Some races are USAT sanctioned, others are not. Why? What are the pros and cons of having a sanctioned race? Hopefully some RD’s will chime in with their perspective.
Don’t know about USAT sanctioning, but around here (Vancouver, BC) the only race series that I’m aware of that is unsanctioned is also notorious for dangerous bike courses, poor aid, and an RD who in generally doesn’t give a shit. I’ve never done one of them myself, and don’t feel the need to.
I know a lot of the factor for sanctioning is to get the big liability insurance number for the city /county to issue permits. Whether it is NORBA,USCF, RRCA or Trifed you need the insurance. Organizations like the YMCA, some universities, and Gov’t agencies have their own coverage so they often will not be sanctioned.
As far as quality of the race/course/org I have been in good and bad on both sides. Usually though the sanctioned races have to meet some minimal standard whereas the unsanctioned races may be substandard or possibly better organized races. You just don’t know. G
'round here, you really can’t tell much by the presence or lack of presence by USAT. There are good and bad sanctioned races and good and bad unsanctioned races. There are a couple of v. good unsanctioned races here that I suspect just got sick of dealing with the USAT paperwork, and decided to find insurance on their own if they needed to. (I’m guessing the Air Force self-insures for their on base unsanctioned race.)
Nickc,
From what I learned during the Musselman, there are two main reasons why we will again be USAT sanctioned in 2005: insurance and rankings.
USAT advertises its insurance as a steal - for the low cost of sanctioning a race (something like $250), you get a large policy - upwards of $2 million liability, which is required at the venue for our race, Seneca Lake State Park. This WOULD represent a tremendous bargain if you didn't take into account the one-day membership fees approximately 40% of our athletes paid. But since most athletes are used to this fee, and you don't pay it if you decide to be an annual member, the additional cost doesn't cause as many outcries as you might expect.
The other, and in my opinion, more significant advantage is that your race allows participants another opportunity to qualify for the annual USAT rankings and All-American lists. I wouldn't underestimate this one - USAT made a very smart move by creating a rankings system, as competitive triathletes want to achieve the distinctions and therefore must race USAT-sanctioned races. Slick, but effective.
There are a handful of other, tangential benefits to being sanctioned, such as the ability to request competent officials and exposure for the race on USAT's calendar of events. In my mind, though, the above reasons are the big ones.
Jeff
Insurance and rankings are notable items as Jeff mentions. Insurance however can be had separate of USAT. And I believe USAT’s insurance is generally more protective of the RD and race staff than for a participant due to the supplemental factor. And many triathletes don’t give a hoot about rankings or whether they qualify for nationals.
The real and only issue is simply you are a part of the picture or you are not. Like it or not, agree with USAT policies or not, USAT is the only recognized organization tasked with improving and promoting our sport. Slowman is among those who sees a need and has the time and wherewithall to step up and work toward a new level of service on the part of USAT toward its customers…you and me.
There is little room for straddling the fence. I can point out one situation with one race management outfit where some of this does not apply, but in general you are either in or out.
In, you have the chance to make an impact. Out is just that.
The quality of the race is completely mandated by the race director. There are good and bad races whether sanctioned or not. USAT cannot check up on every sanctioned race for quality and unless they get a barage of negative reports a bad race can get sanctioned forever. Whether a race survives or not depends on whether people come back the next year. If the race is done poorly, permits for the next year by the town will not be given.
The main reason I don’t sanction is because I believe that it is not necessary. I know how to put on a safe and fun race and can get insurance. True, USAT is a better insurance deal, but with it comes a lot of extra work. I want to use USAT insurance, I don’t want to be an employee of USAT which is what you become, IMHO, when you sanction.
Rankings are important to about 10% of your field, if that, and I believe they are flawed. It is based on a system that is akin to the BCS series. A math formula that will say you are better than someone 1000 miles away even though you will never race them.
Officials do a thankless job, but from what I see spend most of their time checking for bar end plugs. One drafting official on the back of a motorcycle can’t make legitamate drafting calls. Plus, IMHO, there are many things that are mandated by USAT that cost money, lots of money and lots of time, that a RD might not have.
For a new race director that needs guidance, or for someone that is looking for their race to be a championship qualifier, USAT is a very good thing. But for someone who knows what they are doing and is organzining a race for the enjoyment or as a fundraising activity, USAT is not necessary.
We sanctioned Steelman last year because we wereasked by some friends to try it one time and I heard from a lot more from people that were mad that we sanctioned and would not do the race because it was sanctioned, then people that said they would do the race because it was sanctioned. As a guess there might have been 10 out of 300 people who chose to do the race solely because it was USAT sanctioned. We probably had a heck of a lot more than chose not to do it because it was sanctioned.
I am not saying that USAT sanctioning is bad or good, just that it isn’t for everyone. For 449 out of 450 races we did not sanction and never had a problem.
BJaeger, this is an interesting post, but would you mind providing some specifics? As a new RD, I would be curious to know things like:
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Why some people don’t like attending USAT-sanctioned races
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What is the extra work involved in using USAT’s insurance? If I don’t need to be doing extra work, I don’t want to!
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What is mandated by USAT that costs extra money, that you don’t have at your races?
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Do you have officials, and if so, how does that work and where do they come from? If not, do you have any problems with violations?
I agree with you that bad races will feel the wrath of others (like municipalities and participants) before that of USAT. In the history of USAT, I believe only a small handful of races have ever been denied a sanction.
thanks,
Jeff
The quality of the race is completely mandated by the race director. There are good and bad races whether sanctioned or not. USAT cannot check up on every sanctioned race for quality and unless they get a barage of negative reports a bad race can get sanctioned forever. Whether a race survives or not depends on whether people come back the next year. If the race is done poorly, permits for the next year by the town will not be given.
The main reason I don’t sanction is because I believe that it is not necessary. I know how to put on a safe and fun race and can get insurance. True, USAT is a better insurance deal, but with it comes a lot of extra work. I want to use USAT insurance, I don’t want to be an employee of USAT which is what you become, IMHO, when you sanction.
Rankings are important to about 10% of your field, if that, and I believe they are flawed. It is based on a system that is akin to the BCS series. A math formula that will say you are better than someone 1000 miles away even though you will never race them.
Officials do a thankless job, but from what I see spend most of their time checking for bar end plugs. One drafting official on the back of a motorcycle can’t make legitamate drafting calls. Plus, IMHO, there are many things that are mandated by USAT that cost money, lots of money and lots of time, that a RD might not have.
For a new race director that needs guidance, or for someone that is looking for their race to be a championship qualifier, USAT is a very good thing. But for someone who knows what they are doing and is organzining a race for the enjoyment or as a fundraising activity, USAT is not necessary.
We sanctioned Steelman last year because we wereasked by some friends to try it one time and I heard from a lot more from people that were mad that we sanctioned and would not do the race because it was sanctioned, then people that said they would do the race because it was sanctioned. As a guess there might have been 10 out of 300 people who chose to do the race solely because it was USAT sanctioned. We probably had a heck of a lot more than chose not to do it because it was sanctioned.
I am not saying that USAT sanctioning is bad or good, just that it isn’t for everyone. For 449 out of 450 races we did not sanction and never had a problem.