Membership
We charge yearly membership dues of $100 to cover our operating costs (more details in the FAQ below). However, new members can come to 3 free practices before committing to a membership.
We never want membership fees to be a deterrent for people to join us. If this would be restrictive for you, please reach out and we can find a solution.
FAQs
Is there a cost to join SFTFC?
New members can come to up to 3 free practices before paying our yearly membership dues of $100.
What are membership dues used for?
Our primary operating costs are coaching (especially during Gay Games years), insurance, and our annual end-of-year party. Our annual Pride Meet typically generates just enough proceeds to cover its operating costs, or we may go slightly in the red. Our club is entirely volunteer-run, but we need the support of our members to be able to invest in these services for our training, competition, and community building.
Why is membership now $100 instead of $55 from prior years?
In prior years, we charged $55 for membership and supplemented the rest with fundraiser events. However, some of our biggest fundraising events are no longer happening in recent years, and the remaining events have been restrictive for some of our members to participate in.
We’ve since changed our fundraising structure to source more funds from membership dues. Essentially instead of asking our members to spend a couple hours every quarter doing fundraising, we now ask for an additional $45 in membership dues every year.
Do you have any social events where I can talk to your members?
Brunch after the team practice is a good place to meet our members. We also post other social events throughout the year on an ad-hoc basis, so follow us on social media and join our Google Group and/or WhatsApp to stay up-to-date.
How many women, non-binary, and trans members do you have?
The Club has several female, non-binary, and trans members and we’d love to have more!
Am I too old or too slow?
No! Our club consists of members of all ages, all genders, all races and all skill levels. We encourage and support everyone to train at their level of comfort, working towards their own personal goals. While you will practice with members of all ages, you will compete against others who are in your age group.
What types of training do you do?
Our club is a diverse bunch. We have sprinters, jumpers, throwers and distance runners. You will surely find someone who share the same passion and goals with you. Not sure what events to try? We will be happy to help you find what you like.
Is SFTFC associated with other athletic organizations?
The Club is a member of Team San Francisco, the blanket sports organization for San Francisco teams competing at the Gay Games. There is a separate fee for participating in the Gay Games, if you wish to do so.
Additionally, if you choose to participate in USA Track & Field (USATF) sanctioned meets (the National Governing Body for track and field), individuals are encouraged to become members of USATF. Visit USATF Pacific Association website for membership. However, you do not have to have USATF membership to join SFTFC.
Contact us
For questions about the San Francisco Track and Field Club, information on attending weekly practice sessions and how to join our WhatsApp and Google Groups please send us a message.
