2024-25 USA CURLING MEMBERSHIP UPDATES
Photo by: Bob Weder
[EDEN PRAIRIE, MN, September 3, 2024]— Building on the successful launch of the revamped USA Curling membership model in 2023-24, the organization is pleased to share updates that will be incorporated in 2024-25.
“The changes made to our membership model in 2023-24 were overdue, and we were very pleased with how they were embraced by the curling community,” said USA Curling CEO Dean Gemmell. “That said, there is always room for improvement. While much will remain the same in 2024-25, we are introducing some new benefits and additional tiers.”
Here are the 2024-2025 USA Curling membership tiers:
Youth Individual Membership will remain $20 and provide a similar package of benefits as this tier did in 2023-24.
Basic Individual Membership will remain $25 and provide a similar package of benefits as this tier did in 2023-24.
Competitor Individual Membership will remain $100 (a $75 upgrade from Basic) and provide a similar package of benefits as this tier did in 2023-24.
[UPDATED] Coach Membership will now be $125 (an upgrade of $100 from the Basic Membership and $25 from the Competitor Membership). In addition to providing a domestic background screen ($30 value), Coach Membership now includes access to new educational modules, and more exclusive content will be added this season. Those with a Coach membership are still eligible to Compete in USA Curling championships
[NEW] Silver Membership replaces Premium Membership. Silver is an Individual tier offered at $200, provides a host of benefits, and helps support specific USA Curling efforts like webcasting of national championships and educational programming.
Gold Individual Membership will remain $500, but the package of benefits will updated.
Member Club fees remain $750 per sheet for dedicated ice facilities. Arena-based clubs will continue to pay a flat fee of $300. Rebates will continue—Member Club fees will be reduced by $5 for each Individual USA Curling member associated with the Member Club. For arena clubs, the maximum rebate remains at $150. As in 2023-24, clubs that submit rosters of Individual USA Curling members by November 30th will have the rebate applied to their 2024-25 invoice. If a club submits after November 30th, the rebate will be applied in 2025-26. Information about roster submissions and deadline extensions will be sent to clubs later this month.
Gemmell added, “In addition to the benefits of each tier, we are working to ensure that we are doing the work that makes members feel good about joining USA Curling. Every member is making an important contribution to the future of our incredible game, and we are truly grateful for the support of the curling community.”
Lauren Rich, who leads Member Services at USA Curling, notes that, “While there have been some adjustments, the basic process for membership has not changed and we continue to work with Sport:80 to make the platform easier to navigate. But if an individual or a Member Club has questions—how to upgrade, the best way to submit a roster, when memberships expire—please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at lauren.rich@usacurling.org.”
More information and the full benefits of each membership type are available on our Membership page.
FAQ
Can I still get my USA Curling membership through my Member Club?
Absolutely. For myriad reasons, we are grateful when Member Clubs include Individual USA Curling membership as part of their own membership package. It also allows Member Clubs to receive the $5 per member rebate in the same season, provided they submit a roster by November 30th. When rosters are submitted before November 30th, the invoice we create will reflect the Member Club rebate. Many Member Clubs collect the Basic membership—this can be upgraded to another tier easily on the MyUSACurling/Sport:80 platform. That said, some clubs offer all tiers of membership, and all tiers are reflected on the invoice that is sent to the Member Club.
What if my club doesn’t collect individual USA Curling membership?
If your club does not offer Individual USA Curling membership, you can always purchase it on MyUSACurling.com. If you belong to a Member Club, you should make sure your profile reflects it as your primary affiliation—that ensures your club will receive the rebate for your membership and can carry your vote at the annual Members’ Meeting.
Why was the Premium membership eliminated? And what does the Silver membership offer?
We are grateful to those who purchased Premium memberships last season, but at $50 it was difficult to deliver enough benefits to differentiate this level from the $25 Basic membership.
