Table of Contents Executive Summary ............................................................1 Triathlon ............................................................................2 USAT Collegiate National Championships ........................................ 3 USAT Demographics .......................................................................... 6
Triathlon: Emerging Sport Potential .................................8 The Importance of Triathlon ............................................13 Triathlon: An Emerging Sport Proposal..........................16 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) ..............................24
Supplements: I. II.
Estimated Collegiate Triathlon Program Start-Up Costs Sample Collegiate Triathlon Event Budget
Executive Summary: An NCAA Athletic Administrator’s job of organizing quality athletic opportunities for student athletes may seem relatively straight forward. However, the reality of the athletic landscape at the collegiate level, and in our society in general, heightens the challenges and excitement of this fundamental responsibility. The basic decision of what sports to offer, and to whom, requires serious examination. The NCAA has a Minimum Sport Sponsorship requirement set for institutions to be considered a Division I NCAA Institution (see clarifications). Many Division I athletic departments must periodically evaluate the varsity sports it sponsors and make decisions to add, delete and/or expand the sport teams within the program. Finances, facilities, gender equity, liability, student body interest and general community interest are all significant factors in the sport make-up of both the NCAA and its’ member institutions. Therefore, an awareness of the athletic landscape in American society and the knowledge of sport demands in our particular communities is critical to the success of NCAA and institutional sport sponsorship. Triathlon is a growing Olympic sport in our society that may prove to be a popular and viable athletic opportunity for many collegiate institutions to consider in their efforts to meet the needs of their constituents and comply with the requirements of the NCAA. Participation numbers in the sport of Triathlon are growing exponentially every year. The popularity of this relatively young sport, matched with the comprehensive athletic talent that is showcased by competitive triathletes, make Triathlon an interesting sport to review and consider as the next sport on the NCAA’s Emerging Sport List. The objectives of this proposal are to introduce the NCAA to the sport of Triathlon and critically analyze the feasibility of proposing Triathlon as an NCAA Emerging Sport. The proposal will begin by highlighting the popularity, demographics, and established organization of United States of America Triathlon (USAT), which currently conducts a well-attended Collegiate National Championship event for college club teams. It will then review the NCAA’s minimum sport requirements, Emerging Sport parameters, and Title IX basics that expose challenges many athletic departments must work through to conduct thriving, compliant programs. The result of research behind the project is a proposal for Triathlon as an Emerging NCAA Sport for the Committee on Women’s Athletics. Steven Sexton- Univ. of California- Berkeley 2008 USAT Collegiate Male Overall Champion Amanda Felder- Univ. of California San Diego 2008 USAT Collegiate Female Overall Champion
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Triathlon Triathlon is defined as a three-part sports discipline comprised of swimming, cycling and running. The three sports are contested as a continuous event without a rest. History Triathlon history dates back to the early 1970s and originated with the San Diego Track Club. Triathlon was designed to be an alternative to hard track training. The first triathlon event was held on September 25th 1974. The San Diego Track Club sponsored the event, then comprised of a 10km run, 8km cycle and 500 meter swim. Conceived and directed by Jack Johnstone and Don Shanahan, the first Mission Bay Triathlon had 46 athletes. In 1989, the sport was awarded Olympic status and was featured for the first time at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in Australia. Since then, the sport has grown in popularity. In 1989, the International Triathlon Union (ITU) was founded in Avignon, France, and the first official world championships were held. USA Triathlon (USAT) USA Triathlon is the national governing body for the sports of triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States and falls under the umbrellas of the International Triathlon Union and the U.S. Olympic Committee. USA Triathlon coordinates grass-roots and elite multi-sport events across the country and works to create interest and participation in those programs. USA Triathlon also writes the competition rules and trains the officials for the races. USA Triathlon is the owner of the USA Triathlon National Age Group Championships and the National Collegiate Championships for triathlon. Triathlon Distances Sprint Swim: 750 meters Bike: 20K (12.4 miles) Run: 5K (3.1 miles)
Long Course (aka “Half-Ironman) Swim: 1.2 miles Bike: 56 miles Run: 13.1 miles
Intermediate / Olympic* Swim: 1500 meters Bike: 40K (24.8 Miles) Run: 10K (6.2 miles)
Ultra Distance (aka Ironman) Swim: 2.4 miles Bike: 112 miles Run: 26.2 miles
*The official distance for Olympic triathlon: This standard distance is used for the ITU World Cup series and for the USA-Triathlon National Collegiate Championships. USAT Sanctioned Competitive Events 2006: 2000 2007: 2300 2008: 2804 2
Triathlon (continued) USAT Collegiate Triathlon Association The sport of triathlon has seen a tremendous amount of growth over the past five years, especially within the college and university community, resulting in a steady increase in the number of participants and schools at the collegiate level. This growth is expected to continue and has demanded the development of new programs supporting the growth of the college-aged triathlon community. One of these new programs is the creation of the Collegiate Triathlon Association, which is also referred to as the CTA. The CTA governs the sport of triathlon for college and university athletes and provides the leadership to expand the growth of the sport on college and campuses across the country. 2009 Collegiate National Championships: Lubbock, Texas, April 18, 2009 Total Participants: 736**** Females: 313 Males: 423
2008 Collegiate National Championships: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, April 19, 2008 Total Participants: 893**** Females: 329 Males: 564
2009 Women’s Undergraduate Collegiate Championship NO 1 2 3 4
FN Jessica Ashley Julie Brittany
LN, School Broderick, Colorado-Boulder Morgan, US Mil Academy Rechel, U. of Richmond Day, UCLA
SWIM 23:15 26:55 24:48 24:11
BIKE 1:11:36 1:10:13 1:13:33 1:14:08
RUN 40:24 39:16 38:56 40:40
TIME 2:18:34 2:19:06 2:20:00 2:22:03
