Become a Certified Coach

Benefits

There are currently over 2,100 USA Triathlon certified coaches residing throughout the United States and internationally. USA Triathlon’s coaching certification program receives requests for information from American and international coaching organizations and other National Governing Bodies interested in pursuing coaching certification and athlete development. The benefits of being a USA Triathlon certified coach include, but are not limited to the following:

Level I

Prior to certification, candidate must complete and/or submit the following: 

Before USA Triathlon Certified Coach certificates are sent to certification candidates, the above requirements must be met. It is highly recommended that candidates make plans to obtain or review the required items prior to the clinic.

Current CPR Certification
American Red Cross or The American Heart Association certifications are preferred for first time certification. AED certifications are not required, but are highly recommended.

Coaching Educational Clinic
The 2.5 day educational clinic requirement must be met by attending a USA Triathlon coaching certification clinic. Click here for a sample clinic schedule. Do not make flight arrangements based off these times. Use the times provided for the particular clinic you have registered for when making travel plans. Do not make travel arrangements before you are registered for a clinic as it is not guaranteed that you will get in. Please note that the clinic is lecture based. Participants must attend the entire clinic in order to be eligible for certification.
 
Written Examination
On the final day of the clinic, attendees are given instructions on how to complete the exam. The exam is online and must be submitted within three months of the clinic date in order to become certified. The exam includes multiple choice, short answer, and training plan questions. Failure to submit materials by the deadline results in the participant becoming ineligible for certification.
 
Signed USOC Coaching Ethics Code
The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Coaching Ethics Code is distributed and discussed at the coaching certification clinic. USA Triathlon certified coaches must sign and submit the USOC Coaching Ethics Code with the exam.
 
Criminal History Check
Coaching certification candidates must pass a criminal history check through the NCSI background check application in order to attend a coaching clinic and become certified. The fee is $20 for most U.S. citizens but does vary by state. International background checks cost more and vary by country. Fees for the background check are not included in the clinic registration fee. Instructions on how to complete the background check are sent to candidates following registration. Each candidate must complete and pass the required background check or entry into the clinic and certification is denied. Any candidate concerned about his or her background should complete the background check prior to registration.

Background checks are based on this criteria. A failed background check results in the candidate being ineligible for participation in a coaching clinic and certification. Effective January 1, 2011, there is no appeal process for failed background checks. This applies to current certified coaches as well. There are no exceptions. If the candidate receives a red light and believes the red light is in error, the applicant should work with NCSI directly to resolve the matter.

Clinic Fee
The fee is $525, which includes a clinic manual and access to the Performance Coaching Newsletter, Yahoo discussion group, certified coach discounts, certified coach logos, and liability insurance coverage. The clinic fee includes lunch for the two full days of the clinic. It does not include lodging, any travel expenses or the background check fee.

See the schedule of upcoming clinics.

Please note that the certification does expire. The expiration date depends on which clinic you attend. Please click here for recertification policies. Please contact the Coaching Certification Coordinator if you have any questions.

Level II

Prior to certification, candidate must complete and/or submit the following:

  • Level II Clinic
  • Oral Presentations
  • Written Examination
  • CPR or AED Certification
  • Signed USOC Coaching Ethics Code
  • Online Background Check
  • Current USAT Membership
  • Athlete Letter of Recommendation
  • Mentor Coach Letter of Recommendation
  • Minimum Two Years of Level I Certification
  • ATP of Current Athlete (format provided by Coach Development Manager)
  • One of the Following:
      1. BA or BS degree in sport science or related field (preferred)
    OR
      2. Certification with relevance to triathlon (ACSM, USAC Level I or II, ASCA, USATF, NSCA or NASM)
  • The applicant must have annual service to USA Triathlon or educational contributions to the sport of triathlon (service during a USA Triathlon camp or clinic, contributions to the USA Triathlon coaching certification program or various related USAT programs).
  • The applicant must explain the status of an athlete, state two to three objectives for that athlete, explain what you did as a coach to address those objectives, and explain the results that were accomplished with that athlete.
  • Selected candidates complete a phone interview as part of the application process.

There is a checklist that is used to score each candidate on the pool deck as well as on the final presentation. Every candidate must score 80% on each component in order to be eligible for LII certification along with passing the exam with a score of 80%.

If a candidate does not meet the above criteria, the following occurs:

  • The candidate has failed the course.
  • USAT discusses the areas that the candidate needs to improve, and the Coach Development Manager discuss those areas with the candidate.
  • The Coach Development Manager recommends webinars, books, CEUs and other areas that can help improve the candidates skills.
  • The Coach Development Manager recommends that the candidate attend the Elite Mentorship Program prior to applying for a future Level II clinic.
  • The candidate must wait at least 12 months to apply for a future Level II clinic.
  • Acceptance into or passing of a future Level II clinic is not guaranteed.

See the schedule of upcoming clinics.

Level III

Prior to applying for the Level III clinic, candidates must complete and/or submit the following:

  • Level III Clinic
  • Current USAT Membership
  • Written Examination
  • Oral Presentation
  • Signed USOC Coaching Ethics Code
  • Current CPR/AED Certification
  • Online Background Check
  • Athlete Letter of Recommendation
  • Mentor Coach Letter of Recommendation
  • Current Level II Coach (in good standing for at least 12 months prior to the Level III clinic)
  • The applicant must have completed the USAT Elite Mentorship Program between January 1, 2007 and the current application deadline.
  • The applicant must have documentation that he or she is the primary coach of an athlete at the highest level of competition within the athlete's division based on the following criteria:
      - Elite National Team
      - Project 2012, 2016 or 2020 Team
      - Top 15 finish at U23 World Championships
      - Top 15 finish at Junior World Championships.
      - Ranked in the top 75 of the ITU rankings by the end of the previous year.
  •   - USA Paratriathlon National Team (2010 and later)
      -Coaching oneself does not qualify.
  • The applicant must demonstrate that he or she developed the athlete to the above mentioned level.
  • The applicant must demonstrate knowledge of progression by stating two to three objectives for an elite athlete, explaining what was done as a coach to address those objectives and the results that were accomplished with that athlete.
  • The applicant must submit an ATP based on a standard provided form of one elite level athlete that he or she directly coaches as part of the application process within seven days upon acceptance into the clinic. This is reviewed by USAT Sport Development staff within two weeks and sent back to the applicant with suggestions.
  • The applicant must hold at least one additional current certification from the following sport organizations: USA Cycling Level I or Level II, USA Swimming/American Swimming Coaches Association, USA Track and Field, American College of Sports Medicine, National Strength and Conditioning Association, or National Academy of Sports Medicine.
  • Selected candidates complete a phone interview as part of the application process. 

A USAT Level III Coach understands and applies the following concepts while working with athletes:  

  • Advanced periodization and planning including program implementation, progression, lab and field testing and recovery methods.
  • Swim stroke analysis, run gait analysis, bike fit and analysis
  • Functional strength training and dynamic warmup
  • Advanced nutritional and mental skills strategies
  • ITU qualifications and rules
  • Race strategies

Acceptance into or passing of the Level III clinic is not guaranteed. There is a checklist that is used to score each candidate on the ATP presentation, pool coaching session and on the final paper project. The final paper project will be assigned at the clinic and candidates will have three months from the clinic date to complete. Once the paper is submitted, the candidate will then present the final paper via phone or Skype to the Coach Development Manager. Only after all of the above requirements are satisfactorily met with an 80% or higher, will a candidate be considered passed through the LIII clinic.

See the schedule of upcoming clinics.