Announcements

USATF Coaching Education News & Notes

March 25, 2024

The USATF national office and USATF Coaching Education Executive Committee are excited to announce the following new courses and professional pathway program changes.

• https://www.usatf.org/programs/coaches/coaching-education

MODERNIZED USATF LEVEL 1 EXPERIENCE TO DEBUT IN THE SPRING

• The USATF Level 1 Program is evolving to a blended delivery format. In the new format, the sport science units will now be delivered in a self-paced online course before members complete the event-specific training live on Zoom or in person*, minimizing scheduled contact hours. The new experience will also feature updated lessons on athlete development models, instructional strategies, nutrition, insights from USATF National Team Coaches, and more.

*Available in select markets only

RETURN OF USATF DEVELOPMENTAL COACH PROGRAM TO COINCIDE WITH UPDATED USATF LEVEL 1 PROGRAM

• The perfect starting point for entry level coaches, volunteers, parents, and club administrators. The USATF Developmental Coach Program is a three-hour online training featuring “Positive Coaching”, “Ethics and Risk Management”, “Athlete Development, Growth, & Maturation”, and “Instructional Strategies for Skill Acquisition”. USATF Developmental Coach is valid for an initial term of two calendar years and can be upgraded to USATF Level 1 Track & Field Coach by enrolling in the bridge course prior to certificate expiration. The Level 1 bridge course contains the Level 1 Sport Science and event-specific training modules (separate registration fee applies).

NEW USATF MARATHON SPECIALIST COURSE DEBUTS APRIL 19-21, 2024

• Learn about the history, training science, critical workouts, strength programming, nutrition, environmental factors, race day and mental preparation strategies to develop a comprehensive training plan specific to athletes’ abilities and their marathon performance goals. Participants will also learn philosophy and tips from Olympic, World Championships, and World Marathon Major athletes and coaches during a panel discussion as part of the new 12-hour specialist course delivered on Zoom. Kathy Butler, OLY, Run Boulder AC and 2024 World Cross Country Senior Staff Women’s Coach, and Chris Lundstrom, PhD, Team Minnesota Elite Head Coach, who guided Dakotah Lindwurm to 3^rd place at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Marathon, serve as the lead course instructors. Register on the USATF Calendar of Schools.

USATF LEVEL 2 PROGRAM ANNOUNCES CHANGES AND UPDATED CURRICULUMS

• USATF Coaching Education will no longer seek individual program accreditation for the USATF Level 2 Program through the National Committee for Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE). While re-accreditation for the USATF Level 2 Program was initially pursued, the recently revised accreditation standards presented a substantial burden to USATF members seeking to earn their USATF Level 2 certificate and upheaval to the USATF Professional Pathway/CECS. USATF Coaching Education proudly maintained two dually NCACE accredited programs from 2017-2023, with the USATF Level 1 Program originally earning accreditation in 2012, and re-accreditation in 2020. However, member coach needs, and evolving programming with greater autonomy are paramount concerns. Moving forward, USATF Coaching Education will place a greater emphasis on the newly revised USOPC Quality Coaching Framework, releasing NGB specific American Development Model (ADM) resources, and exploring new programs for increasing mentorship opportunities and fostering connections amongst coaches.
  • With this decision, the following USATF Level 2 Program changes will also be implemented:
    • The field experience assignment, added in fall 2022, is eliminated for all Level 2 participants effective immediately.
    • Years of track and field, cross country, club, or personal run coach experience has been lowered to two (2) years from three (3) years, effective immediately.
    • Effective January 1, 2025, all USATF Level 2 certificates will be valid for a period of eight calendar years, expiring on December 31. Level 3 certificate holders will be exempt from Level 2 recertification. A listing of approved courses for recertification will be forthcoming.
• Announcing updated USATF Level 2 curriculums:
  • The USATF Level 2 Combined Events program will return summer 2024 following completion of a curriculum update by project team members, R. Craig Poole, Chris Richardson, and Richie Mercado.
  • The USATF Level 2 Youth Specialization discipline has been renamed to Under-20 (U20) and curriculum updated by Dr. Matt Lydum. The updated curriculum is set to debut at the summer 2024 USATF Level 2 School, along with additional instructors.
  • The USATF Level 2 Endurance discipline was updated by a project team of Kathy Butler, Dave Mills, and Scott Christensen, and debuted in summer 2023.
• The next USATF Level 2 School will be July 9-13, 2024, Indianapolis, IN. Applications will open soon on the USATF Calendar of Schools.

USATF INSTRUCTOR TRAINING COURSE (ITC) RETURNS IN 2024

• The Instructor Training Course (ITC) is the pathway to becoming a USATF Level 1 Instructor and recruiting a new cohort. Applicants should have completed two Level 2 event disciplines prior to applying or at least one USATF Level 3 or World Athletics Academy event discipline, hold at least eight years of coaching experience, and must be a member of the USATF Coaches Registry. Prior public speaking experience and advanced degree/training in a sports science discipline is preferred. ITC will be offered May 7 - July 8, 2024, in a hybrid format, with the first eight weeks in an online environment and culminating in a day of in person instruction in Indianapolis, IN. Seats are limited to 16 participants and early application is advised. Apply now on the USATF Calendar of Schools.

USATF JOINS MILLION COACHES CHALLENGE PROVIDING FREE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL SKILLS TRAINING (ONLINE)

• A good coach can change everything. While most coaches recognize the key role, they play in promoting youth development and social and emotional skills, they often don’t feel supported in doing so. The Million Coaches Challenge aims to train one million coaches in youth development techniques by 2025. USATF members, fans, parents, and supporters can access the three 30-minute training for free on the USOPC platform.
• Modules include:
  • Module 1: Making the Connection
  • Module 2: Connecting with my Athletes
  • Module 3: The Power of Your Presence
• Coaches that hold a USATF Level 1 certificate expiring in 2024 can complete and utilize the courses as their renewal course (must complete all three modules).

NEW E-LEARNING PLATFORM SET TO RE-LAUNCH AND INTEGRATE WITH SPORT:80

• USATF Campus courses have been reformatted and will now be delivered on a new platform within their Sport80 profile. The new platform features single sign on (SSO), matching members Sport80 login credentials, and will instantly push USATF course completion data to their Sport80 profile under Coach Certifications. A previous or current USATF membership number is required to access the course catalog/resources. 

Learn more about each program under Programs – Coaches - Coaching Education on USATF.org.