****There was a planned decline in participation numbers from 2008 to 2009 due to the popularity of the sport at the collegiate level. The USAT placed restrictions on the number of athletes each team could register. The largest teams were monopolizing the participant list which locked out smaller teams from racing in the national championships. To accommodate the overflow participants, USAT added a sprint race to the weekend so the athletes not on the official team roster could still race, support the team, and feel part of the event. ****2009 Collegiate Sprint Triathlon: 171 Participants Current USAT National Championship Team Scoring Each team seeds their top three men and top three women to compete for the overall team score. Final overall place results of each individual are combined and lowest combined score determines team standings. 2008 College Female Team Results 1. UC San Diego 2. University of Colorado, Boulder 3. Univ. of California, Berkeley 4. Univ. of California Santa Barbara 5. Virginia Tech 6. United States Military Academy 7. Stanford University 8. University of Montana 9. University of Florida 10. United States Naval Academy
2009 College Female Team Results 1. UC San Diego 2. University of Colorado, Boulder 3. United States Naval Academy 4. University of California, Berkeley 5. United States Military Academy 6. Univ. of California, Santa Barbara 7. Colorado State University 8. University of Florida 9. University of Southern California 10. Michigan State University 3
Triathlon (continued) 2008 Collegiate National Championships Tuscaloosa, Alabama, April 19 (Combined (Male & Female) Team Results) Overall 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45
School UC Berkeley University of Colorado Boulder United States Military Academy University of Florida United States Naval Academy University of Cal Santa Barbara UC San Diego Stanford University Purdue University Michigan State University Virginia Tech University of Montana University of Wisconsin University of Georgia UNC-Chapel Hill California Polytechnic State Univ Texas A&M University University of Arizona Penn State Georgetown University United States Air Force Academy Vanderbilt University University of Kentucky University of Alabama Iowa State University University of Michigan Ohio State University University of Iowa Florida State University University of New Mexico Northwestern University University of Central Florida Miami University University of Southern California Colorado State University Clemson University James Madison University University of Dayton Columbia University Arizona State University University of Miami College of Charleston Auburn University Ohio University Texas State University
Male 28 65 61 86 87 165 238 195 83 110 326 305 236 305 61 261 238 301 187 378 278 274 267 365 340 315 398 457 344 588 300 396 584 706 318 527 631 361 634 610 592 636 640 754 847
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Female 53 51 79 103 124 55 35 93 229 253 74 95 185 152 417 218 244 208 375 190 301 316 343 255 343 376 298 278 427 196 503 462 292 220 616 421 328 626 358 474 519 493 526 486 608
Combined 81 116 140 189 211 220 273 288 312 363 400 400 421 457 478 479 482 509 562 568 579 590 610 620 683 691 696 735 771 784 803 858 876 926 934 948 959 987 992 1084 1111 1129 1166 1240 1455
Triathlon (continued) 2009 Collegiate National Championships Lubbock, Texas, April 18 (Combined (Male & Female) Team Results) Overall School
Male
Female
Combined
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38
45 44 93 76 150 143 119 253 327 404 441 321 389 394 338 459 327 405 362 627 400 640 677 668 691 511 662 676 772 767 1056 968 915 899 993 853 894 1161
76 91 69 101 41 137 212 233 238 189 157 302 280 279 365 275 440 392 438 197 432 264 391 448 427 641 625 642 572 620 423 516 665 686 607 802 778 656
121 135 162 177 191 280 331 486 565 593 598 623 669 673 703 734 767 797 800 824 832 904 1068 1116 1118 1152 1287 1318 1344 1387 1479 1484 1580 1585 1600 165 1672 1817
United States Naval Academy University Of California-Berkeley University Of Colorado-Boulder United States Military Academy At West Point U Of California-San Diego U Of California-Santa Barbara Michigan State University California Polytechnic - Slo Stanford University University Of Florida Colorado State University University Of Arizona Texas A&m University Virginia Tech U Of Wisconsin-Madison Purdue University Iowa State University United State Air Force Academy U Of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign University Of Southern California Ohio State University University Of Iowa Clemson University Arizona State University Miami University Of Ohio University Of Dayton Northwestern University The University Of Alabama Georgetown University Stevens Institute Of Technology The University Of Georgia Baylor University University Of Washington University Of Tennessee University Of North Texas Louisiana State University University Of Central Florida New Mexico State University
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Triathlon (continued) USA Triathlon Demographics USAT Membership Activity (full-year licenses) 1993: 15,937 2000: 21,341 1994: 15,194 2001: 29,886 1995: 15,620 2002: 40,299 1998: 16,461 2003: 47,373 1999: 19,060 2004: 53,254
2005: 58,073 2006: 84,787 2007: 100,674 2008: 120,407 2009: 129,227
Breakdown of 2009 USAT Annual Membership per Age Group Age % of age % of age Total in group Female group Male group age group 47% 53% under 16 13,131 14,743 27,874 38% 62% 16-19 1,444 2,399 3,783 41% 59% 20-29 6,146 8,920 15,066 37% 63% 30-39 12,503 21,116 33,619 33% 67% 40-49 10,939 21,746 32,685 30% 70% 50-59 3,813 8,909 12,722 21% 79% 60-69 620 2,401 3,021 15% 85% 70-79 61 344 405 17% 83% 80 plus 9 43 52 48,666 38% 80,561 62% 129,227 2009 Annual USAT Memberships by state (Top 10) 6. Virginia 1. Texas 13,136 2. Florida 10,695 7. North Carolina 3. California 10,164 8. Colorado 4. New York 5,843 9. Georgia 5. Illinois 4,688 10. Massachusetts
% of Membership 22% 3% 12% 26% 25% 10% 2% 0.% 0.%
4,569 4,486 3,947 3,159 3,078
US Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) “Casual” & “Core” Triathlon Participation Numbers: Casual: Defined as participated in at least one event: 2006: 921,000 2007: 1.1 Million (Growth rate of 19.5%) Core: Defined as participated in 2 – 9 events: 2006: 550,000 2007: 746,000 (Growth rate of 35.6%)
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Triathlon (continued) Approximate Education Range of USAT Multisport Athletes Completed high school only
7%
Two-year school
7%
Four-year school
40%
Graduate school
28%
Post graduate
18%
Approximate Household Income of USAT Multisport Athletes Under-$20,000
3%
$20-$40,000
18%
$40-$60,000
21%
$60-$80,000
16%
$80-$100,000
13%
$100-$150,000
16%
$150,000-plus
12%
* Average income of Ironman Triathletes = $160,000 (Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal)
Ironman World Championship Economics In 1978, Valerie Silk, original owner of the Ironman World Championship paid a graphic designer $75 to produce the famous “M-Dot” mark. In 1989, Silk sold Ironman to James Gills for $3 million. In September of 2008, Providence Equity Partners purchased World Triathlon Corp for an estimated $80 million. WTC stages or licenses rights to 53 Ironman and half-Ironman (70.3) distance events annually. According to World Triathlon, licensed Ironman products, including races, accounted for $500 million in sales in 2007.
