USA Triathlon (USAT) plans to invest more than US$100,000 to increase opportunities and access for current and prospective youth athletes across the multisport community through its 2022 Return to Racing Youth Stimulus Package.
The 2022 Return to Racing Youth Stimulus Package includes:
- Free youth event sanctioning
- Free youth clinic sanctioning
- Free registration for youth clubs
- 10 free youth memberships for every youth sanctioned race and youth club
- Expansion of Youth Scholarship Program
“Children across the country have been adversely impacted by the pandemic in myriad ways and it is imperative we do our part in 2022 to help them to continue to get back to participating in sports with their friends in safe environments,” said Rocky Harris, USA Triathlon CEO.
“The Youth Stimulus Package encourages all our industry professionals to produce more educational clinics, host additional youth events and start new youth and junior clubs. We can’t wait to get to work with our community and grow the sport.”
USA Triathlon will donate 10 free youth memberships directly to race directors and clubs for every youth sanctioned race and youth club. Race directors and clubs are encouraged to distribute these memberships to underserved and underrepresented youth and communities at their discretion.
“I applaud USA Triathlon for making youth a priority,” said Eva Solomon, USA Triathlon Race Director Committee Co-Chair.
“Triathlon is a lifestyle sport that can be done by most anybody, whether [aged] 8 or 80, but it does come with barriers to entry. This stimulus plan is reducing those barriers to make the sport more accessible so kids can get out and release those endorphins at a time it’s needed most.”
In a release, USAT added… ‘Sanctioning events and clinics with USA Triathlon provides a number of benefits, including a direct connection to local multisport leaders across the country, regional and national marketing and promotional support, access to USA Triathlon’s crisis management resources, a public acknowledgment of committing to fairness, access and respect, compliance with the US Center for SafeSport, general liability and athlete excess medical coverage that also protects against damage to property, and more.’
