What is Course Certification?
By Kevin P. Lucas, USATF/RRTC National Certifier
The purpose of the USATF Course Certification Program is to produce road race courses of accurately measured distances using the calibrated bicycle method of measuring. Course certification is the runner's only assurance that the course was measured accurately by uniform standards.
For any road running or race walking performance to be accepted as a record or be nationally ranked, it must be conducted on a USATF Certified course. Additionally, the Certification Program is equally important to the average runner, jogger, or walker. Most runners, joggers, and walkers like to compare performances from different courses, and such comparisons are difficult if course distances are not reliable. No one can truly establish a personal best if the course distance is not accurate.
USATF Course Certification should not be confused with USATF Race Sanctioning, the two are not connected: a Sanctioned race can use an un-Certified course and an un-Sanctioned race can use a Certified course. For more Event Sanctioning information visit: http://www.usatf-niagara.org/niagarasanction03.htm
How to get your course measured for USATF Certification?
The Calibrated Bicycle Method of measuring can be accomplished by anyone willing to put in the necessary time following the step by step guidelines in the Course Measurement Procedures Manual, available at: http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/certification/manual/. After measuring a course, preparing a detailed map (which includes all key measured points: start, finish, turn-arounds, traffic cone positions, etc.), and completing the necessary application paperwork, the paperwork and map must be sent for final review and approval to New York Regional Certifier, for contact name and address visit: http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/certification/certifiers.asp. The Certifier will either approve the course application or, if the measurer made a mistake, notify the measurer and explain how to fix it. Once the course is approved, a Course Certification ID number will be assigned, a certificate issued, and mailed to the event director. There is a $25 Certification Fee for all road courses and $10 fee for calibration courses. The final signed certificate is combined with the course map to become the official documentation for this newly USATF Certified course.
All active USATF Certified courses are listed and their course maps can be viewed and downloaded at the USATF website: http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/search/. Additionally, the Niagara Association hosts the list of all Active New York State Certified Courses at: http://www.usatf-niagara.org/certified_courses.htm .
Course Certifications carry a 10 Year Expiration because road courses often degrade over time due to repaving or changes in the road. All course Certifications expire automatically 10 years after the year of issue. Once a course has expired, it must be re-measured and re-Certified.
There are a few good measurers who live in the USATF Niagara Association area and are always willing to assist in measuring your course. Most measurers welcome event directors willing to learn how to measure their own course to accompany them on a course measurement. Please contact the following people regarding course measurement for USATF certification.
Rochester Area
Kevin P. Lucas, USATF/RRTC National Certifier
585-421-9626
Greg Brooks
585-467-4365
Buffalo Area
John Grandits
716-634-5052
johnboyg42@aol.com
John Felix
716-884-6955
Bob Laskowski
716-822-0790
Dave Lawrence
716-875-6361
Syracuse Area
David Oja
315-446-6285
Don Hughes
315-471-6399
Last Updated: 01/06/06