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Triathlon: Emerging Sport Potential Popularity and Participation The exponential participation growth in the sport of Triathlon in the United Sates may be reaching relevant levels that cause NCAA athletic administrators to take notice. The research numbers on Triathlon generated by the United States Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association are staggering. The SGMA conducts surveys of the U.S. population to see how many people are participating in what sports and how often. They do this for sporting good stores and equipment / apparel manufacturers so they can see what products sell best in the market. They distinguish participants as “Casual” and “Core”. A casual participant is someone who participates in just one event in a given year, while a core participant would be involved in two or more events in a year. The SGMA says the core participants are the main purchasers of “equipment, services and user fees” for a particular sport or activity. The SGMA only began including triathlon in its surveys in 2006, so after two years of studies (2006 and 2007) the SGMA figures indicate that 921,000 “Casual” Americans participated in at least one triathlon in 2006, jumping to more than 1.1 million in 2007. (growth rate of 19.5%). While that growth rate is impressive, the impactful information comes from the core participant numbers. In 2006, the core participants for triathlon were 550,000; in 2007, core numbers swelled to 746,000 (growth rate of 35.6%). (Note: SGMA “Casual” and “Core” participation figures were used in the successful proposal to include Sand Volleyball on the NCAA Emerging Sports List.) Triathlon stands out when compared to other endurance activities and individual sports the SGMA studies. Most sports saw single-digit growth or drops from 2006 to 2007. Just one, squash at 39.5 %, was higher among individual and racquet sports. Two team sports (field hockey and lacrosse) experienced higher growth, but much of that can be attributed to the addition of those sports on the high school level. An NCAA Sport designation would increase the visibility and stature of Triathlon tremendously. Add the lure of potential scholarships, quality coaching and organized competitive opportunities at attractive universities nation wide, and a movement for the sport at the youth and high school level would shortly follow. Triathlon has gained significant credibility and exposure since its Olympic Sport debut at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in Australia. Since then, the sport has grown in popularity on its own merit. However, USAT Annual Membership numbers clearly show that the majority of USAT annual members commit to the sport in their post-college years. Currently, 2008 Pinehurst Triathlon: Pinehurst, NC opportunities to participate in organized team triathlon at the collegiate to those institutions that offer triathlon as a club sport. 8
level are limited
Triathlon: Emerging Sport Potential (continued) The lack of formal team participation opportunities at the collegiate level may attribute to the low USAT membership numbers in the pre-college age groups. Most high school athletes (and younger) participate in main-stream sports that offer opportunities to continue their participation at the collegiate level, and in most cases, also put forward the attraction of scholarships. Age group under 16 16-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80 plus
Total in age group 27,874 3,783 15,066 33,619 32,685 12,722 3,021 405 52 129,227
% of Membership 22% 3% 12% 26% 25% 10% 2% 0.% 0.%
For those athletes who do find the sport of Triathlon in their pre-college and college years, the sport is proving to be extremely popular. The rapid emergence of organized, competitive club teams at the collegiate level has prompted the USAT to develop the Collegiate Triathlon Association (CTA). The CTA governs the sport of triathlon for college and university athletes and provides the leadership to expand the growth of the sport on college and university campuses across the country. The primary responsibility of the USAT and the CTA is to hosts the USAT Collegiate National Championships every April. The 2008 Collegiate National Championships where held In Tuscaloosa Alabama at the University of Alabama. The 2009 Championships were held in Lubbock Texas at Texas Tech University. National Championship Participation Numbers: 2008 (Tuscaloosa, Alabama) 2009 (Lubbock, Texas) 893 Total Participants 736 Total Participants 58 Complete Male Squads 64 Complete Male Squads 49 Complete Female Squads 40 Complete Female Squads 45 Complete Male and Female Teams 38 Complete Male and Female Teams These participation numbers are impressive considering the athletes are members of club teams and must organize themselves to travel and compete. Recent coordination within groups of universities indicates demand for organization at the collegiate level may be growing faster than the USAT can accommodate. On February 24th, 2006 a coalition of collegiate triathlon teams from California and Nevada announced their creation of the first collegiate triathlon conference in the United States. The West Coast Collegiate Triathlon Conference (WCCTC) serves as the official governing body for collegiate triathlon among West Coast schools. “The WCCTC was the first legitimate organization to provide a well-defined structure for intercollegiate competition in the history of the sport,” says Marcus George, president of the UCLA Triathlon Team and one of the WCCTC’s founders. “USA Triathlon hosts the annual collegiate National Championship, but one race per year is not adequate to support this growing segment 9
Triathlon: Emerging Sport Potential (continued) of the sport. The purpose of the WCCTC is to develop collegiate triathlon by providing an opportunity for athletes to race among their peers at reasonable prices throughout a season. An official season with team and individual rankings will encourage participation by teams across our region.” The WCCTC has a Competition Guide which lays out the conference structure, rules, and bylaws. Five other collegiate conferences have followed suit in the desire for organized triathlon competition at the collegiate level. A list of Collegiate Triathlon Conferences includes: Florida Midwest
Mountain West
Northeast
Southeast
West Coast
Collegiate Triathlon Clubs (Registered with the USAT) Arizona State University Cycling & Triathlon Club Auburn University ‐ Auburn Triathletes Ball State University Triathlon Club Baylor Triathlon Club Boston University Triathlon Team Brigham Young University ‐ BYU Triathlon Club Cal Poly Triathlon Team California State University of Long Beach Triathlon Team California State University, Los Angeles Triathlon Club California State University, Northridge California State University, San Marcos Centenary College Cycling Club Cerritos College Triathlon Club Clemson Triathlon Club Coe College Triathlon Team Colorado State University Triathlon Club Columbia University Triathlon Drake University Triathlon Club Drexel University Triathlon Team Duke University Edgewood College Triathlon Club Emory University Cycling and Tri Club FGCU Tri‐Eagles (Florida Golf Coast University) Fresno State Triathlon Club Furman Triathlon Club George Mason University Georgetown University Triathlon Team Georgia Tech Triathlon Club Hope College Triathlon Club Indiana University Triathlon Club Iowa State University Triathlon Club James Madison University Triathlon Club Keene State College Triathlon Club LMU Triathlon Club ‐ Loyola Marymount University LSU Tri Club ‐ Louisiana State University Marquette University Triathlon Club Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Triathlon Club Miami University Triathlon Club Michigan State University Triathlon Club Middle Tennessee State University ‐ MTSU Triathlon Club Minnesota State University Triathlon Club MIT Triathlon Missouri Triathlon Club New Mexico State University ‐ NMSU Race Club
North Carolina State University Triathlon Club Northeastern University Triathlon Team Northern Arizona University Tri‐Jacks (NAU TriJacks) Northern Illinois University Triathlon Team (NIU) Ohio Northern University Multi‐Sport Club Ohio State University Triathlon Club Ohio University Triathlon Club Oklahoma State University Triathlon Club Oklahoma University ‐ Tulsa Triathlon Club Oregon State University Triathlon Club Penn State Triathlon Club Pitt Triathlon Club ‐ University of Pittsburgh Point Loma Nazarene University Purdue University Triathlon Club Rice University Triathlon Club Riddle Tri Club ‐ Embry Riddle San Diego State University Triathlon Club Santa Clara University Triathlon Team Sonoma State University Triathlon Club Southern Methodist University Stanford Triathlon Club Stevens Triathlon Club ‐ Stevens Institute of Tech Syracuse University Triathlon Club Texas A & M Triathlon Team Texas Tech University Triathlon Team‐ Red Raiders Texas Triathletes ‐ University of Texas at Austin Tri Frogs ‐ Texas Christian University Triathlon Club at Central Michigan University Triathlon Club at San Jose State University Triathlon Club at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Trinity University UMD Triathlon Club ‐ University of Maryland UNCW Triathlon ‐ U of North Carolina, Wilmington United States Air Force Academy Triathlon Team United States Coast Guard Academy United States Naval Academy Triathlon Team University of Alabama ‐ Alabama Triathletes University of Alabama, Birmingham ‐ Tri Blazers University of Arizona Tri Cats Triathlon Club University of California, Berkeley Cal Triathlon University of California, Davis Triathlon University of California, Irvine Triathlon Club University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) University of California, Riverside Triathlon Club
