Is USATF membership required to get Level 1 certification?

I got my level 1 without it - not sure about level 2, but I don't think so.

mzungu, was it worth getting the level 1?

Actually, I'd have to say yes. The distance portion of it was totally worthless - really, I can't overstate how useless it was; it was a waste of time. The people who taught it had no knowledge or experience with it, but I think it totally had to do with the teachers, not the topic. They skimmed over the phsyiology of running a distance race but did nothing with training or program writing.

The sprints session was OK, nothing earthshattering, but OK. The hurdles and throws sessions were both great. Jumps was OK. I would definitely feel better about coaching athletes in some of those areas after having done the class.

From a professional standpoint, I know it's been good on my resume when interviewing for HS positions, and I do plan on doing level 2 - so I have to have level I, so I guess it's worth it in that sense too. I also met some people there who I stay in touch with and who helped open some doors for me when I was job hunting.

If it's not too much trouble for you, I'd say do it.

I did Level II back in 92 or 93.....it was GREAT then and I know it has gotten better. Level II is well worth the cost and effort!

I also did Level III in the Distnaces and it was REALLY GOOD....Daniels was one of the main speakers as was Brooks Johnson and Peter Snell!

Thanks for the info!

If the people putting it on don't ask for a usatf membership then their just a bunch of tools. Actually, the cost should be like 120 for a member 200 for a non member and then I can see them doing it.

The different schools depend on who is teaching them. I did my Level I back in the early 90's with Sousa doing the jumps, Seagrave the sprints, some guy from NY (Janson?) on the throws and a guy from Connecticut doing the distances. I learned more there than at all the clinics I've been to combined. Throws could have been better, but the other events were outstanding.

I've had others tell me that they learned nothing from the Level I.

What 4, where was the school that you did? Also, did you do your level ? what event?

I went to Level 1 and it was useless as I figured it would be, as somebody else mentioned I did it only so I could do level 2. I even had to correct a lot of the physiology at my level 1, especially the distance session. Seagrave was the best part but he didn't get much time so that sucked. I've also done level 2 in both endurance and sprints. Endurance was nothing new to learn but the best part was getting different ideas of how other people put their seasons together. Sprints was awesome and since I have a distance background, I learned a lot. As I said before, its not like they are teaching you anything that isn't common knowledge, its just seeing how some of the instructors and others in your group put things together that makes it worth while.

This reminds me of the "advancing levels" I could accrue while taking swimming lessons as a child:

Level 1: Guppy

Level 2: Fish

Level 3: Shark

Level 4: Whale

Well, you get the picture.

P.S. I want to take this opportunity to thank God for blessing me with aquatic prowess.

My level 1 weekend session was held in Eau Claire, WI, and they CUT IT SHORT on Sunday so people could go home and watch the Packers!

And they wonder why T&F isn't considered an important sport in this country--even THEY didn't give a sh*t!