USA Triathlon is the national governing body for the multi-sport disciplines of triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States. USA Triathlon is a member federation of the U. S. Olympic Committee and the International Triathlon Union.
USA Triathlon coordinates and sanctions grass-roots and elite multi-sport events across the country and works to create interest and participation in those programs.
USA Triathlon’s 60,000-strong membership is comprised of athletes of all ages, coaches, officials, parents and fans striving together to strengthen multi-sport.
On the elite level, USA Triathlon is responsible for the selection and training of teams to represent the United States in international competition, including the world championships, Pan Am Games and Olympic Games. It conducts national camps and clinics and provides coaching education programs.
On the developmental level, USA Triathlon fosters grass-roots expansion of the sport, which is facilitated by the sanctioning of age-group events and triathlon clubs. National and regional championships are held for triathletes from junior to senior age divisions.
USA Triathlon's mission is to provide excellence in leadership, structure and education for the growth and development of the sport. USA Triathlon's vision is to set the standard of excellence as a world leader in the sport by promoting a healthy lifestyle and encouraging participation and achievement.
USAT Website: www.usatriathlon.org
USAT Membership Registration
Paper form processing can take up to 3 weeks. We suggest applying online if you have an event before then, and note there is NO LONGER A PROCESSING FEE! All USA Triathlon memberships are non-refundable.
Paper Registration
1. To download the application form, you will need Adobe Acrobat to view the USAT registration form, you can download a free version of the program here.
2. Fill it in completely and print out.
3. Sign the waiver.
4. Mail or fax to USA Triathlon (the address and fax number are located at the top of the form).
USA Triathlon Rules and Regulations
All Gold Medal Racing events are USA Triathlon (USAT) sanctioned events. All USAT rules apply. USAT officials will be present to enforce these rules and assess penalties if warranted. Visit www.usatriathlon.org to read the USAT rulebook.
Some of the most common infractions include:
- Glass in the transition area
- Bicycles racked on the wrong rack
- Missing handlebar end plugs (Disqualificcation - safety)
- Assistance along the course (e.g. help with wetsuit removal)
- Missing or unbuckled hard shell helmets
- Drafting, blocking and position foul on the bicycle
- Bicycle helmets are mandatory! No particcipation without a helmet, period.
- Chin straps must be fastened BEFORE you leave the transition area and MUST NOT be unfastened prior to entering the transition area following the bike leg. Violation of either rule will result in at least a TWO minute time penalty.
- Dismount the bike before entering the trransition area. There is NO riding of bicycles inside the transition area. At least a TWO minute time penalty will result.
- There is NO DRAFTING on the bike course.. This means that you MUST be at least 2 bike lengths behind the rider in front of you. Riding two abreast (side-by-side) is NOT allowed. There will be bike marshals on the course. Violation of the drafting rule will result in a penalty.
- MP3/IPODs: Use of an MP3 player on the bike will result in a DQ! Use on the run will results in a time penalty!
*** This is a USA Triathlon sanctioned event. All USAT rules will be enforced by USAT officials! It is your responsibility to know the rules! You can find the rulebook at www.usatriathlon.org
A Message from the USAT Head Referee
"Most triathletes come to races with only a rudimentary understanding of the rules of the sport. Indeed, few have ever read through the Competitive Rules in its entirety. In order to minimize misunderstandings on race day, I hope you will take the time to read the following summary of Position Violations, which you probably know as the drafting rules.
I have reduced the Position Rules to the following concepts, which everyone can remember:
- Ride on the right side of your lane.
- Keep three bike lengths between yourselff and the cyclist in front of you.
- Pass on the left of the cyclist in frontt, never on the right.
- Complete your pass within 15 seconds.
- If passed, you must drop completely out of the zone, to the rear, before attempting to re-pass.
Remember you are racing in a USA Triathlon sanctioned event and there are trained referees on the course to ensure fairness in the competition. There will be NO WARNINGS if you commit a foul during competition. Triathlon is an individual event and you must take personal responsibility to understand the rules and avoid penalties. At the end of the race all citations by the marshals are reviewed by the Head Referee who then decides if a penalty should be assessed. The Head Referee’s ruling is final in the case of Position Violations and there are no protests or appeals of Position penalties. Marshals commonly cite the following violations:
- Illegal Position or Blocking – riding onn the left side of the lane without passing.
- Illegal Pass – passing on the right, or failing to drop back three bike lengths before re-passing.
- Overtaken - failing to drop back three bbike lengths after being passed and before re-passing.
- Drafting – following a leading cyclist ccloser than three bike lengths and failing to pass or exit the draft zone within 15 seconds.
Though Position Violations carry a time penalty for each occurrence, if you are cited for three violations, you will be disqualified.
Always have your chinstrap securely fastened! The chin strap rule is the easiest to follow, but some folks always seem to forget – that’s a DQ!
Remember to treat other athletes, volunteers, and officials with courtesy and consideration. Failure to do so is called Unsportsmanlike Conduct and you will be disqualified.
There is no riding your bike allowed in the transition area. Please dismount when instructed to do so by race volunteers."