Safe Return to Multisport Dear ....,
The world changed for all of us earlier this year, when the COVID-19 pandemic began to impact our lives in dramatic ways. And while the future remains uncertain, we know we will eventually return to participating and competing in the sport we all love.
As we consider returning to racing again in 2020 and beyond, we must balance our passion for multisport with the need to prioritize the health and safety of our athletes, race directors and their staff, coaches, volunteers and the local communities that host us.
For this reason, we are pleased to launch the USA Triathlon Safe Return to Multisport initiative. This set of guidelines and recommendations will help our community — including athletes, race directors, coaches, clubs and officials — prepare for racing while remaining consistent with guidance from federal, state and local authorities, and aligned with local circumstances.
View the USA Triathlon Safe Return to Multisport initiative As the national governing body, it is essential that we provide direction to assure a consistent and unified approach to return to our sport, working hand-in-hand with you to do so. This is a continuously evolving situation and the information included in this initiative will be regularly updated as circumstances change so refer to
usatriathlon.org/safe-return for the latest updates.
We are launching the initiative today with two key documents, USA Triathlon Safe Return to Multisport Guidelines and Return to Racing Recommendations for Race Directors. Two additional resources, Return to Racing for Athletes and Return to Racing Training Program, which will be made available in the coming weeks.
The initiative has been developed in coordination with experienced race directors, medical experts, certified coaches, club directors, officials, athletes and endurance sport leaders while relying on fact-based recommendations from other expert resources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, Occupational Safety and Health Administration and utilizing sport-specific guidelines developed by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the International Triathlon Union.
Return to Racing for Athletes This resource will walk you through the changes you should expect when races return to the calendar, what these changes will look like in practice, and why such measures are necessary and effective.
Return to Racing Training Program Led by USA Triathlon-certified coach and 2004 U.S. Olympian Barb Lindquist with contributions from 12 additional USA Triathlon-certified coaches, this resource will provide best practices for you to personally resume safe training and racing. The included guidelines, drills and plans will help you prepare physically for the demands of a multisport event after extended lack of access to swimming pools and workout facilities, all while emphasizing the importance of reducing exposure and transmission of COVID-19.
USA Triathlon Safe Return to Multisport Guidelines This overarching document uses the U.S. government's three-phased approach to reopening America as a framework to give the entire multisport community guidance on racing and training. However, it is intended to be flexible to allow race directors to adapt their application to guidance from state and local authorities, as well as local circumstances, such as population density regulations and severity of COVID-19 outbreaks.
Return to Racing Recommendations for Race Directors This document serves as an addendum to the Safe Return to Multisport Guidelines, taking a deeper dive into the operational details of event directing. The purpose of this document is to provide recommendations for race directors to consider and enact as part of their holistic event planning process.
You can find more information about the USA Triathlon Safe Return to Multisport initiative in our press release, which is live now at
usatriathlon.org and will be distributed via email shortly.
Lastly, if you have the capacity to give back during this difficult time, please consider making a donation to the
USA Triathlon Foundation COVID-19 Relief Fund. This funding will support race directors, coaches, clubs and others in the industry who have been impacted financially due to COVID-19. Your support is truly appreciated and will enable our multisport community to continue to thrive.
Thank you for all you do for our sport. We appreciate your support and understanding as we navigate these unprecedented challenges, and we look forward to seeing you back at the races again.
Sincerely,
Rocky Harris
USA Triathlon CEO
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