To further elevate the professional credibility of the USATF Coaches Registry and its members, USATF established the Education Standard for qualification into the USATF Coaches Registry (effective January 1, 2019). The Education Standard provides for a baseline standard of professional education or coaching accomplishment in the sport of track and field for coaches seeking admission to the Registry. By establishing a baseline standard of professional education or coaching experience, the Education Standard aligns with the best practices for professional certifications in other fields, within the coaching industry at large, and with licensing protocols of other Olympic family national governing bodies. The Education Standard is a one-time requirement, subject to any applicable recertification requirements of the respective course of education. Once a coach has met the Education Standard, he or she has fulfilled the requirement for as long as the coach is part of the Registry.
All coaches seeking to complete verification of the Education Standard of the USATF Coaches Registry must submit verification of completed/applicable qualification under “Coach Certifications” on USATF Connect. Coaches must be USATF 3-Step Safe Sport Compliant prior to submitting their qualification on their USATF Connect profile.
There are two different paths to meet the Educational Standard for the Coaches Registry:
Complete any one of the following options:
Developmental Coach Program now with NFHS Coaching Track and Field built in
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Cross Country Specialist Course
Marathon Specialist Course
Emerging Elite Coaches Camp
NFHS Level 2 or 3 Coach*
Sport-Specific course of choice must be Coaching Cross Country or Coaching Track & Field
Excluded USTFCCCA courses: Strength and Conditioning (310), Speed Specialist Certification (321), Program Management (402), Test and Measurements (403), Meet Management for the Track & Field Coach (404), Sports Psychology for the Track & Field Coach (405), Injury Management for the Track & Field Coach (406).
Certificate of completion for any of the above courses serves as verification of Education Standard. Certificate must be current to be recognized and submitted under Coach Certifications on your USATF Connect profile.
Demonstrate any one of the following:
World Athletics World Indoor and Outdoor Championships
World Athletics U18 Championships
World Athletics U20 Championships
World Athletics Continental Cup
World Athletics World Cross Country Championships
World Athletics World Race Walking Team Championships
World Athletics World Half Marathon Championship
World Athletics World Relays
Primary coach of record of a top three placer at NCAA, NJCAA, or NAIA Championships for cross country, indoor or outdoor track (credential, link to result and verification letter from Athletic Director or Director of TF/CC must be uploaded to application).
Member of an international coaching staff selected by USATF over the last 5 Olympic quadrennials
National Coach of the Year for USATF or USOPC.
USTFCCCA National Head or Assistant Coach of the Year for men's or women's (NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA) cross country, indoor or outdoor track & field.
Employment as a head or assistant track coach at a scholastic, collegiate institution or USATF registered/approved club for a 10-year period verified by employer human resources department.
The USATF National Office staff will provide oversight of all components of the Coaches Registry. An oversight subcommittee from the Coaches Advisory Committee will review and evaluate any issue with a coach's education standard. For more information, contact coachesregistry.verifications@usatf.org.