USA Swimming is proposing a significant increase in membership dues paid by member clubs starting in the 2025-26 season.
The national governing body is proposing clubs pay an extra $155 a year, taking the total from $70 to $225, the first annual fee increase since at least 1990.
The bigger change would apply to first-year clubs: Under the proposal, clubs would have to pay $700 for the first three years, an increase of $900.
An increase to the club’s annual allowance of $250 starting in 2021 was proposed in 2019 but never materialized due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Annual fee | 1990-2024 | Proposed Changes |
| Year-round club | $70 | $225 |
| New Clubs | $70 | $700 for the first three years |
Note that these figures do not include the $50 annual fee that clubs pay to the LSC. In total, year-round clubs will pay a yearly fee of $275, and new clubs will pay $750 for the first three years after formation.
At a USA Swimming board meeting in April, a proposal was presented to change club membership fees. Ira Cline The aim is to use the increased membership fees to fund more club visits and in-person national events.
The proposal is also listed in USA Swimming’s 2024 bill, which is set to be voted on at the organization’s annual meeting in September.
The proposal states that USA Swimming staff “may reduce new club dues based on outreach membership numbers and geographic isolation.”
In 2023, USA Swimming reported having 2,579 year-round clubs. With that figure, if the proposal passes, USA Swimming’s club dues revenue would increase by $399,745, from $180,350 to $580,275 per year (not including first-year clubs).
In proposing the club dues increase, USA Swimming outlined the results of a coaches survey conducted during the 2022-23 season. Coaches asked for the following changes:
- USA Swimming visits to LSC on the rise
- Partnering with LSC to provide services to clubs
- Increased club visitation to clubs of all sizes
- Listen more to coaches at the local level
- Increased awareness of clubs, especially those active at age level
- Regular meetings between LSC coaches and the LSC Board of Directors
- Face-to-face coach education
- Involve coaches in the decision-making process, both face-to-face and with wider grassroots participation
- Assisting clubs as they face significant challenges regarding facilities, board changes, etc.
While the club fee increase would improve services, the proposal also notes that the extra $155 per club would help adjust annual fees for inflation.
“Enhanced Services” include:
- Increased LSC/club visitation ($150,000 investment)
- Investment in the Club Excellence Program Model ($150,000)
- Enhancements to the USA Swimming app for coaches ($120,000)
- Increased funding for USA Swimming Camps national coaches ($45,000)
- Helping new clubs succeed ($30,000)
- Providing additional services to crisis response teams ($30,000)
The total investment in the six proposed service increases is $525,000, suggesting the new club could generate an increased revenue of around $125,000.
If ultimately passed, the fee increases would begin Sept. 1, 2025. The increased service program would be piloted through August 2025 and then fully implemented in the 2026 membership year.
The proposed club fee increases come after USA Swimming saw its membership numbers decline 4.61% in 2023, losing about 18,000 swimmers. Membership retention was 68.9%, the lowest since 2019.
USA Swimming has struggled since the pandemic and lost $17 million in assets in 2022.
USA Swimming’s annual meeting is scheduled for Sept. 26-28 in Denver.
