just out of curiousity i googled triathlon coaching certifiacation and numerous different kinds showed up. some you can get through a serious of test done over the internet and some like USAT you have to pay over 500 bucks and go to a 3day seminar some where in the country and take a test at the end. To me it seemed that these certifications dont teach you how to coach but only give you a cert that allows you to coach. Is there a difference between them and is one better than the other. I figured that the way someone coaches is through what they have learned through there experiences, not from a 3day class or a book online. any thoughs on this or what cert is better. thanks guys
I just went through one of the three day USAT sessions you mention and I got a lot out of it. The quality of the presenters was top notch. How many times are you going to get a first hand running clinic from Bobby McGee? Or nurtition advice from the same guy who works with the US Olympic team, Bob Seebohar. The take away coaching manual is well done and will be something I will return to often. More importantly I found the networking with the other coaches in class during meals and after hours was a lot of fun and I learned a lot about their different coaching styles and we had good conversations.
The level 1 certification is not a difficult process but it is more of a stepping stone. It shows you are committed and provides some level of validity to the outside world that you are pursuing coaching seriously. I think you really get into the meat and potatoes at USAT level 2, something you have to have a greater amount of coaching experinece to even sit for the class or the exam.
The certification bandwagon is growing as the sport grows, just like the multitude of personal training certifications you can now get. Some are more respected than others. I think USAT is more respected than other providers at this point in time. The deamnd is really high. The level 1 class in Walnut Creek, CA in December sold out online faster than every Ironman this past year that went to the net (15 minutes).
I also plan to get my USA cycling level 3 certification next month, it’s a written exam that you mail in too, but it is the first step in moving up the ladder and everyone has to do it.
Good luck on your coaching, hope it goes well.
Dave
Dave
I don’t know the details of different coaching certifications but a couple of thoughts
-if you click on websites for some of the respected coaches around here you will find they all have USAT certifications
-if you are trying to design a training program for someone it is helpful to have a knowledge of exercise science and how the body adapts to physiological stress. Could you tell me, if I gave you a workout, what energy systems it’s using? what’s going to happen to mitochondria, capillary density, vo2 max, blood lactate levels in it? do you know what all those words are? 
etc. just being able to answer those questions doesn’t guarantee you will be a good coach - I have an exercise science degree, which means I can spit exercise physiology facts for you off the top of my head rather well… does not mean I know how to coach.
-my college actually has a class called “principles of coaching” - you do not get any certification from it, but there is something to be learned about coaching in seminars, classes, etc.
-maybe you should PM some of the coaches on this forum and ask about the USAT certification and how valuable they feel it is
-as much as the exercise science bit is important coaching seems to involve a fair bit of psychology too…
-“To me it seemed that these certifications dont teach you how to coach but only give you a cert that allows you to coach.” – you can coach without any certifications. I have a running friend who coaches a couple of other runners in our club - he has no coaching certifications (he’s doing the “learned from experience” thing like you seem to want to do, for some people this might work, others ??? more knowledge is always good though)
-even HS level coaches have to go through some sort of training process
That’s all I can think of right now.
Certification is the first step in becoming a coach for many. What does it mean, not much really…
of all the great coach i know, most of then…90% dont have a usat certification. I sure would never care about usat qualification in choosing a coach. First, They might have another country certification, or none at all. It s simply dosnt mean much.
Coaching is about experience and results. That is the kind of things you cant get over a weekend and cant quantify in qualification level… coach that have all kind of athletes performe at all races over all distance are the top dog.
The only great coach i know that as a USAT paper must be Brian stover… and i m pretty sure he did it out of necessity, not sure he got anything out of it in a weekend.
ANY coaching cert is simply a baseline. I went through the USAT program several years ago & found it a good foundational piece but all coaches need to gain knowledge. I’d be more inclined to hire a coach who went through the USAT program, US Swimming USCF & a degree in exercise sci, nutrition, psychology, etc. Writing workouts is simple compared to fitting athletes on bikes, working with medical concerns & so forth.
If you look at personal trainers, obtaining a “certification” is often as easy as making sure the check doesn’t bounce. Let the buyer beware…