VISTA Application - Additional Information

Level 2 Information

The USATF Level 2 Program is certified by the National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE). It provides an advanced, in-depth quality education in one event group and the knowledge, skills, and values to write a comprehensive training plan for diverse groups of athletes at any level. The program is delivered face-to-face, online, and in hybrid formats. It includes online sports science instruction and exams covering biomechanics, physiology, skill acquisition, and training theory for all first-time participants, along with a field experience that aligns with the National Standards for Sport Coaches (NSSC). At the school, coaches are separated into event specific groups which focus on the technical aspects using a variety of instructional techniques and further develop core coaching responsibilities. Coaches are tested on their knowledge, skills, and values and are presented a Level 2 certificate at graduation.

Event disciplines offered include:

Upon completion of the USATF Level 2 School, participants will be able to:

To apply for the Level 2 School a coach must:

Anyone attending the USATF Level 2 School for the first time is required to register as a first-time participant. This group reviews online sports science content prior to day 1 of the Level 2 School and completes a field experience (reflective journal). 

Alumni have previously taken the Level 2 School and are returning to review an additional event area. Alumni are not required to review the Sports Science modules or complete the field experience (reflective journal) requirement.

The Youth Specialization discipline is designed to address the needs of those seeking advanced training in coaching the developing athlete. The program supports youth, middle and high school coaches as they face challenges ranging from introducing the sport to novices to the unique concerns associated with preparing young elite athletes striving for spots on the podium at state, national, and international championships.

The Level 2 Sports Science course includes lecture videos, supplemental readings, insight discussions, and quizzes across biomechanics, physiology, skill acquisition, and training theory. Enrollment is encouraged at least 30 days prior to the Level 2 School start and required for all first time participants. Course completion is rated at 20 hours.

One of the requirements for completion of the USATF Level 2 School is a relevant practical experience outside of classroom time recorded into a reflective journal for all first-time participants, a substantial portion of which will occur during the sport science discussions and event-specific Level 2 School activities. The USATF Level 2 instructors, your peers, and self-selected experts will serve as mentors and colleagues who will add insights on real-world applications. The peer reviewed assignment is due at the Level 2 School closing session. Alumni are exempt from the assignment.

Required Texts:

Level 2 certificate holders interested in joining the USATF Registered Coaches Program must maintain USATF 3-Step SafeSport Compliance requirements to remain active on the SafeSport Compliant and Coaches Registry lists. 

Why do more than 800 million people live in hunger?

Ten percent of the world’s population does not have enough food, the highest number in more than a decade.

Hunger levels are rising around the world.

As many as 828 million people – or 10 percent of the world’s population – go to bed hungry each night, 46 million more than the previous year, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Of those affected by hunger, two-thirds are women and 80 percent live in areas prone to climate change.

To raise awareness about global hunger levels, The Hunger Project, a non-profit, designated May 28 as World Hunger Day.

Hunger is a debilitating state that occurs when the body is deprived of food for an extended period.

Prolonged periods of hunger can lead to health problems and can cause lifelong physical and cognitive damage, particularly among children.

Undernutrition extends beyond calorie intake to indicate deficiencies in energy and protein, as well as vital vitamins and minerals.

Following a decade of consistent decrease, global hunger has witnessed an upward trend in recent years. Between 2019 and 2021, the number of undernourished individuals increased by more than 150 million, primarily fuelled by conflicts, climate change, economic shocks and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The cost of food has also increased. Between 2019 and 2022, the FAO Food Price Index (FPI) – which measures the change in global prices of a basket of food products including sugar, meat, cereals, dairy and vegetable oil – increased from 95.1 points to 143.7 points.

“Even as global food commodity prices increased – the increases on the country level differ, as countries employ different policies,” says Monika Tothova, an economist in the FAO Trade and Markets division.

“Many countries, for example, employ consumer subsidies for selected products, fixing the price for consumers and sheltering them from fluctuations on the global markets – at the expense of the national budgets.”

The latest UN State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report found that most of the world’s undernourished population lives in Asia where some 425 million people went hungry in 2021. However, the prevalence of hunger is highest in Africa, with 278 million affected that year.

The number of people experiencing acute food shortages, which measures a person’s inability to consume adequate food and, as a result, puts their lives or livelihoods in immediate danger, has increased for the fourth year in 2022, with 258 million people facing acute hunger, according to the 2023 edition of the Global Report on Food Crisis.

“Economic shocks have surpassed conflict as the primary driver of acute food insecurity and malnutrition in several major food crises,” Tothova says.

“Cumulative global economic shocks, including soaring food prices and severe disruptions to markets, undermine countries’ resilience and capacity to respond to food shocks.”

In 2022, the war between Russia and Ukraine – two of the biggest global producers of staple cereals, oilseeds and fertiliser – led to huge disruptions in international supply chains which pushed up the prices of grain, fertiliser and energy. This led to the global FPI reaching its highest level on record in 2022.

Projections for the future outlook of global hunger suggest that hunger will persist, with more devastating effects from extreme weather events.