I am interested in getting into a level of collegiate assistant coaching in a few years (D2/D3/NAIA) and am trying to figure out what would be better to be certified in. Does anyone have any tips on what courses to take and is it better to go through USTFCCAA or USATF?
USTFCCCA certification vs USATF certification for collegiate coaching
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The first level certification is useless other than being a pre-requisite for the level 2 certification. Neither are required for a college coaching job. Your coaching resume is all that matters.
That said, USTFCCCA is far better and more organized. -
fast runner 72 wrote:
That said, USTFCCCA is far better and more organized.
I somewhat agree. The USATF education is the only pathway for most in the US to a Level 5 IAAF certification if that is your end goal. -
I think either one is fine... neither one will really help you land a job like some else said if you have a good resume and more importantly have an “in” someplace that’s all that matters.
There are head college coaches that don’t have either one. Basically they look nice at the bottom of your bio on the team page.
Both could be helpful for networking and if you get hired you can likely get your job to pay for it.
Put your energy into finding ways to network the next few years and volunteer someplace. -
prob doesnt matter wrote:
I think either one is fine... neither one will really help you land a job like some else said if you have a good resume and more importantly have an “in” someplace that’s all that matters.
There are head college coaches that don’t have either one. Basically they look nice at the bottom of your bio on the team page.
Both could be helpful for networking and if you get hired you can likely get your job to pay for it.
Put your energy into finding ways to network the next few years and volunteer someplace.
This depends a lot on how it is offered.
I went through to level 3 USATF / Level 5 IAAF for two different certifications, did the XC specialist, and did the USTFCCCA strength and conditioning training.
If I was looking for a college coaching job I could have easily have landed one through the number of contacts I made there. I know a lot of people that did. The last certification I took in December of last year, I even connected someone with a college I knew was looking for a local sprint coach and they took him in right then.
I learned as much from the other students there as I did the instructors. Two of the courses I took with Tom Schwartz as we were both students so I got to hang out with him for the week a couple of times to get his take on the instruction.
However, now that they are offering most of these things with exception to level 3 through Zoom so I don't see the same opportunities for networking.
If they are not willing to go back to in person learning for this the valuable practicum sessions will be lost, but most importantly the networking piece will be missing. I don't know if they understand the value of this.
Unfortunately this trend was fast tracked due to Covid-19 and I am convinced they will not go back. -
Thank you all for the advice!
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USTFCCCA , you are allowed to date your athletes .
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I have a Level 2 Cert I got through USATF back when I was coaching D3.
1. You don't need a Cert to coach (you need to know someone, AD, Director, Current coach)
2. No one cares about D3 athletics, only D3 athletes (The AD doesn't care, the president of the college doesn't care) only you and your athletes will care, unless there is long time head coach there with decades of caring alums.
3. Even if you break every school record, it won't be enough to get to your coach up a division (witnesses this first hand myself)
4. Have fun and do it for the love. The pay will suck, the hours are long, don't let it gobble up your existence because it's not a big deal at the end of the day and life goes on.
p.s.- Former D3 Collegiate coach, 16 school records in 4 years, 1 All American, 8 jobs interviews in which I landed 0. -
allentrack86 wrote:
I have a Level 2 Cert I got through USATF back when I was coaching D3.
1. You don't need a Cert to coach (you need to know someone, AD, Director, Current coach)
2. No one cares about D3 athletics, only D3 athletes (The AD doesn't care, the president of the college doesn't care) only you and your athletes will care, unless there is long time head coach there with decades of caring alums.
3. Even if you break every school record, it won't be enough to get to your coach up a division (witnesses this first hand myself)
4. Have fun and do it for the love. The pay will suck, the hours are long, don't let it gobble up your existence because it's not a big deal at the end of the day and life goes on.
p.s.- Former D3 Collegiate coach, 16 school records in 4 years, 1 All American, 8 jobs interviews in which I landed 0.
1. You don't need a certification, but considering most of the people you'll be interviewing with are not coaches (likely administration), you will want these types of credentials that stack up well to other applicants.
2. This is true.
3. This is not true. Again, it depends who you know. I've seen many people (recently, in the last 2 years) move up and around the different divisions because they had the right connections.
4. This is true. You get what you put into it, and if you got nothing still, you're probably lying to yourself how much you put in.
p.s. former d3 coach here, I'm d1 now. Don't listen to the naysayers. -
As everyone stated, the networking from taking these courses is more beneficial than the class certificate themselves. You’ll have more interaction with collegiate coaches at USTFCCCA than USATF (I recall more HS and club coaches at USATF). Also, the material from USTFCCCA is more relevant to your collegiate athlete demographic. With your experience, you’re not really going to learn anything earth shattering.
The USTFCCCA convention in the winter is a great way to meet folks as well.
I received my CSCS through the NSCA. That has been the most beneficial certification I’ve taken in creating strength training programs. I’ve found that most collegiate strength coaches make very generic programs that are not applicable to distance runners. -
WinnytheBish wrote:
allentrack86 wrote:
I have a Level 2 Cert I got through USATF back when I was coaching D3.
1. You don't need a Cert to coach (you need to know someone, AD, Director, Current coach)
2. No one cares about D3 athletics, only D3 athletes (The AD doesn't care, the president of the college doesn't care) only you and your athletes will care, unless there is long time head coach there with decades of caring alums.
3. Even if you break every school record, it won't be enough to get to your coach up a division (witnesses this first hand myself)
4. Have fun and do it for the love. The pay will suck, the hours are long, don't let it gobble up your existence because it's not a big deal at the end of the day and life goes on.
p.s.- Former D3 Collegiate coach, 16 school records in 4 years, 1 All American, 8 jobs interviews in which I landed 0.
1. You don't need a certification, but considering most of the people you'll be interviewing with are not coaches (likely administration), you will want these types of credentials that stack up well to other applicants.
2. This is true.
3. This is not true. Again, it depends who you know. I've seen many people (recently, in the last 2 years) move up and around the different divisions because they had the right connections.
4. This is true. You get what you put into it, and if you got nothing still, you're probably lying to yourself how much you put in.
p.s. former d3 coach here, I'm d1 now. Don't listen to the naysayers.
Let me add to my last point. I applied to 104 jobs over two years and probably had about 10 interviews total. Made it to the final 2 or 3 for those until I landed my current position. -
They’re going to merge at some point, so they’re gonna be the exact same soon enough.
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doesnt make a difference wrote:
They’re going to merge at some point, so they’re gonna be the exact same soon enough.
Nope, they are not -
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