USA Cycling Coaching Certification

The official USA Cycling website reports attainment of any of the three levels of cycling coaching certification requires more skills to be acquired than the ability to time and oversee training sessions. The USA Cycling Coaching Certificates require the coach to attain skills in all aspects of an athletes sporting life, the ultimate aim of a coach reaching the highest level of coaching is to travel with the U.S. National cycling team to international competition.

  1. History

    • According to the International Bicycle Fund the forerunner of the bicycle was a 4 wheeled form of transportation developed in 1418 by Giovanni Fontana. The first bicycles to be manufactured in the U.S. were created at the Weed Sewing Machine Company in Hartford, Connecticut in 1878. Cycling in the U.S. was organized in 1920 under the Amateur Bicycle League of America organization. In 1975 the League changed its name to the U.S. Cycling Federation before merging in 1995 with the newly formed USA Cycling organization. USA Cycling is responsible for improving both the safety and development of the sport of cycling in the U.S., this includes the sports of track, road, BMX, cyclo-cross and mountain biking.

    Level 3

    • The USA cycling coaching certification is the introductory level of bicycle coaching available in the U.S.. The Level 3 course is described by USA Cycling as an introduction to cycling coaching. To complete the Level 3 coaching certificate a coach must complete a home study course followed by an exam on the subjects covered.

    Level 2

    • In order to complete the Level 2 coaching certification a coach must first complete the Level 3 certification. USA Cycling describes the Level 2 course to consist of a week long coaching clinic and an exam on the subjects covered during the clinic. Subjects covered during the clinic include communication skills, nutrition/hydration and tactics/strategy.

    Level 1

    • The highest level of coaching certification available from the USA Cycling organization is the Level 1 certification. Coaches who achieve the Level 1 certification are deemed to be capable of coaching the U.S. national cycling team at international standard events. USA Cycling reports coaches who achieve the Level 1 certification must have been a Level 2 coach for at least 5 years, attend a 5.5 day coaching clinic and pass an exam. Some of the subjects covered during the Level 1 coaching course include altitude training, overtraining and designing training plans.

    Other

    • USA Cycling added a specialized coaching certificate in power based training. The Certification of Certified Power Based Training Coach is only available to coaches who have achieved either Level 1 or 2 coaching status.