Triathlon is an endurance multisport consisting of a race with three legs: swimming, biking and running. Races vary over distances, and participants can range from young children to senior citizens. Junior triathlon training is a specific niche within triathlon, with special races and guidelines, as well as opportunities to advance in the sport.
Identification
USA Triathlon, or USAT, is the governing body of triathlon in the United States. According to USAT, junior triathletes are the fastest-growing sector of USAT members. Junior triathletes are between the ages of 16 and 19, with the individual's racing age determined on Dec. 31 of the year he is competing. Those individuals who are age 15 or younger are considered part of the youth division of USAT.
Types
USAT offers two avenues of competition for junior triathletes: the traditional, nondrafting triathlon format, or the draft-legal triathlons. The traditional format races are junior development and are entry level and age appropriate. The draft-legal races are junior elite cups that are similar to International Triathlon Union, or ITU, World Cup and Olympic formats. Junior athletes do not have to qualify to race in junior elite cups, but USAT says that the individual should have strong running and swimming abilities and be able to ride in a peloton in the bike leg of the race.
Junior Development Camps
USAT development camps for junior triathletes are of two ability levels: skill development camps, for beginner-to-intermediate level athletes; and select camps, for advanced, more competitive athletes. Skill development camps aim to provide basic fundamentals of each part of triathlon, basic sports nutrition information and structured training plans. The select camps concentrate on honing the junior athletes' racing skills in draft-legal races, polishing their transitions and putting extra focus on sports nutrition and exercise science.
Considerations
Although triathlon is primarily an individual sport, it can be intimidating for a teenager to simply take up the event. Joining a local triathlon team or club may be an option and can help provide the peer encouragement and experienced coaching a junior triathlete needs. According to Excel and Beyond Coaching, joining a triathlon club or team can help junior athletes develop a training plan, learn from experienced triathletes and coaches, provide team discounts on triathlon equipment, which can be expensive, and help balance training and recovery.
USAT Junior Performance Plan
USAT has developed junior performance plans that are designed to help high-performing junior triathletes reach their potential, as well as help shape them into long-term elite triathletes. Qualifying junior triathletes can receive reimbursement for races and equipment, travel expenses and access to USAT training centers. Sport-specific fitness tests are also administered to gauge progress and identify areas that need work, as well as provide coaches with data to help develop training programs.
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