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University of California, San Diego Triathlon Team University of California, Santa Barbara Triathlon Club University of California, Santa Cruz Trislugs University of Central Florida Triknights Triathlon Club University of Colorado, Boulder Triathlon Team University of Colorado, Colorado Springs ‐ UCCS University of Dayton Triathlon Club University of Florida Tri‐Gators University of Georgia Triathlon Club University of Houston University of Illinois‐ Chicago University of Iowa Triathlon Club ‐ Tri‐Hawks University of Louisiana at Lafayette Triathlon Club University of Miami Triathlon Club Tri Canes University of Michigan Triathlon Club University of Minnesota Triathlon Team University of Montana University of New Mexico, Tri Lobos University of North Alabama Triathlon Club University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Triathlon Club University of North Texas Triathlon Team University of Richmond Triathlon Club University of South Florida ‐ USF Tri Bulls University of Southern California (USC) Triathlon University of Tennessee Triathlon Club University of Texas at Arlington Triathlon Club University of Texas at El Paso University of Texas, Tyler ‐ UT Tyler Multisport Club University of Vermont University of Virginia Triathlon Club University of Washington, Husky Triathlon Club University of Wisconsin, La Crosse Triathlon Club University of Wisconsin, Madison Triathlon UT Southwestern Triathlon Team Vanderbilt Triathlon Club Virginia Tech Triathlon Wartburg College Tri Team Washington University ‐ WashU Triathlon Club West Point Triathlon Club Western Illinois University Triathletes Whitman College Triathlon Club Wolf Pack Triathlon Club ‐ University of Nevada, Reno Yale Triathlon Club
Triathlon: Emerging Sport Potential (continued) Each conference season is composed of races organized by several university teams. These races are also open to the public and often used as fundraisers for the host team. The public is encouraged to support collegiate triathlon by participating in these races. An example of the serious advancement of triathlon at the collegiate level has come from The University of California Los Angeles as they are providing the first ever scholarship program for Triathlon in the nation. This program will provide support, 2008-09 UCLA Triathlon Team resources and expertise to talented triathletes who wish to develop their athletic ability while completing a first class education. Current UCLA students Brittany Day and Brady O’Bryan were the recipients of the two scholarships available for the 2009 season. Brittany was a member of the UCLA swim team before switching to Triathlon. Brittany finished fourth overall female at the 2009 National Championships. Brady is a teen Triathlon sensation from Texas whose goal is to become the youngest ever winner of the Hawaii Ironman World Championships. The athletes attend many of the local SoCal events including the Los Angeles Triathlon, Malibu Triathlon and new Playa Del Rey Triathlon, which is a benefit race for the UCLA and USC teams. They will be targeting success in the WCCTC, the USAT Collegiate National Championships, and USAT Age Group National Championships. The scholarship provides each athlete with a personal coaching program from team head coach, Gareth Thomas, which includes regular lactate testing and video analysis. Furthermore, they will be supported with regular physical therapy treatment from Pro Physical Therapy, receive pro bike fits and a full package of equipment including: nutrition products from PowerBar, Xterra wetsuits, eyewear and helmets from Rudy Project and Powertap powermeters. They will also receive a race expense budget. The scholarship program has been five years in the making. Over that time the UCLA team has grown from just a handful of members to a group of 60+ athletes who regularly train together. Each week the team has between six to nine hours of coached workouts and each athlete does more training on their own. UCLA now has a performance development program and administrative support. Their aim is to attract funding to allow a further 6 more scholarships with even deeper support for the coming years. Future plans include building a Triathlon specific training center on campus and continuing to acquire a vast range of equipment so that everyone who joins the team can train and race at an elite level. The launch of the program firmly establishes UCLA as a school to attend for the aspiring triathlete.
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Triathlon: Emerging Sport Potential (continued) Gender Equity Approach In 1994, The NCAA Gender-Equity Task force compiled the original list of emerging sports for women. The original sports on the list were: Archery Badminton Bowling*
Rowing* Ice Hockey* Squash
Synchronized Swimming Team Handball Water Polo*
* Have become NCAA championship sports. In 1999, Equestrian was added to the list, as was Rugby in 2002. In July of 2008, the Committee on Women’s Athletics significantly adjusted the emerging sports list with recommendations to both add and remove sports from the list. The CWA recommended including sand volleyball to the NCAA Emerging Sports List after hearing a presentation by American Volleyball Coaches Association Executive Director Kathy DeBoer and Delaware volleyball coach Bonnie Kenny. On the subtraction side, the CWA has recommended to remove archery, badminton, synchronized swimming and team handball from the Emerging Sports List as they have not shown steady growth over the last 10 years. They all have fewer than 10 sponsoring institutions which is the number required to be considered an emerging sport.
Current Emerging Sport List: 1. Sand Volleyball 2. Equestrian 3. Rugby 4. Squash Opportunity through Athletic Certification Program Every five years, each NCAA institution conducts an Athletic Certification self study. An effective self-study is intended to benefit an institution by analyzing operations and standards in basic areas of an athletic program - governance and commitment to rule compliance, academic integrity, fiscal integrity, fiscal equity, welfare and sportsmanship. The intentions of the study are positive as they are designed to identify and praise all things that an institution is doing well, discover opportunities to improve, and analyze areas of problems or deficiencies so that constructive adjustments can be made. If placed on the NCAA Emerging Sport List, Triathlon can be a valuable resource for institutions needing to provide more equitable, inclusive, or appropriate athletic opportunities for their constituents. The emerging sport may prove to be a popular and efficient way of equalizing gender equity deficiencies, fiscal imbalance, or sport sponsorship deficits that may exist within an athletic program.
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The Importance of Triathlon It is our job as professional athletic administrators to provide quality opportunities to enjoy organized athletic competition that satisfy the demands and interest of our constituents. By constituents, I not only mean the student bodies of our institutions, but also our surrounding communities, fan base, boosters and sponsorship sources. Athletic programs are not static entities. Therefore, like any other thriving service organization, the success and popularity of our programs can be significantly enhanced by demonstrating flexibility and adapting to change. Going one step further, paying attention to the landscape of sports in our communities is crucial to forecasting legitimate and relevant participation opportunities that will establish the true quality of service our programs provide for our institutions. The NCAA Emerging Sport List is one resource institutions can use to establish such overall quality. However, the recent subtraction of sports from the list means there are fewer options for those NCAA Division I athletic programs which may be working through challenges such as sponsoring the minimum number of DI sports, striving to achieve true gender equity, or simply offering popular athletic opportunities that are in demand on their campuses and in their community. Emerging Sports are designed to assist programs in achieving these goals and standards (particularly gender equity) as they create participation opportunities. Triathlon’s popularity is growing in our society at an incredible rate every year. It is establishing roots on university campuses all across the country while simultaneously creating a more organized regulatory structure because of the high demand for organized, competitive events. Adoption of Triathlon as an NCAA Emerging Sport may be an efficient, quick and organized way of creating popular participation opportunities for a talented and unique group of athletes. Triathlon as a sport, and the USAT specifically, will benefit tremendously if Triathlon is added to the NCAA Emerging Sport list and institutions begin offering scholarships and sponsoring programs for student athletes who participate in the sport. Currently, the USAT focuses extensively on age group athletes from the general public as a way to identify and cultivate talent for their elite programs. According to USAT CEO Skip Gilbert in the Fall Issue of Triathlon Life, this model is only effective to a point in driving the elite end of the sport on the international level. The United States has never won an Olympic gold medal in a sport it created. In fact, the US has never won a medal of any kind in the men’s Olympic event. Gilbert indicated a major focus of the USAT’s future efforts will be placed on the “foundational elements that create a free-flowing pipeline of athletes into the elite system….. We need to create programs that bring the best athletes to our sport and provide them with a path to Hunter Kemper US Pro Triathlete / Wake Forest Grad help the United States regain its position as an international force. We simply need to focus on the foundation of our structure.” NCAA adoption will help establish that foundation by increasing the number of youth athletes exposed to, and interested in, Triathlon. Talented, well rounded triathletes under the age of 19 (not just post graduate collegiate swimmers or runners trying to convert to triathlon) will begin to surface as potential “Elite Triathletes” because of the added legitimacy of being a collegiate athlete. Triathlon would experience a similar interest and participation phenomena as rowing, a sport that has successful graduated from the ranks of Emerging Sports by adding championships in 2001. 13
