The Mattapoisett Lions Club Triathlon is getting revamped with help from four local athletes and a national sanction.

“We’re just trying to make it a better and more organized event,” said Roger Spring.

The Wareham resident, along with his triathlon team, comprised of Marissa Hughes and Deb Holden of Rochester and Lori Watkins of Marion, are working with the Mattapoisett Lions to update the 27-year-old race and bring it into compliance with USA Triathlon.

The national organization is the governing body for triathlons, and races sanctioned by USAT give a “sense of legitimacy for an event,” said Spring. He added that safety and fair play are important aspects of USAT sanctioned races, and those are aspects of the Mattapoisett race that his team are focusing on for the July 10 event.

The triathlon begins with a one-quarter-mile swim at Town Beach, followed by a 10-mile bike ride and ending in a 5K run.

Last year there was some confusion and controversy when the first competitor finished the race seven minutes ahead of anyone else and came from the wrong direction to boot. The man claimed that the track wasn’t adjusted quickly enough, but he was disqualified.

To avoid any such problems this year, the path will be very clear, said Spring, and the transition areas will be restructured. He said in the past bikes have been parked in various areas of the parking lot, giving some people a competitive edge. This year, all bikes will be stored on sturdy racks and will be in the same area to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Also, “we’re going to clearly define the spectator traffic flow to avoid any dangerous near collisions,” Spring said. “We love to have people come and watch the race, but we don’t want bikes and pets and people pushing strollers in the path.”

The bike route itself will remain the same, though the running portion will be a little shorter, bringing it from 3.5 miles to 3.1, the traditional 5K distance. The revised length also keeps runners off of Route 6.

With the changes, Spring hopes to see more people sign up for the race, which had 86 participants last year. As a USAT sanctioned event, he expects it to have more of a draw since athletes can use the race as a qualifier for other triathlons.

And the cost of the triathlon itself isn’t changing. It will still be $70 for adults, though everyone must purchase a USAT license. One-day licenses are $12 per person and can be purchased during registration. Those with an annual license will not need to pay extra.

Spring said even with the license, the fee is only $82, still less than most triathlons, and the proceeds will continue to help the Lions Club and the charities it supports.

Spring also emphasized that he and his team aren’t taking over the iconic race.

“It’s absolutely still one hundred percent the Lions Club Triathlon,” he said. “Rob [Haley] is still the race director. I think of us as consultants.”

Online registration is now open for the triathlon. The cost is $70 for adults, $60 for ages 13 to 19 and $115 for relay teams. The prices increases on May 1.Visit www.lightboxreg.com/mattapoisett-lions-triathlon to sign up.