2024 Ruleset
USA Triathlon 2024 Multisport Competition Rules (PDF; Updated 4/19/24)
2023 USA Triathlon Swimwear Information (PDF; Updated 3/15/23)
Note: As of March 2023, USA Triathlon will align with World Athletics on legal running shoe specifications:
- The sole must be no thicker than 40mm.
- The shoe must not contain more than one rigid embedded plate or blade (of any material) that runs either the full length or only part of the length of the shoe. The plate may be in more than one part, but those parts must be located sequentially in one plane (not stacked or in parallel) and must not overlap.
Clarification Regarding Public Nudity and Community Standards:
The USA Triathlon Multisport Competition Rule regarding public nudity states in 2.1n. “[participants must] not cause offense to others through deliberate acts of nudity or urination, in any manner, visible by the public.”
The key phrase in the rule is “cause offense to others.” The traditional position for rules enforcement with regards to what constitutes causing offense through an act of public nudity has been to rely on community standards. What is deemed to constitute public nudity that may cause offense may vary widely from one community to another. Therefore, athletes with questions about required racing attire or similar questions should first contact race management for the event in question and confirm that any proposed choice would be allowed by local authorities.
Eight Commonly Violated Rules
Helmets and Chinstraps
Helmets must be worn and securely fastened at all times while in possession of your bike. This means from the time you remove your bike from the rack at the start of the bike leg, until after you have placed your bike on the rack at the finish of the bike leg.
Unauthorized Assistance
No assistance other than that offered by race staff (including volunteers), medical officials and active participants may be used. A participant shall not physically assist the forward progress of another participant on any part of the course.
Non-Draft Legal Bike Position Rules
Athletes must ride right and only move left to complete a legal pass and must not block athletes attempting a legal pass. Athletes must not pass on the right. Drafting is not allowed. An athlete should not attempt to complete a pass unless the athlete is highly confident in their ability to complete the pass in the allotted amount of time. Once an athlete enters the draft zone of another cyclist there is only one exit and that is out the front.
Entire Course
Athletes must complete the race course in its entirety and as prescribed including in segment order.
Headphones and Communication Devices
Participants may carry a phone (such as, mounted on bike handlebars or in an arm band) but may not use communication devices of any type - including but not limited to cell phones, smart watches and two-way radios - in any distractive manner during the competition. A distractive manner includes but is not limited to making or receiving phone calls, sending or receiving text messages, playing music, using social media, taking photographs or using one- or twoway radio communication. Using any communication device in this manner during the competition may result in disqualification
Glass Containers
Glass containers are prohibited. Bringing a glass container into transition may result in disqualification.
Race Numbers
All athletes are required to wear race numbers at all times during the run. Numbers must be clearly visible at all times. Numbers may not be altered in any way that prevents clear identification.
Race Number Transferring
Do not transfer your number to any other athlete or take a number from an athlete that is not competing. The penalty for doing so is disqualification and one year suspension from membership in USAT for transferring a number without race director permission.