New 2025 Coaching Education and Certification Structure
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by USA Triathlon
Based on 2024 value proposition workshops, extensive feedback from the National Coaching Commission, USA Triathlon Staff, and numerous coaches at all levels and coupled with the guiding ideas outlined below, USA Triathlon we will be implementing changes to our current coaching certification program throughout the first half of 2025.
Current Program Overview and Challenges #
The existing program consists of five levels when viewed from a structured pathway perspective. This model (above) has evolved, adding complexity to accommodate coaches' growing needs for knowledge specialization and vertical educational advancement. This complexity has created limitations and no longer fits the dynamic needs of the triathlon and multisport coaching community. After the review process, the team identified several key challenges:
1. Complex Structure: The program's complexity makes it difficult for coaches to navigate and explain their certifications to athletes.
2. Limited Choice: The current system offers minimal options for advancement, requiring coaches to progress vertically regardless of their coaching aspirations or specialties.
3. Insufficient Engagement Between Courses: The lack of interaction between certification levels has resulted in minimal engagement between coaches and USA Triathlon, limiting community building and direct communication opportunities.
4. CEU Relevance: The current requirement of 8 USA Triathlon Official CEUs and 4 additional CEUs (Adjunct, Institutional, or USA Triathlon official) per two-year recertification period has been criticized for limited choices and often limited benefits to coach development.
5. Limited Horizontal Growth: The exclusively vertical structure doesn't recognize time or experience at individual levels, forcing vertical progression for professional development.
The New Coaching Education Structure #
The revised coaching education structure addresses these challenges while maintaining the highest educational standards.
The new 4-level structure includes a simplified vertical pathway from Associate Coach -> Level I -> Level II and finally Level III. The number of coaches at each level will form a pyramid shape with coaches being able to start at either Associate Coach or Level I and progress vertically over a minimum 7-year progression.
- USA Triathlon Associate Coach - 6-hour online entry-level certification focusing on triathlon fundamentals and safety protocols. This course is designed for new coaches looking to work alongside more experienced coaches.
- USA Triathlon Level I Coach - 12-hour online certification preparing coaches to work with first-time triathletes and athletes competing across all distances at a beginner to intermediate performance level, providing standardized training plans and basic technique analysis.
- USA Triathlon Level II Coach - Advanced certification emphasizing periodization, sports science, and athlete psychology, focused on experienced age group athletes, performance athletes and those athletes with more difficult programming requirements (work/life balance, previous injuries, difficult schedules etc.) over all distances.
- USA Triathlon Level III Coach - Master-level certification traditionally held by coaches with advanced backgrounds in exercise sports science and high-performance coaching experience. Coaches at this level have the highest levels of theoretical and sport-specific knowledge while having 10-15 years of high-level coaching background.
Horizontal Pathway #
The new structure introduces bundled CEUs that can be taken individually or grouped into Course Specific Specializations.
Example: If you are a Level I Coach looking to fulfill your Official USA Triathlon CEU recertification requirements, you can either take 8 CEUs from several different topics, or take a bundle of courses to receive a particular specialization. If you have already completed USA Triathlon Areas of Focus (AOF), there is no need to worry, as your certification will be recognized. Current AOF certification will transition to Specializations. e.g.
- Level I Long Course AOF becomes Level 1 Specialization in Long Course
- Level II Long Course AOF becomes Level 2 Specialization in Long Course
New specialization options that will be available soon include:
- Coaching Business Management
- Women's Specific Coaching
- Athlete Physiological Testing
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- NCAA Coaching
The first specialization courses will launch in 2025, with regular additions throughout the year. Courses can be completed as a block or individual CEUs over time based on each coach's needs and time frame.
Quality Assurance and Community Engagement #
To maintain high standards, we're introducing a "USA Triathlon Certified Presenter and Mentor" course for Level II and Level III coaches. This program enables qualified coaches to assist in the development and delivery of USA Triathlon content. It will also certify them to create and provide Adjunct CEU content in accordance with USA Triathlon third party CEU guidelines. These Certified Coaches will also become critical to our upcoming USA Triathlon Mentorship Program, launching in 2025.
Next Steps #
Coaches will start to receive invitations to an online coaching forum, aligned with their current coaching certification level for the end of January. These monthly meetings, which have already proved successful with our Level III coaches, will provide an opportunity for updates on coaching education program developments and create opportunities for feedback and peer interaction. Specific dates and meeting invitations will be in the email and will be recorded should coaches be unable to attend.
As USA Triathlon continues to improve our Education Program to provide the best education content and ongoing support for the development of USA Triathlon Certified Coaches, we welcome your feedback, critiques and support as we move forward together.
