USATF COACHING EDUCATION
USATF CALENDAR OF SCHOOLS
https://www.usatf.org/programs/coaches/calendar-of-schools
Cross Country and Marathon Specialist Course summer dates are coming soon.
- April 18-19 USATF Level 1 Event Specific Training – Zoom (Pacific Time)
- May 16-17 USATF Level 1 Event Specific Training – Zoom (Central Time)
- June 1-3 USATF Level 1 Event Specific Training – Zoom (Central Time)
- June 19-20 USATF Level 1 Event Specific Training – Zoom (Pacific Time)
- July 7-10 USATF Level 2 School – Hybrid – TBA
- July 10-12 USATF Level 1 Event Specific Training – Zoom (Eastern Time)
- July 22-24 USATF Level 1 Event Specific Training – Zoom (Central Time)
- August 15-16 USATF Level 1 Event Specific Training – Zoom (Pacific Time)
FUNDING YOUR FUTURE: THE EMERGING FEMALE COACHING GRANT
To support the professional growth of women in the sport, the USATF Emerging Female Grant provides a pathway to enhance coaching knowledge with significant financial assistance. This grant covers up to the full tuition and associated room and board costs for a variety of qualifying programs, including Level 1, 2, and 3 Schools, the Marathon and Cross Country Specialist courses, and the Podium Coaches Camp.
Eligible applicants must be female track and field coaches with current USATF membership and SafeSport training. Applications are reviewed on the first business day of each month until funds are depleted, so early submission is strongly encouraged. Successful recipients will receive notification via email with instructions on how to claim their reimbursement or promo code. Please note that grants cannot be deferred and members are limited to one grant per calendar year.
https://www.usatf.org/programs/coaches/grants/emerging-female-coaching-grant
ELITE MENTORSHIP AT THE 2026 USATF OUTDOOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
For coaches looking to break into the elite tiers of the sport, the National Championships Mentorship Grant offers an unparalleled “behind the scenes” look at the 2026 USATF Outdoor Championships in New York City. Up to eight coaches will be selected to shadow elite mentors from July 23–26, gaining insight into competition strategies, mental preparation, and real-time coaching adjustments.
Recipients receive a registered coach credential and travel assistance. To qualify, applicants must be current head or assistant coaches with at least five years of experience, including having coached an athlete to a major championship (such as USATF Outdoors, U20s, NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, or Nike Outdoor Nationals) within the last five years. All applicants must be members of the USATF Coaches Registry. The deadline to apply is May 31, 2026, and candidates may not shadow events in which they have a competing athlete.
https://www.usatf.org/programs/coaches/grants/national-championship-mentorship-grant
MODERNIZING SPORT SCIENCE: NEW AND RECENTLY UPDATED CEU COURSES
USATF’s online catalog continues to evolve with the launch of the updated Level 2 Sport Science course. This essential prerequisite for the Level 2 Program has been remastered into a streamlined, single-platform experience. The new format features eight units—each containing approximately two hours of content—and replaces individual discussion posts with a single, comprehensive final exam. Enroll now to get a jump start on attending the July or December Level 2 Event Specific Schools.
Coaches can also enroll in the new asynchronous course, A Multi-Dimensional Approach to Skill Development in
Youth Athletes. For a $89.00 registration fee, this six-hour program uses brain-based coaching and biomechanics to help coaches move beyond rote drills. The goal is to create high-performance environments where athletes “own” their movements and develop the resilience needed to thrive under pressure.
A current USATF membership is required to enroll in all free and paid CEU courses.
Full Catalog and CEU Hour Rating (* indicates new or recently updated)
- Coaching Race Walking* (6) – $89
- A Multi-Dimensional Approach to Skill Development* (6) – $89
- Energy Systems and Biomotor Abilities for Optimal Performance (4)
- The Athlete’s Strength and Power* (4) – $69
- Reactive Strength: The Fundamentals* (4) – $69
- Reactive Strength: Advanced Concepts* (4) – $69
- Physiology for Long Term Athlete Development (4) – $69
- Understanding Acute Fatigue in Training and Competition (4) – $69
- Basic Principles of Training Design* (4) – $69
- Advanced Principles of Training Design* (4) – $69
- Basic Principles of Sprinting* (4) – $69
- Basic Principles of Long Jump (4) – $69
- Basic Principles of Endurance Training (2) – $49
- Motor Learning and Effective Coach Communication* (2) – $49
- USADA Coach’s Advantage (1) – FREE
- KT Tape for Coaches (N/A) – FREE
IMPORTANT: The new CEU rating is an important detail to note for USATF Level 1 coaches as a minimum of eight CEU hours is now required to maintain their certificate. In the expiring year, Level 1 certificate holders will provide a transcript (Skills Passport) of the number of CEU hours obtained.
https://www.usatf.org/programs/coaches/continuing-education-unit-ceu-courses
Stay Championship Ready: 2026 USATF Coach Credentialing Reminders
As the outdoor season kicks off, coaches are encouraged to verify their status in the USATF Coaches Registry to ensure credentialing eligibility. Key dates on the horizon include the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships in Eugene, OR (June 18–19), USATF National Youth Outdoor Championships in Huntsville, AL (June 24–27), and the USATF Outdoor Championships in New York, NY (July 23–26).
Maintaining eligibility requires a current USATF membership, current US Center for SafeSport training (required every 365 days) and NCSI Background Screening (valid for two years), along with a current Coach Certification (Education Standard). Because screenings can take up to 10 business days to process, coaches should check their USATF Connect profile well in advance of competition dates. If you use a non-USATF certification to meet the education standard, you must upload proper documentation (e.g. certificate of completion, results link, verification letter from human resources) to your USATF Connect profile before approval. USATF members can review all accepted courses and frequently asked questions at the link below.
https://www.usatf.org/programs/coaches/coaches-registry
THE DIGITAL UB: MAKING USATF CAMPUS YOUR NEW TECHNICAL HOME
USATF Campus has become a definitive resource for technical information, offering everything from archived Track
Coach articles to original performance content from Orlando Health, TrueSport, and USATF instructors, along with special features such as USATF Fantasy Pick’em and World Rankings insights. The platform features sophisticated laboratory tools, such as the USATF Acceleration Calculator developed by Dr. Ken Clark, which models the critical first eight steps out of the starting blocks. The laboratory also boasts calculators for World Athletics Rankings, age-grading, combined events scoring, and field event mark conversion tables.
Beyond performance calculators and articles (library), the Campus offers exclusive webinars and podcasts. Coaches should mark their calendars for the upcoming session, “From Question to Insight: A Practical Sports Science Approach for Coaches,” on May 6, 2026, at 8 PM ET.
While currently in a free preview period for all users, coaches can also sign up for the biweekly newsletter to stay informed on the latest technical updates and the weekly “test your knowledge” games.
