Mercer Cross Country Coach Gains Highest Certification by USATF
12/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
MACON, Ga. – Mercer cross country coach Ryan Bailey recently completed his Level III certification by USA Track & Field (USATF).
The Level III certification is the highest offered by USATF, which is the national governing body for track & field, cross country, triathlons and race walking.
The Level III certification now allows Bailey to be considered for selection as a member of the coaching delegation for national and Junior National teams during high level competitions including international meets such as the Pan Am Games, World Championships or Olympics.
To reach Level III certification, a coach must have met the following criteria: have a minimum of ten years of coaching experience at a recognized school or with a club program; have completed the Level 2 program in the event group of desired Level 3; have at least three years of coaching experience after completing Level 2 Course; attend a minimum of three Level 3 coaching education seminars, two of which must be in the event group of desired; have coached at least one athlete who has qualified and competed at the national level (this may include the following Championship events: Open, Junior, NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, Junior Olympic, USATF Youth Outdoor T&F, Foot Locker, National Scholastic, etc.); have a B.A. or B.S. degree, and; produce an original technical article, suitable for publication, that is written specifically for the purpose of meeting the Level 3 requirements.
Bailey's final step to Level III was attending the Podium Education Project (PEP), an annual High Performance Coaches Symposium which brings elite coaches and sport scientists together to review, and present some of the most cutting edge methodology and coaching practices in the world. It is designed to provide an exchange of knowledge between scientists, elite coaches of national team athletes, and podium level coaches who have achieved the status of developing a medal-winning athlete at the World Championships or Olympic level.
Bailey's certification is in the Endurance event-group. He attended a “breakout group” moderated by renowned coach Joe Vigil – who is also Bailey's mentor in the certification program - to learn about specific training techniques for 800m and 1500m event distances.
Bailey also attended the opening ceremonies of the USATF annual meeting with Coach Vigil. “Coach Vigil helped me tremendously in the past couple of years. He is a great motivator and teacher who is always willing to share his vast knowledge. He is the single greatest coaching influence I have ever had.
“I am very proud and honored to have completed this process,” said Bailey. “It is a life-long dream of mine to coach for the National Team and to be a part of the Olympic movement. Coaching in the Olympics is, of course, still only a dream, but this achievement brings the dream one step closer to being a reality.
“In the meantime, by continuing to study my sport through the USATF Coaching Education program, I improve the scope and breadth of my knowledge – becoming a better coach for my team – and that is extremely important to me.”
