I misread. Sorry. 
ETA Your situation, while violating the rule, was much less serious than a non-USEF member signing an entry as coach.
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No, you don’t have to be GMO member.
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I grabbed the USEF Liability Release State Specific to CA .(USEF has one specific for each state so look for yours)
You’ll see staff, volunteer, and show official now are listed along side owner, rider, trainer, and coach.
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/PLddNeNdiHA/california-state-waiver
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This is the USEF state specific release for CA. (Each state now has their own so look for yours on the USEF site. It’s under Competitions/Show Management) You’ll see staff, volunteer, and show officials added to owner, rider, trainer, and coach.
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/PLddNeNdiHA/california-state-waiver
The quick answer is Yes. The USEF wants to do their best to ensure that within their control, everyone at the show has a current Safesport certification and a current USEF membership is one way to cover that base.
Obviously, it doesn’t cover spectators.
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I agree it says volunteer ON the release. But the RULES do not mention “volunteers”.
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And I’m pretty sure volunteers are not required to have safeSport. No one’s ever asked me and I haven’t been a member in years.
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I can only imagine that it’s already hard enough to get volunteers without adding a safe sport requirement to the mix.
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The California Dressage Society just put out their Omnibus and starting on page 28 is “hot tips” for shows and as I read I thought these are a great resource for someone who is new to rated shows so recommend you check them out!
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This is helpful!!!
Also answered my question, above:
THE COACH signature is not mandatory - UNLESS the coach receives remuneration for the assistance
that is being given at the show.
So in my case last year I was not breaking the rules, as this was unpaid assistance (again unplanned, but still don’t like breaking any rules).
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And if you are in Region 3, you can qualify for the Col Kimball AA championships. https://southeasthorseshows.com/adult-amateur-champs
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Note that if you have a GMO membership , you ARE A USDF MEMBER. You have a GM membership which qualifies you for rider awards as mentioned above. The other type of membership is a Participating Membership, and is required if you want to earn some year end awards or qualify for Regionals.
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Thanks, this info saved me a bit since I just want to pick up some medal scores this year.
To update this.
Yesterday I was a jump judge at the CDCTA HT in Berryville. I signed up through the VIP app. The VIP app sent me an email asking me to sign a release, but I ignored it. Nobody at the HT asked for a release.
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I’m just guessing that the signed release might be like the safe sport compliance.
It would be nice to have, but they probably don’t want to lose volunteers over it.
Ah, but the RULES do mention volunteers…
Copied from the USEF Competition Manager Newsletter
“USEF Waiver/ Release…When accepting entries, all competitions must collect a properly signed entry blank as well as a waiver/release agreement from each participant listed on the waiver/release document. Participants include: Rider, Owner, Trainer, Official, Staff, Volunteer, and Coach.”
That is a NEWSLETTER. Not the rules.
In my case, both the HT manager and the volunteer coordinator are people I know well and see frequenently. And neither of them have said anything about wanting a waiver.
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I did search just a bit and did not see anything in the rule book that mentions volunteers needing to sign a waiver.
I’m not saying that they shouldn’t, especially in our highly litigious society, but until it’s a rule, there is no rule that says volunteers HAVE to sign a waiver and if the volunteer coordinator or show management chooses not to ask volunteers to do so, I can’t find a rule that they are violating.
For example I have volunteered at US Finals for many years. I have NEVER been asked to sign a liability waiver release form.
Funny, I was reading this just now…and was trying to figure out, is this my thread/question? I had to scroll up, and yep, it’s my original thread. It’s interesting how original posts morph. (No, I don’t mind at all…this is useful information.)
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It’s always so aggravating to not get any actual answers on some of these threads because half the answers people give with confidence are contradicted by someone else giving an answer with confidence.
I have never in all my years of volunteering been required to sign a waiver. Have I seen waivers? Sure.
The coach signature is mandatory but isn’t mandatory but is mandatory if they get paid but if your boyfriend coaches you he could get yellow carded…
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