Youth, Junior & U23 Development
USA Triathlon High School Recruitment Program...
Youth Triathlon
USA Triathlon is committed to increasing youth access to multisport and offers a variety of programs and resources to help young athletes get involved in triathlon, develop their skills and achieve their goals. With programs and resources for all ability levels, we are here to support young athletes throughout their multisport journey.
Get Started #
A great way for children to begin their multisport journey is the Splash and Dash Youth Aquathlon Series, featured in more than 50 events across the country annually. Aquathlons greatly reduce the barrier to entry to multisport as no bike is required.
The next step for many children is to find a local youth race, such as a triathlon or duathlon. USA Triathlon’s youth and junior season culminates annually with the Youth and Junior National Championships. This event is open to athletes aged 7-15 of all capabilities and also features Elite races that require qualification.
Youth Events#
Youth State Series
Learn MoreUSA Triathlon supports youth races and clubs across the country that give youth athletes the opportunity to get involved in the sport of triathlon.
Youth & Junior Nationals at USAT Nationals
Learn More, opens in a new tabJuly 13-14 West Des Moines, Iowa
**This link is for the youth age-group race where qualification is not required. Draft-legal race registration is not open yet and will be open closer to the event date. Please look back for more information on registration for the draft-legal race.
Multisport Basics
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Youth Programs#
Membership Program
USA Triathlon and the USA Triathlon Foundation launched a youth scholarship program to increase youth participation in multisport and remove barriers for underserved youth. The Foundation donates one youth digital membership for every adult membership purchased or renewed. Help reach deserving youth with these digital memberships by sharing the application form with eligible candidates, including youth and junior triathletes.
American Development Model
Overview of the USA Triathlon American Development Model The American Development Model (ADM) is a concerted effort between the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and its National Governing Bodies of sport to apply long-term athlete d...
Youth Resources#
Youth and Junior Recommended Distances
Which distances should youth multisport athletes complete? It depends on their age and athlete status.
Glossary of Triathlon Terms
You love to swim, bike and run, but all the triathlon vocabulary can be confusing! Aquathlon, T1, bricks — what do these multisport words mean? Check out the definitions of these key triathlon terms to help prepare for the new season.Aerobars: Bike han...
Try These Fun Triathlon Workouts for Kids
Coaching youth sports can be a challenging task in this digital age. Constant stimulation and quick information is the norm for kids today, which can make it difficult to keep today’s youth interested and excited about sports.As triathlon coaches, we h...
How Exercise Can Help You Do Better in School
There is a common misconception that athletics distract kids from their academic work, but the opposite is actually true. Athletic programs don’t cause kids to fall behind. Instead, athletics teach kids to work hard and always try their best, reducing ...
6 Tips To Prepare for Your Best Season Yet
This article originally appeared in USA Triathlon Kids magazine. Here are six tips from USA Triathlon Certified Coaches to improve your fitness and stay healthy during the offseason. 1. Get strong. You don’t have to go to a gym to do strength training....
VIDEO: 5 Exercises for the Offseason
Ready to start the 2017 triathlon season stronger than ever? Add these five simple bodyweight exercises to your offseason training, two to three times a week. Do each exercise to moderate fatigue. “The exercises should be slow and controlled with a foc...
Kids Bike Maintenance
As athletes, we have to take good care of our bodies so we can stay healthy and do great on race day. Our bikes are a lot like our bodies – we have to take care of them so they can do great on race day, too! Even as kids, we can learn how to keep our b...
Proper Youth Race Distances
In the sport of triathlon, we are blessed to have a variety of races that are available to us both in type and in duration. With this level of variety comes some level of confusion not for ourselves but for our children and/or the kids we train. It doe...
Play With Your Food
As a young, active triathlete, it’s important to have a balanced diet with foods that contain a variety of vitamins and minerals. Food is your fuel, and eating before and after physical activity will help you maintain energy, avoid feeling sluggish and...
Youth Guide
Read the Guide (PDF), opens in a new tabUSA Triathlon's Youth Guide covers various youth events and programs with articles providing information for both youth athletes and their parents. The guide includes basic information about multisport, tips for getting to the next level, and more.
Note: Additional precautions should be taken for participants under the age of 7 or those less experienced with swimming.
Project Play
Learn More, opens in a new tabAs a parent, you want sports to be a great experience for your child. These checklists make it easy to ensure that happens. Based on the Aspen Institute's report, they provide 10-point checklists tailored to your child's age and activity level. Ask these questions of your child, yourself, and local programs to build an athlete for life.
Keeping Multisport Safe #
USA Triathlon has zero tolerance for abuse and misconduct, both on the race course and off it. We work with the U.S. Center for SafeSport to provide training to help protect athletes that several members of the multisport community must complete, including coaches, officials, race directors and more.