About Florida Youth Triathlon Foundation
Florida Youth Triathlon Foundation, Inc. ( FYT ) is a Florida non-profit organization dedicated to growing the sport of triathlon at the youth level throughout the state. We have launched this website in an attempt to provide a blueprint for kids and parents to navigate the sport and to help build a better sense of community for its participants.
If you have questions about triathlon, you have come to the right place. We have designed this site to help link you to the various clubs, coaches, races, and places to practice throughout Florida. We hope you find it helpful and ask that you offer us any suggestions for ways we can improve this site. If there’s a place we forgot to list, or a race we need to know about, please tell us about it.
We are hoping to substantively assist young athletes in various ways, whether it be referring them to coaches who have agreed in advance to provide them with a free intro/orientation session, helping them out on race day, or our Gear Up initiative, which will lend road bikes to help young athletes find their way into the sport
We hope we can do whatever we can to answer your questions about the sport, and hopefully grow the sport along the way. Thank you for visiting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What do you mean when you say “youth triathlon”? I’ve also heard the terms youth elite and junior elite? What is the difference?
A: As we use the term, youth triathlon refers to youth age group racing…i.e., the predominant form of recreational triathlon. This is distinguished from both youth elite (ages 13-15), and junior elite (ages 16-19) races, which are highly competitive, mass-start events in which the participants are allowed to draft off one another on the bike leg. HPS or High Performance Squads refers to the teams that compete in youth and junior elite events.
Q: Are you a 501(c)(3)?
A: Great question! Not yet, but we have applied to be one. If we are approved, donations that you make now could be retroactively considered tax deductible per current IRS policies, but we cannot guarantee that they will be. For that reason we do not currently have a donate now feature on this site. Please reach out if you’re still interested in donating.
Q: What social media platforms are you currently active on?
A: None. We’d prefer to try and build the sport with in-person contacts and interactions as much as possible. That said, please do feel free to share information about what we’re doing through your own social media and contacts.
Q: What is your favorite part of triathlon: swim, bike, or run?
A: Yes.
Q: What is the best thing I can do to help my child in triathlon?
A: Maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.
Q: No…I mean help them competitively.
A: Same answer. Go run with them. Go bike with them. Take them to fun places to swim. These are the moments that will fuel the passion they will need later should they decide to pursue the sport seriously.
Q: I notice you have several workouts aimed at youth triathletes 12 and under, but none intended for advanced athletes. Do you have any similar workouts for youth elite or junior elite athletes?
A: We generally recommend that draft legal training only occur with a coach and/or HPS team, particularly on the bike. There are certain skills that can only be taught in a group setting.
Q: What can I do to grow the sport?
A: Introduce yourself to as many people as you can every time you attend a race. Invite your friends. Volunteer at races. Be kind to race directors. Relax about race results. Donate old equipment. Make practices as inclusive as possible. And try to remember this is all for fun!
Q: You list all kinds of information on used bikes, but no actual links to buy parts. Where can I find the tires/tubes I need?
A: We debated the idea of including this information, but ultimately didn’t want to devote too much of our space to it. That said, please reach out if you’re confused on where to find parts. We can probably point you in the right direction.
Have additional questions?
We’re here to help.
SWIM
Learn About Swim Basics, Places to Swim, and Swim Workouts
BIKE
Learn About Bike Basics, Places to Bike, and Bike Workouts
RUN
Learn About Run Basics, Places to Run, and Run Workouts
UPCOMING RACES
Learn About Youth Races and Draft Legal Races