USA Track & Field

What USA Track & Field does

USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body (NGB) for track and field, long distance running, cross country, and race walking in the United States, recognized by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and aligned with World Athletics. The organization was established in 1979 as The Athletics Congress/USA following the Amateur Sports Act and was rebranded to USA Track & Field in 1992; its roots trace to the Amateur Athletic Union founded in 1878. Headquartered in Indianapolis with a staff of 51-100, USATF serves more than 130,000 individual members, over 3,000 clubs, and 56 regional associations, and sanctions approximately 8,000 events annually across the country.

USATF's core products are organized around three platforms: (1) USATF Connect, a Sport80-powered membership management system that handles registration, certification tracking, and coach registries; (2) USATF.TV, a direct-to-consumer streaming platform for live and archived event coverage; and (3) a tiered coaching education program spanning Developmental Coach through Level 3 with specialty courses (Marathon Specialist, Cross Country Specialist, Podium Coaches Camp) accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE). The organization also operates a course certification system, an event sanctioning and insurance program covering 7,500+ youth events, and a fantasy/pick'em engagement game. A long-term broadcasting partnership with NBC Sports (announced 2016) anchors event distribution.

Revenue is generated through five primary streams: individual and club membership fees (Youth $35, Adult $65, VIP $200, Officials $240/4-year, plus club memberships), event sanctioning fees with associated insurance premiums, broadcasting rights (NBC Sports), tiered corporate sponsorships (flagship partners Nike and Toyota; core partners Hershey, KT Tape, Saatva, NCSA, Prevagen, Xfinity, Gatorade, UCS, Orlando Health), and coaching education course fees. Marketing is event-driven, centered on national championships, the USATF Tour, Junior Olympics, the Journey to Gold Zone podcast, and a multi-platform social media presence. In 2017 USATF reported a record annual budget of more than $35 million.

Name

USA Track & Field

Legal name

USA Track & Field, Inc.

Website

https://usatf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1878

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

USA Track & Field is the US National Governing Body for track and field, cross country, road running, and race walking, serving 130,000+ members, 3,000+ clubs, and sanctioning 8,000+ events annually through membership, broadcasting, and corporate sponsorship revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

National Sports Governing Body

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Spectator Sports (7112), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Other Spectator Sports (711219)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International Sport Federations (IFs) (MPAKAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Amateur Sport Governing Bodies & Federations (National/Regional) (MPAKACAD), Road Running Events (Marathons, Half Marathons, 10K/5K) (MPAKAIAA)

Keywords

• National governing body
• Athletics federation services
• Coaching certification programs
• Event sanctioning insurance
• Membership sports organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from individual members (youth, adult, VIP, officials) and club/organization memberships across 56 associations. Membership provides competitive eligibility, insurance benefits, and access to USATF programs.
2. Event Sanctions and Broadcasting Rights: Revenue from sanctioning 8,000+ events annually and long-term broadcasting partnership with NBC Sports. NBC is the primary broadcaster for USATF events.
3. Corporate Sponsorship: National sponsors at partner, supplier, and licensee levels including Nike (official sponsor), Toyota, Hershey, KT Tape, Saatva, Prevagen, Xfinity, Gatorade, and Orlando Health. Sponsors receive broadcasting exposure and marketing integration.
4. Coaching Education Programs: Revenue from coaching education courses including Developmental Coach, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and specialty programs. Fees vary by program with separate costs for CEU courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

USA Track & Field is the U.S. National Governing Body for track and field, cross country, road running, and race walking. It sanctions more than 8,000 events annually, manages membership for 130,000+ athletes and 3,000+ clubs across 56 associations, selects and fields Team USA for international competition, and runs a multi-tier coaching education and certification system. Revenue is generated through membership fees, event sanctioning and insurance, corporate sponsorships (including NBC Sports broadcasting rights), and coaching education course fees.

