Transfers

Beginning with the 2025 registration year a swimmer may change club affiliation at the time of annual membership registration and up to three additional times during the membership year.

Changing a swimmer's status to unattached does not count against the allowable club changes per year.
A swimmer may compete for only one club during a meet. A transfer submitted during a meet, including at the time of annual registration, may take immediate effect only if the swimmer has not yet competed in the meet.
Swimmers may declare unattached status at any time except during a meet in which they have already competed. Swimmers who intend to compete as unattached should change their registration status prior to the meet.

More details can be found in the USMS rulebook, under article 201.3 Representation/Club Affiliation.

Submitting a Transfer

We're developing ways for members to self-manage transfers through their My Account dashboard.

For the time being, membership coordinators can submit transfer requests through a digital form within their My USMS account. Once submitted, the request will be sent to the National Office for review and changes should appear within 2 business days. This video tutorial will walk you through the current process for submitting a transfer.

If a member registers in your LMSC but makes a mistake and selects the wrong club in your LMSC, you may correct the member’s club affiliation by submitting a transfer.
If a member registered in the wrong LMSC, contact the National Office.
Membership reports for your LMSC will no longer include members who have transferred out of your LMSC. But the admin tools system, ESTHER, will contain a transfer transaction in the member’s record, including the date of transfer.

Member FAQs

No, there is no longer a 60 day waiting period to transfer your membership. Starting with the 2025 registration year a swimmer may change club affiliation at the time of annual membership registration and up to three additional times during the membership year.

Changing a swimmer's status to unattached does not count against the allowable club changes per year.
A swimmer may compete for only one club during a meet. A transfer submitted during a meet, including at the time of annual registration, may take immediate effect only if the swimmer has not yet competed in the meet.
Swimmers may declare unattached status at any time except during a meet in which they have already competed. Swimmers who intend to compete as unattached should change their registration status prior to the meet.
More details can be found in the USMS rulebook, under article 201.3 Representation/Club Affiliation.

Answer: You'll need to transfer to your new LMSC and club. We're developing ways for members to self-manage transfers through their My Account dashboard. For the time being, please contact either the National Office or the LMSC membership coordinator for your new LMSC, who can provide guidance on your transfer request.

We're developing ways for members to self-manage this through their My Account dashboard. For the time being, contact either the National Office or your LMSC membership coordinator, who can provide guidance on your transfer request.

Example: I want to swim in the USMS Summer Nationals meet, which begins on August 9, but I want to represent my friend’s club, XYZ. The entry deadline for the meet is July 4. Currently, I am a member of Club ABC and planning to swim in a meet July 10 on that club. How can I swim in the July 10 meet for club ABC and enter Nationals and swim for club XYZ?

As long as the effective transfer date is before the first day of the USMS Summer Nationals meet you'll be able to transfer your to club XYZ. When you register for Nationals, enter with the club you're planning to swim with (XYZ). Initially, your entry will appear on USMS's “unverified list” (because your entry does not match with what is listed in your member record -- currently ABC). Once the transfer has been processed, your entry will be verified with USMS.

Example: Today is November 10, 2024, and I am a member of Club ABC. My 2024 membership runs through December 31, 2024. For 2025 I want to register with Club XYZ. Can I go ahead and renew my 2025 USMS membership now, joining XYZ, but still represent Club ABC at a meet in December under my 2024 membership?

Answer: No.

Per Article 201.3.1, “There shall be only one USMS membership per individual permitted at any time.” If you renew for 2025 between November 1st and December 31st 2024 with club XYZ, your 2024 membership and club affiliation is with club XYZ from that date forward.

Still have questions?

There's a ton of great stuff here, but if you didn't find what you're looking for, or you did but have additional questions, we're here to help! Volunteer Services is available via phone (941) 256-8767 or via email volunteer@usmastersswimming.org.