The Importance of Triathlon (continued) The NCAA Emerging Sport status would firmly place Triathlon in the “mainstream” of the American sport landscape. The participation numbers for youth 16 and under are solid. However, they drop significantly during the high school years as most athletes concentrate on a mainstream sports that they continue on with in college. The opportunity to experience a triathlon competition at the collegiate level while earning a degree would be tremendous motivation for pre-collegiate youth to continue on with take up the sport. Identifying exceptional talent would be done on a large scale across the nation by each sponsoring collegiate institution. Then cultivating that talent with professional coaching at prestigious academic institutions would advance the USAT’s goal of building a stronger elite program at the international level. Now that the popularity and importance of Triathlon has been established, we address the questions of how the NCAA and it’s member institutions take advantage of sponsoring triathlon. In theory, Triathlon can be a cost effective sport for institutions. The major expenses of a Triathlon program would be the athletic aid provided to the student athletes and the travel associated with being involved with a growing sport sprouting programs across the nation. Coaching, equipment and event production are also inherent expenses that go with a collegiate level sport. The potential cost efficiencies are what make Triathlon attractive. If an institution has a pool and a track, there are no facility costs associated with training as bike training can be done on stationary trainers or on the open roads. Regular season competitive event expenses can be creatively managed and/or offset as competitions can be planned with already established community events sanctioned by the USAT. If a university has the motivation and event management experience to host a Triathlon containing a collegiate event and a community event, it would have the potential to generate significant funds for the program through registration fees and event sponsorships. Participation numbers for local triathlons traditionally range from 5001000 participants with registration fees of $50 - $75 per participant. In fact, organizing such opportunities is an interactive way to build a local fan base as the community would have the unique opportunity to directly connect with the program and experience the same thrills of competition in the same environment as the collegiate athletes. It is worth noting the affluent nature of the Triathlon demographic and how sponsoring the sport can create attractive fundraising opportunities for donors who participate in, or simply enjoy, the sport. Over time, well organized, sport specific training centers could be designed if funds are available and the goal is to provide the optimal controlled and testable training environment. Amenities such as multiple lane Endless Pool to simulate open water swimming, Compu-Trainer stationary bike equipment to simulate riding on the road, and treadmills for run training are extremely useful and modest ways to enhance the practice facilities for the student athletes.
“Endless Pool” Dual Lane Training
Compu-Trainer Group Training Session
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The Importance of Triathlon (continued) Is triathlon a practical and legitimate emerging sport option for NCAA Collegiate athletic programs looking to create athletic opportunities for women and improve their gender equity ratio? Will adding Triathlon assist an institution in their effort to fully and effectively accommodate the interests and abilities of an underrepresented sex on their campus? Sponsoring the Emerging Sport of Triathlon at any such institutions would improve their participation proportionality numbers, help prove they demonstrate a history of program expansion for women, and prove they are effectively accommodating the interest and abilities of females on campus. The need for more quality athletic opportunities for women in the NCAA is obvious. USA Triathlon's female membership has increased from 11 percent in the early 90s, to 38 percent at the end of 2009 (48,666). Even more impressive than these membership numbers, 313 females (43% ) and 423 males (57%) participated in the 2009 USAT Collegiate National Championships. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics manages the Emerging Sport List in order to seek, expand and promote opportunities for female student-athletes, administrators and coaches. The Committee also works with the NCAA Olympic Sports Liaison Committee to evaluate if emerging sports for women can assist the health of established olympic sports in any way. With Triathlon proving to be a growing and popular olympic sport, supporting the addition of Triathlon as an emerging sport seems logical.
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Triathlon: An Emerging Sport Proposal Triathlon Coaches Association: A fundamental necessity required to become an NCAA Emerging Sport is the establishment of a Coaches Association. USA Triathlon is the national governing body for the sports of triathlon in the United States and falls under the umbrellas of the International Triathlon Union and the U.S. Olympic Committee. USA Triathlon’s main purpose is to coordinate grass-roots and elite multisport events across the country and create interest and participation in those programs. USA Triathlon also writes the competition rules and trains the officials for the races. USA Triathlon currently has established a National Coaching Commission which serves in an advisory capacity to USAT. The Commission works with the USAT Sport Performance Director and staff for USA Triathlon’s coaching certification and education programs. This group and structure provides a solid foundation upon which to build a collegiate coaches association.
USAT National Coaching Commission: Mission Statement: The mission of the National Coaching Commission is to 1. Promote professionalism in multisport coaching and 2. Advise USAT staff regarding coach education
The role of the National Coaches Commission includes such issues as: Advancement of coaches and their knowledge Coaching associations The rights and interests of USAT coaches Development of a program of ongoing enrichment programs such as national and international conferences Appointing USOC coaches and development coaches of the year Annual meeting to share ideas, concerns Available pool of qualified coaches to work on projects with the USAT staff Newsletter opportunities (knowledge and writing)
Membership Qualifications and Operation Principles: NCC member coaches:
Are USAT Certified Coaches Have previous or current multisport coaching experience, minimum of two years Are willing to contribute between five and 10 hours to NCC projects each month Commit to active participation in NCC email discussions by checking inbox items every 48 hours, at minimum, during the weekdays. NCC members will look for new messages each Monday Notify the NCC team if they will be out of the office for extended periods of time Are willing to commit to helping the NCC produce results by taking project leadership roles or by volunteering for working group tasks on project teams Are willing to commit to completing projects by mutually agreed-upon due dates Are committed to working in a positive, unified way with other NCC members and USAT staff and coaches Are willing to attend an NCC meeting annually or semi-annually May not be full-time employees of USA Triathlon Must be a U.S. resident 16
Triathlon: An Emerging Sport Proposal (continued) Triathlon to be considered a Team Sport for all Regulations and Limitations Scholarship Limits: Equivalency Sport: 3.5 Scholarships (Ideal Squad size would be seven (7): Five (5) compete in an event for the team, two (2)extras/reserves for injury and future development) Playing Season: Regulations for computing the triathlon playing season are set forth in Bylaw 17.1. Length of Playing Season: The length of an institution’s playing season in triathlon shall be limited to a 144-day season, which may consist of two segments (each consisting of consecutive days) and which may exclude only required off days per Bylaw 17.1.6.4 and official vacation, holiday and final-examination periods during which no practice or competition shall occur. Preseason Practice: A member institution shall not commence practice sessions in triathlon prior to the date that permits a maximum of 21 units (see Bylaw 17.02.11) prior to the first scheduled intercollegiate contest. First Date of Competition: A member institution shall not engage in its first date of competition (game or scrimmage) with outside competition in triathlon prior to September 1 or the preceding Friday if September 1 falls on a Saturday, Sunday or Monday (see Figure 17-2). End of Regular Playing Season: A member institution shall conclude all practice and competition (events and practice events) in triathlon by the last date of final examinations for the regular academic year at the institution. Number of Dates of Competition. Maximum Limitations—Institutional: A member institution shall limit its total playing schedule with outside competition in triathlon during the institution’s triathlon playing season to six dates of competition except for those dates of competition excluded under (Bylaws 1 and 2)
20.9.4.3 Minimum Contests and Participants Requirements for Sports Sponsorship: In each sport, the institution’s team shall engage in at least a minimum number of intercollegiate contests (against four-year, degree-granting collegiate institutions) each year. In the individual sports, the institution’s team shall include a minimum number of participants in each contest that is counted toward meeting the minimum-contests requirement. Minimum Contests: 4 Minimum Participants: 3 20.9.4.3.6 Contests vs. Club Teams. A contest against a collegiate institution’s club team may not be counted toward meeting minimum-contest requirements. However, a member is not precluded from scheduling club teams. 17
