Step out onto the track as a certified coach.
Coaching track and field is a challenging activity. There are running, throwing and jumping events. Some races are short, others are long. Learning the skills to be able to coach the events in track and field often is overlooked by coaches. Many coaches in the sport were former track and field athletes. If you want to be a head coach or coach at the high school level or beyond, becoming a certified track and field coach will show prospective employers, athletes and their parents that you are serious about your coaching skills.
USA Track and Field
USA Track and Field is the governing body of track and field in the United States. Its members start at the youth level, at age 5, and go all the way through to masters, which is anyone older than 35. It also has elite athletes as members and coaches and track and field officials. USATF offers several certification programs through its continuing education division.
Developmental Certification
USATF has a coaching education program at the developmental level. It is designed for beginning coaches or volunteers at any level. It is a good choice for parents who want to become coaches of an age-group team, new coaches and other volunteers.
The development certification covers what the responsibilities of a coach are and an overview of training at different age levels. It also prepares coaches for safety/risk management at practices and meets and teaches the overall concepts of track and field.
This 4-hour course can be used as a introduction to other certifications. With all of the certification programs, participants must be 18 years old.
Level I
Level I school is considered a starting point for junior high, high school, club and age-group coaches. One of the objectives is to have all coaches speak the same language, which gives everyone a common ground.
All of the different events in track and field are covered in a way that rules, fundamentals, safety and instructional techniques are covered.
Level I is a 211/2-hour program with extensive classroom and hands-on learning. The 2 1/2-day program is held in various locations throughout the United States.
Upon completion of the course, an online test must be taken to receive certification.
Level 2 and Level 3 Certifications
Level 2 offers much more advanced and in-depth knowledge in one event group. Sports science and training principles are covered in specific areas such as sprints, long distance, jumps or throws. To attend a Level 2 school, a coach must have completed Level I certification and have at least three years of coaching experience.
USATF now offers a general Level 2 course and one designed specifically for coaches who work at the youth level and have many more beginner athletes.
Level 3 is open to anyone who would like to attend scientific seminars. An objective is to give coaches comprehensive knowledge in a specific event group. The information is cutting edge scientific knowledge for a coach who would like to coach at the national or international level. Like Level 2, Level 3 courses are event-group specific.
To earn a Level 3 coach certification, a participant must have 10 years of coaching experience and have passed a Level 2 school, taken at least three Level 3 seminars and have a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree. They must also have coached at least one athlete at the elite level and are required to submit a technical article specifically for the coaching certification.
Both Level 2 and Level 3 programs are offered in the summer and are weeklong courses.
Earning Credits for Certifications and Other Training
The United States Sports Academy (USSA ) offers continuing education credits, both regular and graduate, for USATF coaching clinics and certifications. USSA is an accredited nonprofit sports university that offers programs in instruction research and service.
Its primary role is to prepare people for careers in sports professions. Continuing education credits are valuable to teachers as part of their postgraduate education requirements.
Other recommended certifications that often are required are CPR/AED and First Aid. A track and field coach is responsible for young athletes and should be prepared to react to any situation that might arise during a practice or a meet.
Tags: track field, Level Level, Level school, track field, United States, certification programs, coaching experience