Product overview

USA Track & Field operates as a National Governing Body offering a portfolio of products and services centered around competitive track and field sports. The core offerings include membership management via USATF Connect (powered by Sport80), live event streaming through USATF.tv, and a comprehensive coaching education pathway spanning from entry-level Developmental Coach certification through Level 3 elite coaching credentials, supplemented by specialty courses (Marathon Specialist, Cross Country Specialist, Podium Coaches Camp). Additional services include event sanctioning and insurance for over 8,000 annual events, youth/adult/VIP/officials/club membership tiers, and a fantasy prediction game. The coaching education system is NCACE-accredited and utilizes a blended format combining self-paced online modules with live interactive sessions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• USATF Membership Programs Tiered membership structure including Youth ($35), Adult ($65), VIP ($200), Officials ($240/4-year), and Club/Organization memberships providing competition eligibility, group accident insurance at 7,500+ sanctioned events, coaching education access, SafeSport compliance, and partner discounts.
• USATF.tv Streaming Platform USATF's official streaming platform for broadcasting live and recorded track and field events, including national championships and USATF Tour events, plus exclusive athlete content and behind-the-scenes programming. VIP members receive 50% off USATF.TV+ subscription.
• USATF Connect Membership Platform Membership management platform powered by Sport80 that provides member registration, certification tracking, coach registry, athlete biographies, event information, results, and membership details.
• Event Sanctioning and Insurance USATF sanctions over 8,000 events annually and provides general liability insurance coverage to sanctioned events, member clubs, and member athletes, along with course certification services for race accuracy.
• USATF Level 1 Coaching Program A 22-hour blended learning foundational coaching education program accredited by NCACE, covering all track and field events for coaches at junior, high school, and club levels.
• USATF Level 2 Coaching Program An advanced, in-depth coaching education program in a singular event discipline with blended format combining online learning and intensive in-person sessions.
• USATF Level 3 Coaching Program The highest level of USATF Coaching Education, a year-long process combining instruction from elite sport scientists and coaches with a capstone project.
• USATF Marathon Specialist Course A 12-hour blended learning course covering marathon history, training science, nutrition, race day preparation, and mental strategies for coaches at all levels.
• USATF Cross Country Specialist Course A 10-hour blended learning course adapted from Dr. Joe Vigil's philosophies, covering cross country terrain, physiology, and team dynamics.
• USATF Podium Coaches Camp A four-day intensive in-person premier specialty course for elite coaches held at High Performance Training Centers, focusing on medal-level athlete development.
• USATF Developmental Coach Program A 5-6 hour self-paced online introductory coaching course for new coaches, volunteers, and parents focusing on positive coaching and athlete development.
• USATF Fantasy/Pick'em Interactive fantasy sports game allowing users to make predictions on track and field competitions to drive fan engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than $35 million annual budget (2017 record)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• NikeflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Sponsor of USATF. Nike provides official uniforms and apparel for Team USATF athletes and serves as a key marketing partner for the organization.
• ToyotaflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Sponsor of USATF. Toyota sponsors USATF Outdoor and Para National Championships as indicated in event announcements.
• HersheycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Sponsor providing chocolate and confectionery products for USATF events and athlete nutrition.
• KT TapecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Sponsor and Supplier. Provides pain relief and support products for sore muscles, tendons, and joints. USATF members receive 10% off MSRP, VIP members receive 20% off.
• SaatvacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Sponsor of USATF providing mattress and sleep products for athlete recovery.
• NCSA (Next College Student Athlete)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Sponsor providing recruiting services. USATF members receive 5% discount upon enrollment for recruiting services.
• PrevagencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Sponsor of USATF providing brain health supplement products.
• XfinitycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Sponsor and Technology Partner of USATF providing telecommunications and connectivity services.
• GatoradecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Supplier of sports drinks and hydration products for USATF events and athlete nutrition.
• UCS (UCSpirit)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Supplier of spirit wear and apparel products for USATF events.
• Sport80coreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial Technology Partner providing the USATF Connect membership management platform. Sport80 powers membership registration, certification tracking, and coach registry.
• Orlando HealthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Medical Network Partner of USATF providing healthcare services for athletes and event medical support.
• NBC SportsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term broadcasting partnership with NBC Sports ensuring consistent coverage on the world's premier Olympic-sport network. In 2016, USATF announced this partnership to secure broadcasting consistency.
• United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSOPC provides oversight and recognition of USATF as the National Governing Body for track and field. USATF shares athlete information with USOPC for administrative purposes.
• United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSADA handles anti-doping enforcement for USATF athletes. USATF shares athlete profile information with USADA for drug testing and compliance.
• World AthleticsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational governing body for track and field. USATF shares athlete information with World Athletics for international competition administration and team selection.
• National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI)coreTechnology or IntegrationNCSI provides background screening services for USATF members including coaches, officials, volunteers, and staff. Screens for criminal convictions, sex offender registrations, and pending cases.
• National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCACE provides accreditation for USATF's Level 1 Coaching Education Program, ensuring quality standards for coach certification.
• Atlanta Track ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal organizing partner for USATF Half Marathon Championships. Committed to compensating runners affected by 2026 course misdirection incident.

