"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Anyone a USA certified coach?

I'm always taking classes, trying to learn more. I'm bored with classes about EMS stuff. I enjoy teaching, I enjoy talking(most of the time) and have tossed the idea around of getting my coaching license. Might as well mix it with my biggest hobby.

Anyone else have it? Is it worth it? At this point, I wouldn't go higher than Level 2 based on time commitments. I know I'll never make any money from it, but I just like learning about new things.

I'm thinking about getting the book and seeing what it's all about.

Anyone can get the basic USAC license. They send you a book. You take an open book test at your home. Send it in with a check and voila, you are a coach.

Silly...

^I got the book and was...unimpressed. I did learn more about racing track, but I knew absolutely nothing before.

I'd imagine the seminars are more informative than the book was. Actually, I really hope so.

Anyone can get the basic USAC license. They send you a book. You take an open book test at your home. Send it in with a check and voila, you are a coach.

Silly...


I understand that. I would like to get to a Level 2 class this year too. I'm asking is it worth it though to have that "Level II/III" attached to your name. Any downsides? Like I said, I enjoy teaching and would ultimately like to coach a little more seriously, but at the same time, learn. It appears to be a relatively easy process. Is it legit, or just another money maker for USAC?

It appears to be a relatively easy process. Is it legit, or just another money maker for USAC?

You bet. In surfing around to all the blogs I go to, I've found several level 3 "coaches" trying to sell their "coaching services" for $XXX/month. You can't shake a stick without hitting a USAC coach.

To get to level 2 you have to attend so many hours of clinics/seminars (it's not much). I don't remember if you have to take a test for an upgrade. We have a few coaches on our team, so that's where I got my information from. I thought about it too, but it seemed like Ohio's old emissions test for cars - everyone passes and it was just another money maker. My money was better spent elsewhere.

If you're just in it to learn, borrow the reading material from Paul. If you want to be a coach, in my opinion, you don't need to spend the money to be USAC certified. With your background in power training and your work, I would delve into the physiology/power link and not spend the yearly money updating a license that anyone can get and (in my opinion) is most often abused by those trying to sell a service. If you're a team director, it looks good on the resume though.

But what do I know?

Yeah, according to the site, you have to test to get your level II. I realize the III is a joke, but you've gotta start somewhere if you want to eventually get to the Level I program. I was just thinking about starting the process now because if one ever decides to take the Level I course, you have to be a Level II for 5 years first.

because if one ever decides to take the Level I course, you have to be a Level II for 5 years first.

That's why it's futile for me as I'd be dead from old age before getting the level 1.

That's why I was thinking of starting now, ya know, before I turn 30 and get old. :)

I have the level 3 certification and I may get level 2. If you get the L3 book you will learn a few things. There is a lot of general physiology, equipment setup, rider psychology and legal/ethical info. If you are interested in cycling it is not a bad idea. It does not prepare you to coach, but gives you a framework for setting up a coaching business. A friend just went to the level 2 seminar in Orlando and he thought it was very good and picked up a lot of good info. It was more geared toward training plans and fitness testing.

If you are not already, another good thing to consider getting is your officials license. I learned a ton about racing that I did not know and it helps my club out when we are promoting races.

One last thing to consider is your involvement with junior riders. If you have a child that is racing or if you are helping juniors you can't protest on their behalf unless you have a coaches license. So if your team has juniors on it and nobody on the team is a certified coach they have to protest for themselves. This is a pretty big deal since junior crits are so difficult to score and they often have no idea where they finish.

got the book, looking to go the level II/III route, eventually/possibly the level I way. There is also a power certification course. Each advanced seminar costs several hundred dollars, plus getting there.

The money in in USAT coaching...but you kinda actually have to know stuff there. ;)

I'll add one other thing. Read the first few pages of the L3 manual. Its fairly clear that they assembled a book solely to convey the most basic knowledge a "coach" should have. Secondly, being "certified" entitles you to liability insurance through USAC and, as stated before, the ability to work with, and on the behalf of, Juniors.

My personal thinking is, it costs less than $100, takes less than a week, and starts you on your way to learning about your sport and, possibly, areas in which you are weak (physiology, other types of racing, nutrition, etc.). Go for it.