This is a multi-level question and I think most of the points have been hit.
However, I think there is one point that was not. That would be the facilities needed to house a full on training program and organization from individuals across clubs.
USAT has their USA Triathlon’s Certified Training and Performance Centers:
Philadelphia is supposedly the 5th largest city, by population, in the country and I cannot think of a place that would have all of these amenities to qualify/meet the standards needed. I am really trying to think about what would be required to start an economically viable business that gives you access to all that you need to essentially house a team in one location and make is successful.
What does a youth triathlon program do? what does a high school team do? what does a collegiate team do? what does an adult club do?
For as big as triathlon seems to be in the Philly/South Jersey/Delaware region you would think clubs could come together to make something happen. But I don't know...the money is with the age groupers and perhaps college students who can use their student loan money to pay for some of this...as well as universities and perhaps hospitals associated with those universities.
Here is how I see most things breaking down.
Youth Programs:
High School:
Adult Club:
But how do you get the community to come together to be able to make this economically viable to function as one club, one family. Do you found a Drexel, Temple, U Penn, La Salle co-op? Do you have those teams mentor the youth and high school athletes and the high school athletes mentor the youth? Where do the age groupers fit in?
There is power in organization...but in such an individual sports, where the money is with the people that seem to have the least amount of time, how?
However, I think there is one point that was not. That would be the facilities needed to house a full on training program and organization from individuals across clubs.
USAT has their USA Triathlon’s Certified Training and Performance Centers:
Philadelphia is supposedly the 5th largest city, by population, in the country and I cannot think of a place that would have all of these amenities to qualify/meet the standards needed. I am really trying to think about what would be required to start an economically viable business that gives you access to all that you need to essentially house a team in one location and make is successful.
What does a youth triathlon program do? what does a high school team do? what does a collegiate team do? what does an adult club do?
For as big as triathlon seems to be in the Philly/South Jersey/Delaware region you would think clubs could come together to make something happen. But I don't know...the money is with the age groupers and perhaps college students who can use their student loan money to pay for some of this...as well as universities and perhaps hospitals associated with those universities.
Here is how I see most things breaking down.
Youth Programs:
- Youth swim club
- USA Road Runners or school team
- Bike when you can
High School:
- High School Swim Team
- High School Track & Cross Country
- Bike when you can
- Tri-Clubs really start to pull in athletes from the above that are not good enough at any one sport to compete in college.
- Organized club swim
- Track workouts with the club
- Group rides start to happen on roads
Adult Club:
- Individual coaching in any discipline
- Masters swimming
- Bike Trainer and Weekend Rides
- Run training when you can
- Club OWS, Bricks, & Track work
But how do you get the community to come together to be able to make this economically viable to function as one club, one family. Do you found a Drexel, Temple, U Penn, La Salle co-op? Do you have those teams mentor the youth and high school athletes and the high school athletes mentor the youth? Where do the age groupers fit in?
There is power in organization...but in such an individual sports, where the money is with the people that seem to have the least amount of time, how?