USATT Announces New Membership Programs

I got an email yesterday from USATT about the 2021 membership structure and thought it might be worth discussion.

Looks like the basic annual membership is $25, the "pro" membership is $75, and a tournament pass is $50 per event. At least that how I read it. That structure would make playing in more than one tournament prohibitively expensive, so everyone who wants to play tournaments will probably default to the "Pro" plan. But I can't tell whether the $75 membership covers the extra fee that is usually tacked on for each tournament (probably not). The relevant text from the email is below.

"Under the new program, members can select one of two available annual memberships – “Basic” and “Pro” – depending on each particular member’s playing goals.

The Pro Plan, which will cost $75 per year, will allow the member to play in all USATT Sanctioned Tournaments and Leagues, including the US Nationals and US Open. The Basic Plan, which will cost $25, permits the member to play in 0 – 4 Star Tournaments, which will include a new event – the US Nationals State Qualification Tournament – and USATT Leagues. All members will continue to receive the historical benefits of USATT membership including coverage under an accidental medical insurance policy, voting privileges, travel and sponsor discounts, access to the USATT newsletter, and full access to the complete USATT rating system.

In addition, USATT will continue to offer the Tournament Pass for persons seeking to play in a single tournament. The Tournament Pass will be priced at $20 for juniors and $50 for adults."

Tournament pass at $50 makes no sense since you can buy a basic membership at $25.

Odie wrote: I got an email yesterday from USATT about the 2021 membership structure and thought it might be worth discussion. Looks like the basic annual membership is $25, the "pro" membership is $75, and a tournament pass is $50 per event. At least that how I read it. That structure would make playing in more than one tournament prohibitively expensive, so everyone who wants to play tournaments will probably default to the "Pro" plan. But I can't tell whether the $75 membership covers the extra fee that is usually tacked on for each tournament (probably not). The relevant text from the email is below. "Under the new program, members can select one of two available annual memberships – “Basic” and “Pro” – depending on each particular member’s playing goals. The Pro Plan, which will cost $75 per year, will allow the member to play in all USATT Sanctioned Tournaments and Leagues, including the US Nationals and US Open. The Basic Plan, which will cost $25, permits the member to play in 0 – 4 Star Tournaments, which will include a new event – the US Nationals State Qualification Tournament – and USATT Leagues. All members will continue to receive the historical benefits of USATT membership including coverage under an accidental medical insurance policy, voting privileges, travel and sponsor discounts, access to the USATT newsletter, and full access to the complete USATT rating system. In addition, USATT will continue to offer the Tournament Pass for persons seeking to play in a single tournament. The Tournament Pass will be priced at $20 for juniors and $50 for adults."

This might fix some small area of concern. The fundamental problem is that having a USATT membership is useless if you don't care to play in sanctioned tournaments. They no longer supply a magazine or any other reason to join if you are not an active tournament player.

Dennisun wrote: pongfugrasshopper wrote: Dennisun wrote: I am confused about this. I was looking for a club but it seems from above that I have to pay $25 to USATT in addition to other club fees to play at these clubs. Is that correct ? Or maybe these clubs are free once I pay $25 to USATT ?   That is not bad for a new member. Because I heard many of these clubs charge like $25 just for one session. Is that true ? Do I have to pay even if I just want to play ping pong at these clubs or there is no difference ?    The $25 annual USATT membership allows you to play in 0-4 star rated tournaments, but you will also need to pay whatever fee that is required to play a particular tournament.   Fees to play at a club are separate and vary club to club.   I understand and thank you for reply and information But I am being told that many clubs these days are being pressured by USATT to not allow players to become club members unless they also join USATT. Is that true ? I was told the $25 fee (instead of $75) was a trick to put pressure on players to play in the USATT League and am told USATT wants it cook the books to artificially boost membership statistics to get funding from Olympics committee and sponsors. I just want to play ping pong and not table tennis and not get involved in all this politics.  Is that allowed in these clubs  ?

sjan has landed again on Earth.  He was relegated back to his mothership.

Edited by Baal - 10/11/2020 at 4:51pm

This is good. I wish I lived in the states still. 

SultanP wrote: FS1 wrote: This is good. I wish I lived in the states still.  75 dollars vs 25 dollars, most of us just like to play tournaments.  I researched some of this and on USATT website somewhere it said sanctions can be imposed on players if they play in a non-USATT sanctioned tournament. That  REALLY scared me.

BRS wrote: $25 is better than $75 to play tournaments.  But if they put the 'rating fee' of $7 or $10 per tourney back in, it will be a wash if you play enough times. Meanwhile the annual fee for leagues has gone from $0 to $25.  This while apmost all the clubs are struggling to stay alive.  Clubs will end up switching to RatingsCentral to avoid losing any of the league players they have left who don't join USATT. End result will probably be fewer members, less revenue, and lower attendance at Nationals and Open.

Uhm... Sarcasm. PHxx... Sarcasm.

SultanP wrote: mjamja wrote: SultanP wrote: FS1 wrote: This is good. I wish I lived in the states still.  75 dollars vs 25 dollars, most of us just like to play tournaments.  I researched some of this and on USATT website somewhere it said sanctions can be imposed on players if they play in a non-USATT sanctioned tournament. That  REALLY scared me.   I read somewhere on the internet that a U1400 player in Nebraska had played in some unsanctioned "barn" tournaments.  Nebraska's equivalent of "garage TT".  When he showed up to play at Nationals they would not let him play, refused to refund his entry, and confiscated his table tennis equipment.     I did not know that.  That is pretty scary.  But it puzzles me why & how USATT tracks these players or if USATT was tipped off by someone who did not like this person.   However I personally am not worried about playing in so called "unsanctioned" tournament because I have not played in any tournament yet. . I also  still do not understand fully what it means.  My bigger concern is about USATT claiming to be some National Governing Body. I do not want to be prosecuted or something if I join another table tennis group. It also puzzled me what other sports are controlled by NGBs. Is it only for Olympic sports ? I for sure don't think they can control American Football or golf for sure as they are not Olympic sport. I also know there is not some Secretary of Sports in (Trump's) cabinet, which would be so funny given Trump and  which is the equivalent of sports ministers in many countries who take large bribes and they will change the rules & policies based on who can give the biggest bribe.  Also nobody answers when I ask why USATT is trying collect every last penny from its members while USOC, the organization that controls & manipulates USATT has billions of dollars and why can't they give any money to USATT ?   I am not going to be in Olympics and most members (except 2 or 3) are not. So why should I cough up my money ? I don't get it. Especially in a table-tennis-less country like USA, they should be paying me money to become a member and play in tournaments.

Keep fighting that fight.

notfound123 wrote: I don't get it.. what's the big deal? 25 bucks?? which is like 1/3 of what Tenergy/Dignics would cost you. To be able to participate in weekly leagues and almost all tournaments while again being able to access the ratings (finally)?  Take my money!

My point was simply that USATT is giving with one hand, $25 for tournaments down from $75, and taking with the other, $25 to play leagues, up from $0.

I have to wonder if we have the full picture yet.  This seems to simple - and the finances as stated seem a bit shaky.  I suspect they (USATT) will also be imposing something like a "Rating Fee" or some other "per tournament" fee.  They may not do it right away, but I would look for it soon.