Triathlon: An Emerging Sport Proposal (continued) Regional Triathlon Qualifying Events: An institution may count participation in a regional triathlon event in meeting the minimum-contest requirement, provided the institution meets the minimum-participant requirement per Bylaw 20.9.4.3 and no qualifying standards exist for participation in the event. In-Season Foreign Competition: A member institution may engage in one or more of its countable dates of competition in triathlon in one or more foreign countries on one trip during the prescribed playing season. However, except for competition in Canada and Mexico or on a certified foreign tour (see Bylaw 17.29), the institution may not engage in such in-season foreign competition more than once every four years. Maximum Limitations—Student-Athlete. An individual student-athlete may participate in each academic year in not more than six triathlon dates of competition (this limitation includes those dates of competition in which the student represents the institution in accordance with Bylaw 17.02.8, including competition as a member of the varsity, junior varsity or freshman team of the institution). (#1) Annual Exemptions: The maximum number of dates of competition in triathlon shall exclude the following: (a) Conference Championship. Competition in one conference championship triathlon event; (b) Season-Ending Tournaments (1) NCAA Championship. Competition in the NCAA triathlon championships; (2) NAIA Championship. Competition in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) triathlon championships; (c) Alumni Meet. One date of competition in triathlon each year against an alumni team of the institution; (d) Foreign Tour in the United States. One date of competition in triathlon each year with a foreign opponent in the United States; (e ) Fundraising Activity. Any triathlon activities in which student-athletes from more than one of the institution’s athletics team participate with and against alumni and friends of the institution, the purpose of which is to raise funds for the benefit of the institution’s athletics or other programs, provided the student-athletes do not miss classes as a result of their participation (see Bylaw 12.5.1.1); (f) Celebrity Sports Activity. Competition involving a limit of two student-athletes from a member institution’s triathlon team who participate in local celebrity triathlon activities conducted for the purpose of raising funds for charitable organizations, provided: (1) The student-athletes do not miss classes as a result of the participation; (2) The involvement of the athletes has the approval of the institution’s athletics director; and (3) The activity take place within a 30-mile radius of the institution’s main campus. (g) U.S. National Team. One date of competition against any team as selected and designated by the appropriate national governing body in triathlon as a U.S. national team (e.g., Under-21 U.S. national team). 18
Triathlon: An Emerging Sport Proposal (continued) (#2) Once-in-Four-Years Exemption—Foreign Tour. An institution may exempt the contests played on a foreign tour, provided the tour is conducted by the member institution in accordance with the procedures set forth in Bylaw 30.7 (see Bylaw 17.29). Out-of-Season Athletically Related Activities: Student-athletes and members of the coaching staff shall not engage in countable athletically related activities outside the institution’s declared playing season per Bylaw except as permitted in Bylaw 17.1.6.2. Summer Practice: Practice that is organized or financially supported by a member institution shall be prohibited during the summer unless specifically authorized in the bylaws (e.g., foreign tour) or through official interpretations. An institution may pay fees associated with the use of institutional practice and competition facilities by studentathletes engaged in voluntary athletically related activities in their sport. Summer-Workout Sessions: A coach may participate in individual-workout sessions with student-athletes from the coach’s team during the summer, provided the request for such assistance is initiated by the student-athlete. Camps and Clinics: There are no limits on the number of student-athletes in triathlon who may be employed (e.g., as counselors) in camps or clinics (see Bylaw 13.12). Currently enrolled student-athletes may not participate as campers in their institution’s camps or clinics. Other Restrictions: Noncollegiate, Amateur Competition. During Academic Year. A student-athlete in triathlon who participates during the academic year as a member of any outside triathlon team in any non-collegiate, amateur competition (e.g., team invitational meet, exhibition meets or other activity) except while representing the institution in intercollegiate triathlon competition shall be ineligible for intercollegiate triathlon competition unless eligibility is restored by the Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement (see Bylaw 14.7.3 for exceptions). Vacation-Period Exception: A student-athlete may compete outside of the institution’s declared playing and practice season as a member of an outside team in any non-collegiate, amateur competition during any official vacation period published in the institution’s catalog. The number of student-athletes from any one institution shall not exceed two. Out of Season: There are no limits on the number of student-athletes from the same member institution with eligibility remaining in intercollegiate triathlon who may practice or compete out of season on an outside amateur triathlon team. (competition on an outside team permitted only during the summer )
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Triathlon: An Emerging Sport Proposal (continued) Involvement of Coaching Staff: No member of the coaching staff of a member institution may be involved in any capacity (e.g., coach, official, player or league/team administrator) during the academic year (including vacation periods during the academic year) with an outside team that involves any student-athlete with eligibility remaining from the institution’s triathlon team except as provided under Bylaws 14.7.3, 17.1.1.1 and 17.29. Olympic and National Team Development Program: There are no limits on the number of student-athletes from the same institution who may participate in Olympic and national team development programs. Such programs may also include a coach and student-athlete from the same institution, provided: (a) The national governing body (NGB) conducts and administers the developmental program; (b) The NGB selects coaches involved in the developmental program; and (c) The NGB or the selected coaches select the involved participants. Equipment Issue, Squad Pictures: No limitations. Coaching Limitations: Limitations on Number of Coaches and Off-Campus Recruiters (Bylaw 11.7.4) Limit on Number of Coaches: 2 Limit on Off-Campus Recruiters: 2 11.7.4.1 Combined Sports Program. A member institution that conducts a combined program in a sport(one in which all coaching staff member in the same sport are involved in practice activities or competition with both the men’s and women’s teams on a daily basis) may employ the total number of coaches specified separately for men and for women in that sport. (Adopted: 1/16/93) 11.7.4.2 Exceptions to Number Limits. No individual other than coaches designated to fill the coaching categories set forth in Bylaw 11.7.4 may participate in any manner in the coaching of the intercollegiate team of a member institution during any game, practice or other organized activity, with the following exceptions:(Revised: 1/10/91 effective 8/1/92) 11.7.4.2.1 Weight or Strength Coach. A weight (strength and conditioning) coach may conduct flexibility, warm-up and physical conditioning activities prior to any game and prior to or during any practice or other organized activities without being included in the limitations on number of coaches. (Revised: 1/10/91; effective 8/1/92) 11.7.4.2.2 Coach, Student Assistant. The limits on the number of coaches in this section do not apply to student assistant coaches (see Bylaw 11.01.4). (Revised: 1/10/91 effective 8/1/92, 8/23/05) Volunteer Coach— Triathlon. In women’s triathlon, an institution may use the services of three (3) volunteer coaches: one (1) volunteer coach for the swim discipline, one (1) volunteer coach for bike discipline, and one (1) volunteer coach for the run discipline. 20
Triathlon: An Emerging Sport Proposal (continued) 11.7.4.2.4 Special Attrition Provision. The institution is permitted to meet these limitations through normal attrition only if the institution had in effect prior to September 15, 1990, a written obligation to the assistant coach through academic tenure, an enforceable contract or formal security-of-employment commitment. (Revised: 1/10/91 effective 8/1/92) 11.7.4.3 Off-Campus Recruiting—At Any One Time. It is permissible for a coach to leave campus to engage in off-campus contact or evaluation before another coach who is off campus actually returns to campus, provided the total number of coaches recruiting on behalf of the institution at any time does not exceed the permissible number. The coach being replaced must complete his or her recruiting activities before another coach may begin any off-campus recruiting activity. Further, the replaced coach may not engage in additional recruiting activities until after he or she has returned to the institution’s campus. (Adopted: 1/10/93, Revised: 4/28/05 effective 8/1/05, 12/13/05)
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Triathlon: An Emerging Sport Proposal (continued) Conference / Regional / NCAA Championship Distance: Intermediate / Olympic Swim:1500 meters / Bike: 40K (24.8 Miles) / Run: 10K (6.2 miles) NCAA Triathlon Regions (Mirror Current USAT Regional Collegiate Conferences ) Florida
Midwest Mountain West
Northeast Southeast
West Coast
Regional Championships Date: Final Saturday in October All teams are eligible for their respective Regional Championships NCAA Triathlon National Championships Date: First Saturday in November Determination of Participants: Championship Format The Division I Triathlon Championships provide for a maximum of 15 (three-five person) teams and 14 individuals. Teams: Twelve (12) teams automatically qualify to the championship event by finishing as one of the top two teams at any of the six regional races. The remaining three (3) at-large teams are selected by the NCAA Division I triathlon subcommittee. Individuals: Twelve (12) individuals automatically qualify to the championships races by being one of the top two regional finishers not on an advancing team. Two (2) additional individuals are selected at-large by the committee. Total Competitors 15 teams of (5) five persons each = 75 Individuals (who are not members of a team) = 14 Total = 89 Qualifying Procedures To be eligible to participate in the NCAA Division I Triathlon Championships, teams and individuals must qualify from their respective regions (see list above) Conference events may not be conducted in conjunction with NCAA regional championship events.
