The Federazione Italiana Triathlon (FITRI) has become one of the newest partners in World Triathlon’s Accredited Coach Education Programme (ACEP), marking an important step in strengthening global coaching standards across the sport. With a well-established and structured coach development system, FITRI’s inclusion reflects its long-term commitment to education, quality, and athlete development. Built on strong collaboration with the Italian Olympic Committee, academic institutions, and other endurance sports, the programme provides a clear and progressive pathway for coaches at all levels.
At the core of FITRI’s philosophy is the belief that coaches play a vital role not only in performance, but in creating safe, inclusive, and development-focused environments. Their system combines general and sport-specific education, supported by mentorship, practical learning, and continuous evaluation. Quality assurance remains a central focus, with structured learning outcomes, ongoing assessment, real-world coaching observation, and external validation ensuring that coaches are well prepared to meet the demands of modern sport.
Looking ahead, FITRI continues to evolve its programme, with key priorities including addressing coach retention and improving gender equity in coaching. The federation has also benefited from international benchmarking tools such as the World Triathlon National Federation Survey, helping to refine its strategic direction. Achieving ACEP accreditation not only validates the strength of FITRI’s system but also reinforces its alignment with international best practice. It highlights the federation’s commitment to developing coaches who can support athletes across all levels of the sport.
Below, an interview with Alessandro Bottoni, Head of Technical Education at Federazione Italiana Triathlon (FITRI)
Interview: Alessandro Bottoni, Head of Technical Education, FITRI
As Federazione Italiana Triathlon (FITRI) becomes one of the newest partners in World Triathlon’s Accredited Coach Education Programme (ACEP), we spoke with Alessandro Bottoni, Head of Technical Education at FITRI. In this interview, World Triathlon Coach Education Manager Istvan Jankov explores the structure, philosophy and future ambitions behind Italy’s comprehensive coach development system.
From Olympic Athlete to Education Leader
Istvan Jankov (IJ): Alessandro, thank you for joining us. To begin, could you introduce yourself and your background?
Alessandro Bottoni (AB): Thank you very much. I manage the education system for the Italian Triathlon Federation. I’m a former Olympic athlete—I competed in Sydney—and I’ve also been a coach for many years. I’ve been part of the Federation for around twenty years, so I understand very well the daily needs of coaches. I’m very proud to do this job for FITRI, and I want to do my best for our coaches and athletes.
A Structured and Inclusive Coaching Pathway
IJ: Could you briefly introduce your coach education system and its philosophy?
AB: Our philosophy is to provide every coach with the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills needed to operate responsibly in sport and society. Coaches play a vital role in creating safe, inclusive environments, and our pathway is designed to support that.
We follow a structured development model aligned with the Italian Olympic Committee’s framework (SNaQ), inspired by the International Sport Coaching Framework and ICCE guidelines. Our pathway includes:
- Allievo Istruttore (pre-coaching level)
- Aiuto Allenatore (Level 1 – assistant coach)
- Allenatore (Level 2 – coach)
- Allenatore Capo (Level 3 – head coach)
There is also an additional fourth level delivered by the Italian Olympic Committee.
Each level combines general modules—shared across endurance sports—and sport-specific modules delivered by FITRI. We also emphasise mentorship, practical learning, and community engagement at every stage.
Collaboration at the Core
IJ: What does it take to build such a comprehensive system?
AB: It requires strong collaboration. In Italy, we work closely with the Olympic Committee, the National School of Sport, universities, and scientific institutions. We also collaborate with other endurance sports federations such as swimming, cycling and athletics.
These partnerships allow us to share expertise, align standards, and develop a strong coaching culture across sports. Internally, we also maintain strong links between education, high-performance programmes, youth development and scientific research.
Ensuring Quality Through Structure and Feedback
IJ: How do you ensure the quality of your coach education?
AB: Quality starts with a well-structured education plan, where each learning unit has clearly defined outcomes. We carefully select and develop educators to ensure alignment with our objectives.
We use multiple layers of evaluation:
- Ongoing assessments and quizzes during courses
- Practical evaluations and final assessments
- Surveys on perceived competence and self-assessment
- Direct observation in real coaching environments
We also have a nationwide network of coach developers who provide feedback from daily practice. External validation is equally important, with involvement from universities, the Olympic Committee, and other federations.
Regular curriculum updates ensure we stay aligned with real-world coaching needs, while maintaining a strong focus on inclusion and equal access to learning opportunities.
Strategic Planning and Future Priorities
IJ: What informs your strategic planning?
AB: We begin with our existing strategic and action plans, then engage our internal steering group and wider network, including technical staff, scientific experts and external specialists.
We also draw on international benchmarking tools, such as the World Triathlon National Federation Survey, which has been extremely valuable. It helped us validate our direction and refine our development strategy.
Looking ahead, key priorities include addressing coach burnout and dropout, as well as improving gender equity in coaching.
The Value of ACEP Accreditation
IJ: What role did the World Triathlon survey and ACEP standards play in your development?
AB: They were very important. World Triathlon sets high standards for coach education, aligned with international frameworks. For us, achieving accreditation confirms that we are moving in the right direction.
The process helped us build a stronger, more structured system and gave us confidence in our long-term strategy.
Advice to Other National Federations
IJ: What would you say to other federations considering ACEP accreditation?
AB: My advice is simple: aim to meet the standards set by World Triathlon. It ensures alignment with international best practices and strengthens the coaching community. This is essential for the development of athletes, coaches, and the sport as a whole.
Looking Ahead
FITRI’s inclusion in the Accredited Coach Education Programme marks another step forward in strengthening global coaching standards in triathlon. With a deeply integrated system, strong partnerships, and a clear strategic vision, Italy is well positioned to continue developing high-quality coaches and supporting athletes at every level.
As Bottoni concludes: “I want to continue on this path—for myself and for my federation.”
Full interview can be watched below