Area of Focus
Area of Focus courses are a single day coaching course that diving dive deeper into one of four core areas:
- Short Course
- Long Course
- Youth and Junior
- Paratriathlon
Coaches must take a minimum of one area of focus for recertification. The first area of focus course will not gain a coach any Continuing Education Units (CEUs), but any additional area of focus courses taken will provide five USAT CEUs. Areas of Focus will also be used as a pre-requisite for any further advancement in the coaching pathway. For example, if a coach wanted to take a Level II Short Course Certification, I they would need to have taken the Short Course Area of Focus from Level I. All courses will build upon each other moving forward.
Area of Focus and Specialization ScheduleNotes:
- New coaches who certified after Jan. 1, 2021, have 24 months to complete their Area of Focus at a cost of $150. After the 24-month deadline has passed, the price for their area of focus will increase to $199.
- Coaches who lapse on their recertification will be required to take an Area of Focus at a cost of $150 in order to remain in the program and in good standing.
- All current USA Triathlon Certified Coaches who certified prior to January 1, 2021, were defaulted to the Level I Short Course Area of Focus. Coaches who meet this qualification do not need to take an Area of Focus for 2021 recertification. However, if you do take an Area of Focus, you will earn five USAT CEUs.
Level I Areas of Focus#
The following courses will fulfil the Area of Focus requirement for Level I recertification.
The Short Course Area of Focus prepares coaches to work with Sprint and Olympic-distance athletes in both non-drafting and draft-legal environments. Our expert USA Triathlon presenters will drill down on power-based training for the bike: bike fitting for coaches and dig in on training load principles for short course athletes.
The Long Course Area of Focus is designed to prepare coaches to work with half and full distance athletes. Our expert USA Triathlon presenters will focus on specific long course racing and training requirements for athletes. Beyond the necessary coaching skills, this course includes swim video analysis, swim specific coaching considerations, training load principles and much more!
The Paratriathlon Area of Focus is designed to give a coach the tools to train and manage paratriathletes safely and effectively. Our expert USA Triathlon presenters will provide coaches with information on rules and classification, athlete pathways, swim bike and run modifications, and periodization.
The Youth and Junior Area of Focus is designed to educate coaches how to train youth athletes safely and effectively throughout their developmental stages and stresses the importance of learning proper skills, healthy exercise habits and having fun. This course follows the American Development Model (ADM) and provides coaches with specialized youth coaching skills and drills, age-appropriate training regimes, physiological and nutritional considerations, and basic training techniques to develop lifelong success.
Level II Specialization Clinics#
To take a Level II Specialization Clinic, you must have competed the corresponding Level I Area of Focus course.
The Level II Short Course Specialization is designed to prepare coaches to work with developing elite and junior ITU level athletes. The course focuses on specific ITU style race requirements for athletes and covers performance based nutrition, mental skills, key components of training plans and specific workouts in all three disciplines as well as recovery techniques, ITU and World Ranking points systems and much more. This multiday clinic requires coaches to demonstrate hands-on coaching skills, ATP presentation knowledge and a high level of comprehension of high performance short course race preparation and execution.
The Level II Long Course Specialization is designed to prepare coaches to work with higher level long course athletes. The course focuses on specific long course style race requirements for athletes and covers long course specific nutrition, key components of training plans and specific workouts in all three disciplines as well as what it takes to become a top long course athlete from a mental and physical standpoint and much more. This multiday clinic requires coaches to demonstrate hands-on coaching skills, ATP presentation knowledge and a high level of comprehension of high performance long course race preparation and execution.
Are you a coach who wants to work effectively and confidently with paratriathletes? With the debut of Paratriathlon in the 2016 Rio Paralympics and the four medals earned by USA Paratriathletes, there is building interest in paratriathlon from both athletes and coaches. For the coach, working with paratriathletes can strengthen problem solving skills, broaden experience, offer new challenges, and provide many rewards. This course will take an in-depth look at the sport of Paratriathlon, the athletes, the different competition categories, training adaptations, equipment, and racing rules.
USA Triathlon’s Youth and Junior Level II Specialization is designed to educate current USA Triathlon Certified Coaches on how to train youth and junior athletes safely and effectively throughout their developmental stages and through the USA Triathlon High Performance pipeline. This clinic provides coaches with information on specialized coaching skills and drills, age appropriate training regimes and testing protocols, physiological and nutritional considerations, draft legal racing, and basic training techniques to develop successful athletes. This clinic will also touch on opportunities within collegiate triathlon and USA Triathlon High Performance teams.