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Triathlon: An Emerging Sport Proposal (continued) Team Scoring Point System: Modeled after cross country scoring (lowest score wins) - All triathletes who finish a race shall be given an overall-finish place. However, only the first three (3) on any one team may be used in scoring places. - An order for team-finish placing is established by removing all triathletes behind the top three (3) finishers on each team. (Teams not finishing at least three likewise shall not be included in the order of team finish.) - Score shall be determined by total points of first three triathletes of each team to finish. - The team scoring the lowest number of points shall be the winner. a. Although the (4th) fourth and (5th) fifth triathlete of a team to finish do not score points toward their team’s total, their places, if better than those of any of the first three of an opposing team, serve to increase the team score of the opponents.
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Triathlon: An Emerging Sport Proposal (FAQ) Is There Support at the Youth Level for the Sport of Triathlon? USA Triathlon currently has a robust support program for Youth Elite (middle school) and Junior (high school age) athletes. National event series in the draft-legal Olympic format.
National Rankings for Youth Elite (13-15 years old) and Junior Elite (16-19 ys old).
National and Regional Select Camps for top triathletes to develop their skills for international competition.
Local and Regional Skills Camps for developing triathletes to learn tactics and develop sound fundamentals.
Regional Athlete Development Coordinators (RADCs) who serve as regional support coaches and mentors.
International Junior Athlete Assistance program that supports junior age athletes to international competitions including the International Triathlon Union World Championships.
Online database called the Athlete Profiler for athletes to submit their information, including best times and race results, for personal reference and recruitment by USA Triathlon to national programs.
Are There Post-Collegiate Professional Opportunities in Triathlon? In the Olympic format of racing, the International Triathlon Union holds three levels of competition offering various levels of prize money to professional athletes. These levels are: Continental Cup, World Cup, and World Championship Series. The Continental Cup events are entry level professional events where athletes can earn points towards qualification for World Cup and World Championship Series events. The World Cup is an intermediate step to the World Championship Series and offers more competitive fields and more prize money. The World Championship Series events are essentially Olympic level competition and qualify athletes for the Olympic Games. USA Triathlon provides funding and support through the National Teams program for athletes competing in Olympic format ITU racing. Other opportunities for professional competition exist for post-collegiate athletes outside of the Olympic format as well. These include Olympic distance non-drafting domestic racing, half (70.3) and full Ironman events and Duathlon (a run-bike-run event).
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Triathlon: An Emerging Sport Proposal (FAQ) (continued) Will Triathletes be “Cross Over” Athletes Competing in Other Varsity Sports? Currently, many national and international class triathletes who are of college age are “cross-over” athletes, meaning they compete for their university or college running or swimming team during the school year and in Olympic-format triathlon competitions during the summer. These athletes prove that it is physically possible to cross over from single to multi-sports successfully. However, the talents and skill set of elite triathletes make them truly unique athletes worthy of experiencing specific competition opportunities separate from those that already exist within the NCAA. With the proposed triathlon season placed in the fall, collegiate triathletes could participate on/ be a member of the swim team or indoor track team in the winter, and/or the outdoor track and field team in the spring if deemed appropriate by the coaching staffs and athletic administration at the institution. The creation of NCAA scholarships for Triathlon would allow national caliber athletes to focus full time on the sport of triathlon during the important development years in college and provide a nurturing environment for them to excel as triathletes, competitive collegiate athletes, and potentially Olympians. Will Triathletes Adhere to 20 hrs / Week Limit? The Typical training volume for a collegiate triathlete, in season, would be comfortably under 20 hours per week, and usually never exceed 3.5 hours in one day. A typical week of workouts/competition/travel, during the season, would resemble the following: Day
Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday Sunday TOTAL:
Countable Hours
3.5 2.5 3.5 1.5 2 3 2
Description
Intense multi-sport transitions: Bike/Run emphasis Active recovery with swimming, weights, stretching Intense multi-sport practice: Swim / Run emphasis Recovery Day: Light weights, stretch & easy swim Travel Day: Pre-event Travel / Course Reconnaissance Competition Day Easy Recovery or Rest Day
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The typical training volume for an elite triathlete competing internationally in Olympic format racing is normally about 20 hours per week. Some athletes choose to do additional stretching, yoga, recovery (massage, ice bath, etc.), or other complimentary activities in addition to the swimming, cycling, running and strength training that may exceed 20 total hours on some weeks. Usually the athletes exceeding 20 total hours per week are those who have been in the sport for many years and are typically post-collegiate professional athletes.
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Triathlon: An Emerging Sport Proposal (FAQ) (continued) What are the Financial Implications of Operating a Triathlon Program? (See Supplement #1)
What facilities are required to host a collegiate event? Event Distances 1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run: 1. Open body of water (smaller invitational events may be able to use pools) large enough to accommodate a 750 meter looped swim course, transition area capable of handling a maximum of 80 athletes per race (80 women and 80 men) with a length of 250’ and width of 24’ and no more than 200 meters from the swim exit 2. Bike course that is completely closed to traffic and able to accommodate a multiple loop course of 8 laps of 5 kilometers or 6 laps of 6.67 kilometers 3. Run course closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic that can accommodate a multiple loop course of 4 laps of 2.5 kilometers. Are There Triathlon Uniform Requirements and Specifications? Uniform Purpose: Provide a clean and professional image of the sport to the represented universities/colleges, spectators and media. Each team will be clearly identifiable with school colors and logos. Athletes must comply with the uniform rules in order to compete. The rules are similar to those enforced by the International Triathlon Union (ITU) the international governing body. General Requirements: One piece uniforms are preferred. If a two piece uniform is used, the space between the top and the bottom may not be visible, so the two pieces overlap. The athlete must cover their torso for all aspects of the race. Zippers must be on the back and will be a maximum of 30cm. Front zippers are not allowed. The uniform must be attached at both shoulders for the duration of the competition. The athlete’s university/college must be identifiable on the upper front of the uniform. The athlete’s family name must also be located on the upper front and on the buttock of the uniform. The font type must be “Arial” and minimum of 5cm in height. Letters for the family name should be upper case unless it is more than 9 letters when lower case letters should be used for spacing purposes. Athletes are allowed to have up to four logos on the front and one on the back of their uniforms. There is no restriction on the type of logo used in these spaces.
