A Letter to NBNI Athletes, Coaches & Families (re: Backpacks, Refund policy & more)

by Steve Underwood


Dear NBNI entrants, coaches, and parents,

We hope you and your families are all safe and healthy during these difficult times. Following the cancellation of this year’s New Balance Nationals Indoor, we wanted to follow up with more information about this unfortunate, but necessary, decision and provide additional updates. We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding over the course of the last few weeks as we navigate an increasingly complex and serious situation and make difficult decisions that impact us all.

The NSAF is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization with the mission of “Opening Doors to the World Through Track & Field.” All of you are our reason for being, and we do everything we can to turn those words into results. In addition to our New Balance Nationals, the NSAF conducts numerous other events, clinics, development projects, and grant programs throughout the year for junior and high-school age athletes.  Annually we serve over 11,000 student-athletes. Please check out our NSAF Brochure: (http://www.nationalscholastic.org/images/newsletter/layout/photos/NSAF_Brochure.pdf)

The global COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented, and so too is the 2020 New Balance Nationals Indoor cancellation, which took a global health crisis to occur. Since our first indoor national championship meet in 1984, our policy has been that any and all entry fees are non-refundable. Unfortunately, because the vast majority of event expenses have already been incurred [and paid for], we are not able to return entry fees for the 2020 NBNI. There are no refunds under any circumstances. Doing so would compromise our ability to continue operations, to deliver our mission, and would severely jeopardize the future of our non-profit organization. We appreciate your understanding and continued support.

To gain a greater understanding, please go here:  https://raceraves.com/what-to-expect-when-race-canceled/

People come to the NBN to test themselves against the very best in the country. For that achievement, they earn the coveted NBN backpack. For those who did not pick up their bags in New York City, our partner, New Balance, is shipping all registered athletes their backpacks in the coming weeks. While over 1,100 athletes picked up their backpacks last weekend at the Armory, all others will be mailed to the address listed on the athlete’s entry. This will take some time, so please be patient. Pre-paid orders to have backpacks customized are being honored. Please enjoy a copy of the NBNI Meet Program:

Please note that your entry fee qualifies as a tax-deductible donation since the NSAF is a non-profit organization approved for such donations by the IRS: Get your charitable donation receipt (https://forms.gle/JeZoGsFBmoMy4dYy7).

Thank you for being part of our amazing track and field community and your understanding in this extraordinarily difficult time for all of us. Please take care of yourself, your loved ones, and your community.

Yours truly,
NBNI Meet Management


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