in the Club Excellence Program model ($150,000)
• Expanding USA Swimming app functionality for coaches ($120,000)
• Increased financial support for local coaches at USA Swim Camps ($45,000)
• Helping new clubs succeed ($30,000)
• Providing additional services to crisis teams ($30,000)

The total investment for the six proposed enhanced services is $525,000, meaning new clubs could generate additional revenue in the order of $125,000.

If finally adopted, the contribution increase would come into effect on September 1, 2025. The expanded service programs would be tested as a pilot project until August 2025 and would not be fully implemented until the 2026 membership year.

The proposal for higher club fees comes after USA Swimming reported a 4.61% membership decline in 2023, losing about 18,000 swimmers. The member retention rate of 68.9% was the lowest since 2019.

USA Swimming has struggled since the pandemic, suffering a $17 million loss in assets in 2022.

USA Swimming’s annual business meeting will be held September 26-28 in Denver.