GOVERNING BODIES

USAT Forms Collegiate Recruitment Program To Target Potential Triathletes

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—To increase the depth and quality of the pool of potential U.S. Olympians, USA Triathlon (USAT) has launched the Collegiate Recruitment Program. The program’s goal is to expose current collegiate swimmers and runners to the possibility of making a career out of triathlon, educating them on the steps and decisions needed to become a professional triathlete and encouraging them through mentorship relationships. Olympian Barb Lindquist, who had previously served as USAT U23 and Elite Development coach, will direct the program.

In other USAT news, the organization has renewed its partnership with Blue Competition Cycles and Greenlayer Sports Apparel.

Blue Competition Cycles will support USAT through the 2012 London Olympic Games as a gold-level sponsor and will be the exclusive bicycle provider of the 2009 USAT Trade Team.

Greenlayer Sports Apparel has also signed on as an official “go green” corporate partner of USAT. As the official eco-friendly apparel supplier of USAT, Greenlayer will support the USAT National Championships and will offer significant savings to USAT clubs and race directors who choose to outfit their members and participants with Greenlayer’s eco-friendly technical apparel.

The Hartford Extends Alliance With U.S. Paralympics

SIMSBURY, Conn.—The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. announced its extended sponsorship of the U.S. Paralympics, the division of the U.S. Olympic Committee dedicated to recruiting and training elite athletes with physical disabilities. The alliance, which began five years ago, now extends through the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.

Sundhage Re-Signs As U.S. Women’s Soccer Head Coach

CHICAGO—U.S. Soccer has re-signed Pia Sundhage as head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team for four more years. Sundhage led the United States to a record-setting 33 wins in 2008, including the team’s gold-medal victory against Brazil in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

US Lacrosse, NASO Partner For Education

BALTIMORE—US Lacrosse has joined with the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) as a bronze-level education partner. NASO provides sports officials at every level of play and sport with training materials, educational resources, benefits and support.

The partnership will assist US Lacrosse in its efforts to provide “new and innovative ways to educate and train lacrosse officials and provide them with the best tools and services.”

In 2008, US Lacrosse trained approximately 2,000 men’s officials and 450 women’s umpires.

US Sailing Announces New Olympic Training Pipeline

PORTSMOUTH, R.I.—US Sailing’s Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC) has announced a new Olympic sailing training pipeline to help guide talented sailors from youth programs to the U.S. Olympic Sailing Program.

As part of the new pipeline, the OSC will launch the US Sailing Team U18 and US Sailing Team U23.

LaserPerfromance has signed on as the official sponsor of both teams.