Scale indicators8 records

Expansion highlights1 record

Direct peers

• USA Swimming: US national governing body for competitive swimming in the US. Structurally and operationally identical to USATF: non-profit NGB, NBC Sports broadcast partner, tiered membership model, sanctioned events, and Olympic-focused athlete development programs. Directly comparable for benchmarking revenue, sponsorship, and digital platform strategy.
• USA Gymnastics: US national governing body for gymnastics, operating under USOPC recognition with a similar membership, sanctioning, and event-driven revenue model. Comparable in scale and structure despite recent governance challenges, making it a useful peer for assessing NGB operational and reputational risk.
• USA Basketball: US national governing body for basketball with analogous NGB structure, Nike sponsorship, NBC/ESPN broadcast relationships, and Olympic-driven revenue cycles. Comparable scale of membership and sanctioning footprint across youth and amateur basketball.
• U.S. Soccer Federation: US national governing body for soccer, comparable to USATF in non-profit NGB structure, federation membership model, and reliance on men's/women's national team visibility. Useful benchmark for senior team economics, broadcast rights valuation, and youth pathway development.
• USA Hockey: US national governing body for ice hockey, structurally aligned with USATF as a non-profit NGB with membership fees, sanctioned events, and a tiered certification system for coaches and officials. Comparable revenue model centered on NBC broadcast partnership and youth tournament operations.
• USA Volleyball: US national governing body for volleyball with similar membership-based, event-sanctioning, and athlete-development model. Comparable headcount and operational footprint, providing useful benchmarking for sponsor diversification and coaching education revenue.
• USA Wrestling: US national governing body for wrestling operating under the USOPC umbrella with similar NGB structure, sanctioned event portfolio, and Olympic-cycle revenue concentration. Directly comparable for member-tier economics and grassroots development infrastructure.

Broad incumbents

• World Athletics: The international federation that governs track and field globally. While not a direct competitor, World Athletics sets the rules, eligibility, and commercial frameworks USATF operates within, and increasingly centralizes broadcasting and athlete compensation. Key counterparty for benchmarking governance and revenue trends in the sport.

Emerging players

• Running USA: US trade association for the running industry, member organization of USATF. Provides market research, industry data, and event promotion services to road race directors and brands. Adjacent peer that shares USATF's running event ecosystem but operates as an industry association rather than governing body.
• Road Runners Club of America: National association of running clubs in the US, member organization of USATF. Provides grassroots running club support, event promotion, and youth programming. Operates in a comparable grassroots/community space to USATF's 3,000+ club network but as a member-driven association rather than a governing body.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat1 record

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/usatf
• Facebookfacebook.com/usatffans
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/usa-track-&-field
• Instagraminstagram.com/usatf
• Pinterestpinterest.com/usatf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about USA Track & Field