USA Triathlon has launched its Young Adult Membership, a 28% discount on an adult membership that comes with the same benefits.
The membership, which is for athletes aged 18-23, is the cornerstone of USA Triathlon’s 2022 Return to Racing Junior and Young Adult Stimulus Package. This is designed to encourage current and aspiring athletes to remain or become a part of the multisport community and spur long-term growth for multisport coaches, clubs and race directors.
The 2022 Return to Racing Junior and Young Adult Stimulus Package includes the following:
- Creation of USA Triathlon Young Adult Membership
- Shift in Junior Development Race Series
- Expansion of junior divisions at Zone3 Youth and Junior Nationals
- Additional six-figure funding toward the Women’s Triathlon Emerging Sport Grant
- Increased support for collegiate clubs and the Collegiate Club National Championships
- Free registration for USA Triathlon Official Junior Clubs
“The development of the Young Adult Membership is one of the ways we are working with our athletes and industry to help keep young people engaged and active in our sport and ensure it remains a part of their lives,” says Rocky Harris, USA Triathlon CEO.
“Whether an athlete’s journey takes them to a collegiate club or an NCAA program, the Olympic or Paralympic pipeline or age-group racing, we just want young people to continue racing and having fun, finding their place in our sport and reaping the lifelong benefits our community affords.”
USA Triathlon has renewed its commitment to young athletes interested in developing skills necessary for NCAA triathlon, collegiate club triathlon, Project Podium and World Triathlon events with an expanded ‘Development Race Series’.
Formerly called the Youth and Junior Elite Series, USA Triathlon’s Youth and Junior Development Race Series offers national-level draft-legal competition opportunities to youth (ages 13-15) and junior (ages 16-19) triathletes. The series runs from May through July and culminates at the Zone3 Youth and Junior Draft-Legal Nationals in West Chester, Ohio.
In addition, USA Triathlon will host five National Paratriathlon Development Races between April-July with the goal of continuing to develop and grow paratriathlon in the United States by expanding opportunities for adaptive athletes, particularly juniors and young adults, and creating a forum for them to interact, train and compete together.
USA Triathlon has opened an additional 150 spots for 16-19-year-old athletes at Zone3 Youth and Junior Nationals by splitting the junior age-group into two divisions of 16-17-year-olds and 18-19-year-olds for both males and females. This not only expands the field, but also allows athletes to compete against peers at a similar stage in their development.
Due to a gift from donor Dave Alexander, USA Triathlon now has the funding needed to further support NCAA schools interested in adding women’s triathlon at the varsity level through USA Triathlon’s Women’s Triathlon Emerging Sport Grant.
The grant is distributed to select NCAA membership institutions to develop, implement and sustain women’s triathlon programs at the varsity level. USA Triathlon has distributed US$3.5 million to this initiative since 2014 and there are currently 38 NCAA schools offering women’s triathlon, two away from the 40 needed to become an NCAA Championship sport.
Preference will be given to schools looking to start women’s triathlon in the 2022-2023 school year as USA Triathlon is committed and prepared to help schools move quickly through the process of adding a sport.
USA Triathlon adds that it is placing a renewed emphasis on growing and supporting collegiate clubs through increased communication, education and resource sharing with collegiate club presidents and collegiate triathlon conference commissioners.
There will also be additional support around collegiate club coaches, including a program to match prospective coaches with schools and develop more opportunities for athletes to get involved in coaching. Through a partnership with Perspective Fitwear, USA Triathlon’s Official Training Apparel, USA Triathlon will provide enhanced exposure and promotion of clubs and athletes in the lead-up to and during the 2022 Collegiate Club National Championships in Lake Lanier, Georgia, on April 1-2.
