I think Ironman U is quite different from the launch of 70.3. At the time half IM was all but dead. There was Wildflower, St. Croix, and a few others but they were struggling. Olympic distance was the thing and maybe one would consider IM as a next step. WTC did well to see the opportunity there and took advantage to create a near monopoly on half IM races, rebrand as 70.3 and tie them into qualifying for full IM races and Kona.
Logical and effective.
Ironman U and a coaching cert is totally different. We already have USAT’s coaching cert over 3 levels. Then there’s a myriad of coaching, personal training, and higher level exercise science certs one can get in a variety of sports. There is no legal requirement for one to be certified in order to call themselves a coach and start charging people money for their services.
In triathlon specifically the coaching market is flooded, the certification market is adequate if not a bit simplistic at the lower levels, and there is no way for WTC to force IM athletes to use IM certified coaches. They will try to leverage athletes from WTC events to use IMU coaches, but how, legally, can they make it a requirement? The athlete is free to choose any coach they like.
I assume WTC will attempt to create a necessity in some way, but how? As a coach I see absolutely no value in the IMU certification. Plus I already paid USAT for certification which I resisted for many years, but at least I get insurance with it. Still, having USAT certification does nothing to promote me as a coach or more importantly highlight the fact that I have a degree in Exercise Phys, have been a pro triathlete for 16 years, and a pro athlete for 20, have trained with or under many of the best coaches and athletes in the world, and in the end have dedicated my life to this sport.
What I would be interested in is a certification or entity that would promote a coaches knowledge, experience, success, and philosophy. I don’t see this being WTC’s goal with IMU.
So, what I’m saying is, as a coach I don’t see any reason why I would want to get the IMU certification. I offers me nothing and they get my money. What’s the point?