USATF National Office Happenings – April 2026

This monthly update highlights key initiatives, upcoming events & meetings, deadlines, and areas of focus to keep our associations informed and aligned. Our goal is to provide an overview of the important items on the horizon so you can stay prepared and connected to what’s ahead.

Upcoming Events

• 2026 USATF National Youth Outdoor Championship (June 24 – 27 2026) 
  • Location: Milton Frank Stadium -- Huntsville, AL 
  • Registration:
    • Opened: March 23 6:00 AM ET 
    • Closes: June 19 11:59 PM ET 
  • For all specific event information and resources visit the Youth Outdoor Event Page 
• For more information on our upcoming USATF events CLICK HERE

Youth Programs

• 2026 USATF Youth Championship Season: The Youth Championship season continues with the National Youth Outdoor Championships from June 24–27 in Huntsville, AL. The Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships will follow July 27–August 2 at Cerritos College in Norwalk, CA, before the season closes with the Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships on December 12 in Lafayette, LA. 
• All updated Youth Championship information can be found HERE. 
• The following youth events will be live-streamed on USATF.tv to provide broader access and visibility. 
• 2026 USATF Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships 
• 2026 USATF Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships

Membership

• The 2026 USATF Membership Year is now Open. From your local track to the world stage, we are here to support your journey. Be sure to join or renew today at USATF.org/membership. 
• Membership Valid Through 12/31/2026

Marketing

• Youth Outdoor Promotion - Social Media Save the Dates:
  • Help us promote to your Association the upcoming Youth Championship dates.  Ready to post graphics are attached and below is sample copy for social:

It’s a big summer of youth track and field competition! ☀️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

Will we see you there? 👀

Register today and learn more at USATF.org/events

Branding

• USATF BrandPortal: As we approach another summer full of Championship events, please remember to submit any custom logos, merchandise, marketing materials, and other collateral featuring the USATF and Association brand marks for review and approval via the USATF BrandPortal. Materials that have not gone through the approval process may need to be updated or removed.
  • Submitting your designs for approval is quick and easy. Simply navigate to www.brandportal.usatf.org, sign-in using your association’s account information, and click on “Upload for Approval” on the left side of the screen. From there you can fill out the form provided and upload your documents. USATF staff will receive your request and provide formal approval within 5 business days. A quick note as you’re building out marketing materials.  
• If you’re using AI design tools, please be careful. We’re seeing logos and marks get altered which puts materials out of compliance with USATF brand standards. 
• If logos are modified in any way, the materials won’t be approved. Please make sure you are: 
  • Using official USATF logos exactly as provided 
  • Not recreating or generating logos through AI 
  • Pulling assets from approved USATF files
  • Not allowing AI to alter photos, uniforms, and marks
• Attached is an example of AI generated content that illustrates a few common issues we are seeing that would cause your logos or marketing materials to not be approved. 

Safe Sport

• This month’s ASVC Meeting is April 14, 7:00 PM EST 
  • LINK TO REGISTER
• Safe Sport All-Star Submissions: Submit standout individuals who exemplify Safe Sport principles to the Safe Sport email today! Selected All-Stars will be featured in upcoming Safe Sport newsletters. 
  • CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE A SAFE SPORT ALL STAR
• Check out the Safe Sport Google Drive: If you haven’t checked it out yet, USATF has a centralized Safe Sport Google Drive that houses all current event materials and resources. This folder will be updated regularly as new tools and documents are developed to support our associations.

Clubs

• NEW Club Portal: Our new centralized Club Portal is now live and fully accessible! This all-in-one hub provides club information, resources, and streamlined communication tools to better support our clubs nationwide. The platform is now available to all individuals with a current Club Role, as well as all Association Leadership, ensuring everyone has the access they need to assist their clubs effectively. We’re excited to see how this new resource enhances support and connectivity across our associations. 
• This month’s Club Chair Meeting is April 28, 7:00 PM EST: Our monthly Club Chair Meetings are intended to strengthen communication, share updates, and provide a consistent space for collaboration. The April meeting will take place on April 28, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET. 
  • LINK TO REGISTER
• Explore the NEW Club Spotlight! As part of our ongoing initiative to better support and celebrate our clubs, we’ll be featuring a USATF Member Club on a regular basis. Kicking off our first spotlight is Speedsters from Newark, NJ, recognized for their outstanding performance at the USATF Youth Indoor Championships. You can view their full spotlight on the main Clubs webpage or directly on the new Club Portal landing page. 

Sanctions

• Resources Update: The USATF Sanctions team is working on updates to resources and information provided to Sanctioned Event Organizers upon approval of their sanction applications that will help enhance their knowledge of what is required. We continue to review historical sanction data and are communicating with previous year’s event directors in order to retain 2025 sanctions that are preparing for their 2026 year of events.  

Coaching Education

• The USATF National Championship Mentorship Grant application is now open! Registration ends May 31, 2026.  
• Be on the lookout for these upcoming announcements in April: 
  • USATF Level 2 School Save the Date. 
  • Level 2 Sport Science course has been updated. Will reopen later in April. 
  • Cross Country and Marathon Specialist course summer dates. 
• All programming dates and registration will be updated on the USATF Calendar of Schools and Announcements pages. 

Para

• 2026 National Classification Opportunities: The 2026 National Classification schedule for Para Track & Field has been announced. You can find more information about Classification and the National Classification Opportunities here. 
• 2026 IPC License: All para athletes are encouraged to begin the process of renewing their 2026 IPC athlete license if they haven't already. A current IPC license is required for athletes to compete at WPA international events, USATF Para National Championships, and for results to be recognized by WPA. You can find information on licensing here. 
• 2026 Para National Championships: Para National Championships will once again be combined with USATF Outdoor Championships in 2026. The competition will be held in New York City at Icahn Stadium. Additional information will be posted on the USATF events page as it becomes available. 
• Veterans Camp Opportunity: Luke Camp will be held May 25-May 31 at Luke AFB. This camp is open to any military veteran or active duty personnel, with a Paralympic eligible impairment, who competes in seated or ambulatory throws. For additional information related to this camp or to apply for participation please click here. Applications will be accepted for this camp through April 5, 2026.

Merchandise

• Check out Team USATF Store for fresh gear drops -- including our newest bags & headwear you won’t want to miss out on.