The USATF coaching education program provides educational opportunities, including continuing education units, for coaches of all levels. Benefits of coaching education include recognition as a USATF Level 1 Coach, an attractive completion certificate, curriculum book covering sport science and individual events, skills and knowledge covering all of the event disciplines in track and field, and eligibility to attend more advanced courses.
Coaches of track and cross-country – high school, youth, college and masters – will be interested in this program. Coaches of adult running clubs and triathlon coaches (worth 10 USAT CEU’s for USAT Certified Coaches) will also find this course of value. The National Council for Accreditation of Coaching has awarded this course NCACE Level 3 accreditation, which generally makes it eligible for continuing education credit for strength and conditioning coaches as well as medical (sports medicine specialists, trainers, massage therapists, etc.) and educational professionals
The USATF Coaching Education Level 1 course, as well as Levels 2 and 3, is composed of the following components:
Sport Science – Extensive instruction in sport science is covered in order to provide a scientific basis of understanding for rational development of technique and training programs. The sport science portion has been developed by the American Coaching Effectiveness Program (ACEP) and the USATF National Coaching Education Committee. It includes sport psychology, pedagogy and sports medicine.
Technical, Event-Specific Instruction – Throws, jumps, sprints/hurdles, and endurance events are all covered at the basic level in this school. Event-specific instruction is progressive in nature. Consequently, at Levels 2 and 3, each event is covered in greater depth and detail than at the previous level.
Hands-on Training – Experience is the best teacher. Minimum standards of practical experience are expected of participants at each level.
Developmental – Association-based, introductory course that offers a grassroots overview of the sport and coaching.
The USATF Coaching Education Level 1 program is intended as a starting point for coaches. One of the objectives of the Level 1 program is to put all coaches on common ground. Coursework covers all events in a rudimentary manner by emphasizing fundamentals, rules, safety/risk management, and instruction techniques. The Level 1 program prepares an individual to coach at a variety of levels. Coaches at all levels of track and field, cross-country, road running, as well as triathlon (course counts at 10 CEU’s for USAT-certified coaches), trail and ultra running will find this course of value.
Subsequent coaching education levels include more detailed study. The USATF Coaching Education Level 2 program offers more in-depth training in an event-specific group (sprints/hurdles/relays, endurance, jumps, throws, combined events). The Level 3 program offers a very high-level seminar structure educational experience in a specific event area.
The United States Sports Academy, in cooperation with USATF, provides CEU’s (regular and graduate), undergraduate, and graduate credit for USATF Coaching Education programs and clinics. Upon completion of the USATF Level 1 requirements, you can apply for CEU’s. They must be requested within one year of completion of your USATF Coaching Education school. There is an additional fee charged by the USSA.
For more information see http://www.usatf.org/groups/Coaches/education/.
