Team Playtri Elite

USAT Designated High Performance TEAM

TEAM PLAYTRI ELITE jUNIORS RANKED #6 IN THE UNITED STATES FOR 2024!

Team Background & Goals

Team Playtri Elite has been a designated USA Triathlon High Performance Team program since January 2013. We have supported the development of national champions, All-Americans, NCAA DI recruits and professional athletes. Our priority as a USAT supported program is to make a positive contribution to the Olympic and Paralympic pipeline, while honoring the individual goals and needs of our athletes.

2025 TPE Season Handbook - Email coaching@playtri.com if you need a copy of the handbook.

2025 USAT Junior Series Guide

For youth and junior athletes NEW to triathlon: Please visit www.playtri.com/mckinneyallen-youth-programs to learn more about our youth competition teams. 

AVAILABLE PROGRAMS

Our current programs consist of five options for qualified athletes:

• Junior Development Athletes - Local team members are required to spend at least one year in our Junior Development Athlete program, which requires athletes to commit to our daily training environment in McKinney/Allen, TX.

• Junior High Performance Athletes - JHP athletes attend the team DTE, as well as maintaining an active TrainingPeaks account and meeting regularly with team coaches as needed for additional support.

• Junior Distance Athletes - The junior distance program is for any athlete race age 13-19 who are unable to participate in our DTE, but who demonstrate the skills, fitness and maturity to train at the expected level for our programs. Distance athletes are expected to complete assigned workouts on their own (or as part of a single sport team), maintain an active TrainingPeaks account and have Zoom meetings with the head coach.

• U23 Athletes - The U23 program is for any athlete race age 19-22 pursuing an elite license. Distance athletes are expected to complete assigned workouts on their own (or as part of a single sport team), maintain an active TrainingPeaks account and have Zoom meetings with the head coach.

• U23 Collegiate Summer Training - Visit our program home page for details

• Elite Athletes - Athletes race age 23 and older (no longer in the junior or U23 categories) who CURRENTLY POSSESS AN ELITE LICENSE (triathlon or paratriathlon) are eligible for the Elite Athlete program at the discretion of the Head Coach. These athletes receive individual coaching from the Head Coach, as well as access to Team Playtri Elite DTE sessions as appropriate. Email headcoach@playtri.com for details.

Daily Training Environment

Our DTE is 6 days a week year-round, with select vacation weeks off throughout the year. Athletes generally practice 2-4 hours a day (see our typical schedule below - additional sessions may be added depending on team needs/time of year), with a combination of swim, bike, run and conditioning sessions. Practices may be suspended on out-of-town race weekends when the majority of the athletes will be at national or international events.

Workouts are adjusted for the individual athlete to provide personal improvement for every athlete on the team.

All athletes are required to train with an HRM during bike and run sessions, and training with power on the bike is highly encouraged for Team Playtri Elite athletes.

Joining TEAM PLAYTRI ELITE

Junior Programs:

Our programs accept new athletes each October for the coming race season. It is our policy not to accept new athletes mid-season - however, incoming athletes who feel they have an extenuating circumstance may email headcoach@playtri.com for consideration.

All incoming team members must meet the following standards to be considered for acceptance to the program:

• 100y Freestyle Swim (in-water start): Girls - 1:25 or faster, Boys - 1:20 or faster

• 1 Mile Run: Girls - 7:00 or faster, Boys - 6:30 or faster

• Group Riding: All new athletes must participate in a one hour, moderate-paced (14-16 mph) group ride with current program athletes, and demonstrate their ability to work safely and effectively in a rotating paceline

• 50m Transition Skills Assess: This assessment is performed on a 50m (164 ft) flat/paved course. Athletes start barefoot with bike at the start line and must run with and mount the bike, get in the shoes (with straps strapped), get out of the shoes, and dismount before reaching the end of the marked course.

  
  

U23 Programs:

Interested athletes must meet at least 2 of the “Development Potential” standards in 2 different sports (swim/bike/run) specific to your gender as listed for the USAT Talent ID Program. Times must be verifiable (training files/video are acceptable methods of verification for this program). U23 athletes may apply for the program at any time.

Elite Program:

Interested athletes must have a current elite license (or similar) from their federation.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF

Once you complete the introductory form, program staff will reach out to you with next steps.

Program Pricing*

• Junior Development Athletes - $200/month (additional $90/month for team swim program)

• Junior Distance Athletes - $200/month

• Junior High Performance Athletes - $250/month (additional $140/month for team swim program)

• Collegiate Summer Program Athletes - $800 for the summer (approx. May-Aug depending on your academic calendar)

• U23 Distance Athletes - $200/month

• U23 Local Athletes - $250/month (additional $140/month for team swim program)

• Elite Athletes - Varies (Email headcoach@playtri.com for details)

Athletes are expected to provide their own personal use equipment.

*We never want an athlete to be exempt from development due to financial circumstances. If fees are unrealistic for your current financial situation, please email headcoach@playtri.com to discuss options.

USAT JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT Series

Junior athletes on Team Playtri Elite are expected to actively compete in the USAT Junior Development Series. The Head Coach will set an official team schedule of races from the series, but athletes are permitted to race additional events should they so choose.

Families are responsible for registration and all travel costs/logistics at series races. Coaches will provide on the ground support at select events.

USAT National Triathlon Development Race Series

U23 athletes seeking to qualify for their elite license are expected to actively compete in the USAT National Triathlon Development Race Series (or comparable events within their federation. The Head Coach will set an official team schedule of races from the series, but athletes are permitted to race additional events should they so choose. Athletes are responsible for registration and all travel costs/logistics at series races. Coaches will provide on the ground support at select events.

World Triathlon Competition

Team Playtri Elite coaches will work with individual athletes as needed to plan elite international competition. When possible, events will be conducted with team support. Adult athletes must possess an elite license to compete in World Triathlon Elite or Paratri Elite competitions. Junior athletes must be approved by USAT to be nominated to a start list but are not required to have an elite license.

Athletes are expected to submit their own nominations for WT events to their federation in a timely manner, along with any additional required items such as a PPE and evidence of SafeSport completion. World Triathlon start lists are published 30 days out from the event, and many federations have penalties for scratching once an athlete is on a start list.

ELITE ATHLETES

JUNIOR HP ATHLETES

JUNIOR DEVO ATHLETES

TEAM PLAYTRI ELITE ALUMNI

Questions?

Email headcoach@playtri.com with questions about our High Performance Development Team programs.