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Triathlon: An Emerging Sport Proposal (FAQ) (continued) What are Expected Event Costs / Certifications / Logistics for Triathlon Events? (See Supplement #2) Event Logistics: Each event would be required to be a USAT sanctioned event. The event organizer would be required to go through the online event sanctioning procedure which walks the event organizer through the appropriate check list to help ensure a safe and fair race. In terms of costs related to the event, each venue is unique. Attached is a list of items that may or may not be necessary (depending on the venue) for each event. Costs do vary from each community which is why we would recommend each collegiate event coordinate an additional “open” community triathlon for USAT Age Group Competitors and Collegiate Club teams. This additional revenue generating event on the same, or similar, course as the collegiate elites would allow the organizer to generate more revenue through entry fees and sponsorship to offset the required costs of the event.
Are There Amateurism Concerns Inherent to Triathlon? Elite Collegiate License The USAT has a licensing system already in place to reduce situations that may potentially affect a collegiate athlete’s amateur status and eligibility. The USAT’s Elite Collegiate License is available and recommended for current or soon to be NCAA athletes who: qualify as a USAT Elite Athlete; want to compete in elite events sanctioned by USAT to gain experience; and do not want to jeopardize their NCAA eligibility. With the license, these athletes are NOT eligible for prize money but may race when it is offered. Elite annual membership is available to certain qualified, highly competitive, and experienced athletes who meet the qualifications respective to their license category. Only athletes holding an elite license are eligible to compete in the elite wave of any USAT sanctioned event that offers a minimum prize purse of $5,000. The Elite Collegiate License would enable a scholarship athlete to compete in such events without jeopardizing their amateur status and eligibility. The terms "elite" and "professional" are used interchangeably but USAT prefers that these athletes be referred to as "elites" to align with ITU and USOC.
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Supplement I Estimated Collegiate Triathlon Program Start‐Up Costs: Cost Administration/Office Salary (Head & Assistant) Benefits IT (Computer, Peripherals) Telecommunications (Land line/mobile) Paper, Copies, Office Supplies Total Admin/Office Recruiting Travel Campus Visits Total Recruiting Scholarships Tuition Fees Room Board Books Total Scholarship Cost (per athlete) Team Scholarship Cost (3.5 Scholarships) Equipment (per athlete) Bike Gear* Bike: Frame Bike Box Bike: Componentry Race Wheels General Team Gear Race Uniform Cycling Apparel Warm‐ups Swim Gear Cycling Shoes Running Shoes Maintenance/Mechanic Strength/Conditioning Equipment Bike Trainers Total Equipment Cost (per athlete) Training Ground Transportation to training venues Facility use Total Training Travel Airfare Ground Transportation Bike Fees Lodging Meals Total Travel Cost (Per Person Per Trip)
Items Comments
$ 70,000 $ 8,000 $ 1,500 $ 2,000 $ 500 $ 82,000
Pending PT/FT, other duties assigned in athletic department (teaching, admin, etc.) Pending what is offered: medical, 401k, Initial capital expenditures for computer typically spread over 3 year lifespan
$ 5,000 $ 3,000 $ 8,000
Seeking additional information for this section ‐ assume 5 trips to Junior Elite races and/or high school swimming/running national championships and 10 athletes visiting campus for official visits. Equivalency 0.26 0.13 0.36 0.23 0.02 1.00
$ 4,000 $ 1,750 $ 5,500 $ 3,500 $ 450 $ 15,200 $ 53,200
$ 1,500 $ 350 $ 1,000 $ 1,000
*Identifying and creating relationships with sponsors for product in kind or at a major discount will greatly assist teams with cost in this area. *Bike Equipment can stay with athlete throught collegiate carreer
$ 100 $ 85 $ 125 $ 100 $ 100 $ 300 $ 200 $ 100 $ 200 $ 5,160
Team will purchase 5 bikes, sets of components, and sets of wheels Team will budget for providing remaining equipment for 7 athletes
$ 400 $ 600 $ 1,000
3 pair per year: Two pair of training shoes and One pair of race flats Tune ups, repair work, etc. Much of this can be utilized at on‐campus facilities. Other considerations: Vasa, etc. Avg = Basic (fluid/wind/roller); High = advanced (CompuTrainer)
Use of athletic department or university van for any special venue training (open water, etc.) Ideally, university will not charge team; however high = some UNI cost + outside facilities Assume 4 major/travel competitions per year, cost savings if within driving distance
$ 500 $ 125 $ 300 $ 200 $ 120 $ 1,245
Item subtotals:
Rental vehicle, gas, shuttle service, etc. (approximate per athlete) $100 per room, shared between 2 athletes, assume 2‐3 nights per trip $40 per day per athlete, assume 2‐3 days
Administration/Office: Administrative Recruiting: Scholarships (3.5 per team): Equipment (5 each: bike gear) Equipment (7 each: General Team Gear): Training: Team Travel Expenses ( 2 Flying trips): Travel Expenses (3 Driving trips): Bottom line: Administrative expenses: Team expenses:
$143,200.00 $56,000.75
Estimated Start‐Up Cost:
$199,200.75
$82,000.00 $8,000.00 $53,200.00 $19,250.00 $9,170.00 $1,000.00 $17,430.00 $9,150.75
SUPPLEMENT II SAMPLE COLLEGIATE TRIATHLON EVENT BUDGET EXPENSES: Item
Amount
Design and Print local race flyer T-Shirt Design T-Shirt Printing (250 @ $5.00 Per – Participants, volunteers, staff and sponsors) Awards (10@ $10 Per) Refreshments Ice Water Race Numbers (200@$0.40 Per) Bike Frame Numbers (200@$0.33 Per) Bike Helmet Numbers (200@$0.10 Per) USA Triathlon Sanctioning Fee Police Port o Lets Set Up Events Production Fee Swim Caps (200 @0.95 Per)
$500 $250 $1,250
TOTAL:
$100 $300 $200 $100 $80 $66 $20 $150 $1,000 $500 $7,500 $190 ($12,206)
REVENUE: 195 Individuals @ $70 Per 5 Relay Teams @ $125 Per
$13,650 $625 TOTAL:
$14,275
NOTE: Using the above numbers you have a breakeven situation with 188 individual entries and zero sponsorship dollars. The opportunity to generate significant revenue stems from 1) Growing the event where you have more than 200 participants and 2) Being able to generate local sponsorship money. Also, the numbers include costs which you may not incur (ex. Refreshments may be handled by a sponsor at no charge, police may not charge you, your printing may be done by a sponsor, etc). You may also incur additional costs based on your specific town, race site, etc. The numbers are also set based on only an international distance event. The addition of a sprint event would also generate significant revenue.