Youth/Junior Frequently Asked Questions

My child does not know how to swim.  Will this program teach them?  The program is designed for children that already have a basic competency of the freestyle stroke.  Children must be able to swim one length of the pool, freestyle, unassisted in order to enter the swim portion of the program.

This program only meets 2-3 days per week.  Is this enough to prepare them for a triathlon?  More than enough.  The distances involved in a kids race are relatively short and do not require extensive preparation or "training".  We also include our "Tri For Parents" guidelines for additional help from mom or dad.

My child plays on a select soccer team.  Can they do both?  We gave this question very careful consideration when we designed our program, and built maximum flexibility into it.  The TSF Tri Kids and TSF Performance programs are designed to enhance sport specific skills and help prevent injury- a perfect complement to other organized sports.

May I purchase a month of single sessions then mix and match?  Sorry, no.  You must either register for the conditioning sessions, swim sessions, or both.

I want my child to be a "serious" triathlete.  Is this program geared toward...  The incidence of sport related injuries has sky rocketed with the increase in organized sport participation.  We align ourselves with the USA Triathlon recommendations for age appropriate training.  Our primary considerations are safety, health, and learning but we have a "pathway to excellence" for youth triathletes that show aptitude for the sport.  Incorporating too much highly specialized training at a very early age is high risk to the child. 

My child's bike does not fit.  Can you help us adjust or select a new one?  Absolutely.  We fit our youth members out for FREE ($100 value) and we can help you select the proper bike- new or used.  

I have never done a triathlon.  How does this all work?  It is a lot of fun and requires a minimum of preparation for the youth participants; especially those that participate in organized sports.  We will teach them the skill sets needed to complete the swim, bike, and run safely and smoothly.  The swim will be in a pool.  Prior to the event there will be a pre-race meeting that explains the course an process in detail.  Graduates of our program will be well prepared and informed for their race and we will put on a "warm up" race prior to the event.  However, participating in a youth triathlon is not mandatory.  Your child may enjoy all the benefits of our program even if participation in a triathlon is not logistically possible.