The $200 Silver membership bridges the gap between Competitor or Coach memberships and the $500 Gold membership. If you value our webcasting efforts, please know that Silver membership will help offset the considerable expense of our coverage of the Men’s & Women’s Nationals, the Mixed Doubles Nationals, and the U21 Junior Nationals. In addition, Silver membership offers additional benefits that were not part of the eliminated Premium membership.
Why was the Coach Membership raised to $125?
We are making a significant investment to elevate the training and education provided to coaches. While this has prompted a $25 increase in the Coach Membership, we are confident all who are committed to coaching will find value in the programs. Our newest online education models are dynamic and engaging, and more content is being produced. Our first Level 2 Coach Certification was awarded to attendees at our Coach Conference during the Members’ Assembly, and we plan to offer that course around the country in the coming season. Finally, a Coach tier that is truly distinct from Competitor membership ensures that we are training our most committed members, tracking their progress, and improving athlete health and safety.
Do I have to belong to a Member Club to compete in national championship events?
Two national championships—the Club Nationals and the Arena Club Nationals—require competitors to be dues-paying, league-playing members of a USA Curling Member Club. For all other national championships, regional playdown events, and U21 qualifier events, players are required to have a Competitor membership but do not need to belong to a USA Curling Member Club. (To promote participation among our newest curlers, we don’t require Competitor memberships for team members in the Five-and-Under qualifier bonspiels.) When competitors in a national championship do belong to a Member Club, we recognize that club in event communications.
Why are qualifying events for national championships held only at Member Clubs?
Managing national championshipsh is an effort that requires considerable planning and resources. We run 18 national championships for curlers of all kinds, and that would not be possible without the financial support of Member Clubs. It is important and fair to prioritize and recognize those that support us.
When the revamped model was introduced last season, USA Curling changed from requiring membership to earning it. That’s a decided and important shift from the old model, and has been part of a cultural change at the organization.
It’s worth noting that, unlike in the past, Member Clubs can rejoin the organization without being required to pay for years when they were not a part of USA Curling. Member Clubs are also not required to ensure that all their members are also USA Curling members. These are significant differences, and reflect the organization’s current focus on delivering value to earn and retain both Club and Individual membership.
If you have questions about becoming a Member Club, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Dean Gemmell at dean.gemmell@usacurling.org or to Lauren Rich at lauren.rich@usacurling.org. We would welcome the opportunity to meet with your Board or your entire membership.
What happened with Member ID cards and Bag Tags?
We were excited to offer Member ID cards in a package with bag tags. Unfortunately, we struggled with fulfillment and know that disappointed some members. Our structure is not particularly well-suited to adding new members and using variable data printing for ID cards, since we are adding members at different times throughout the season. As a result, we are going to offer bag tags with membership in 2024-25, but not personalized ID cards. This will allow us to get the membership welcome packets, with the bag tag, fulfilled in a more timely fashion. Every member deserves to be welcomed by USA Curling, and we’ll make sure we deliver that in 2024-25.
Looking forward, Gemmell notes that, “We always say there is nothing we won’t try to improve at USA Curling. We got a lot of things right with the new membership model, but wanted to introduce some changes that differentiate the tiers more clearly and appeal to wider group of curlers.
I’m the Membership Coordinator or Treasurer at my club. Is there anything else I need to know?
Since the most popular membership types are staying the same, we don't expect significant changes to the renewal process this year. Club leadership will receive an email with the 2024-2025 Roster Template, along with updated guidance on membership renewals for clubs.
About USA Curling
Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA Curling is the National Governing body for the Olympic sport of curling and the Paralympic sport of wheelchair curling in the United States. The mission of USA Curling is to grow, strengthen, and advocate for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of curling in the United States by prioritizing accessibility and programmatic development from grassroots to podium. USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Toyota, ISS (Ice, Sports & Solar), Rock Solid Productions, Jet Ice, and Laurie Artiss. USA Curling is a proud member of the World Curling Federation and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. To learn more, visit usacurling.org.
