USA Triathlon, IRONMAN U Collaborate on First-Ever Coaching Education Partnership

April 14, 2020

Certified coaches can now earn USA Triathlon Approved CEUs through IRONMAN U

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.— USA Triathlon and IRONMAN U today announced a first-of-its-kind partnership that will enable multisport coaches in the USA Triathlon Coaching Certification Program to earn USA Triathlon Approved Continuing Education Units (CEUs) by completing the IRONMAN U online coach certification course.

The USA Triathlon Coaching Certification Program was established in order to provide aspiring coaches with the tools to develop athletes effectively, help them set and reach their goals in multisport, and maintain safe environments for training and racing. The program also enables coaches nationwide to network and share best practices through in-person and online clinics and educational events. The USA Triathlon coach development pathway starts with an online learning course called Foundations of USA Triathlon Coaching, then progresses through increasingly advanced coach certifications to educate and support triathlon coaches of all levels.

IRONMAN U is a 100 percent online, interactive 11-module course that covers topics such as IRONMAN history and coaching philosophy; principles of exercise science; the science of swimming, cycling and running; sports nutrition; strength and conditioning; developing training plans; the art of coaching; event preparation and execution; and coaching business. The innovative online education and coaching certification platform offers instruction for coaches and endurance athletes of varying skills and abilities.

“USA Triathlon is proud to collaborate with IRONMAN U to offer a variety of coaching education pathways and expand the collective knowledge and expertise of coaches across multisport,” said Tim Yount, USA Triathlon Chief Sport Development Officer. “Through this partnership, coaches will be better able to earn recognition and credit for the time and investment they have put into their professional development. We are always looking for ways to provide our certified coaches with more opportunities to learn and grow to better serve their athletes and the broader triathlon community.”

The IRONMAN U certification will be worth 10 USA Triathlon Approved CEUs for USA Triathlon-certified coaches. Coaches recertify every two years. CEU requirements for USA Triathlon coaches vary based on certification level (I, II or III), but for Level I coaches, the requirement is 15 CEUs per two-year recertification cycle.

“The most valuable asset a coach has is their knowledge of the sport,” said Earl Walton, Global Director of Coaching and Training at The IRONMAN Group. “Working with USA Triathlon to create more opportunities for coaches to learn is critical to the success of our sport at every level. This is the first part of a more unified focus from USA Triathlon and IRONMAN to collaborate to build great coaching programs for triathlon coaches.”

USA Triathlon and IRONMAN are exploring a more expanded coaching education collaboration in the future, with an emphasis on providing mutual benefits for coaches across both platforms.

For more information about the USA Triathlon Coaching Certification Program, click here. To learn more about IRONMAN U, visit u.ironman.com. To find a triathlon coach for you based on specific expertise, location and level of certification, visit usatriathlon.org/findacoach.

About USA Triathlon

USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon and paratriathlon in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,300 events and connects with more than 400,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the ITU and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).

About The IRONMAN Group

The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® VR™ Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series®, IRONKIDS®, ITU World Triathlon Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and The Sun-Herald City2Surf® presented by Westpac, Ultra-Trail® World Tour events including Tarawera Ultra and Ultra-Trail Australia™, mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic®, road cycling events, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world and provides more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN® brand and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with more than 235 events across 50+ countries. For more information, visit www.ironman.com.

 – usatriathlon.org –