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2010 SEASON INFORMATION

MOST COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS



CHANGES FOR THE 2010 SEASON.


HOW DO WE REGISTER FOR THE NAPA TRACK CLUB?


HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO JOIN THE NAPA TRACK CLUB?


WHAT ABOUT UNIFORMS?


DOES MY CHILD NEED A MEDICAL RELEASE?


WHAT ABOUT THE COACHING STAFF?


WHAT ABOUT PRACTICES?


WHAT IS THE PARENTS ROLE IN THE NAPA TRACK CLUB?


WHAT ARE THE AGE GROUPS IN COMPETITION?


WHAT IS USA TRACK & FIELD?


WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUTH ATHLETIC AND JUNIOR OLYMPIC EVENTS?


WHAT DIFFERENT TYPES OF MEETS ARE AVAILABLE TO ATTEND?


HOW MANY AND WHAT EVENTS ARE AVAILABLE TO CLUB MEMBERS?


HOW DO WE HANDLE TRAVELING TO AND FROM MEETS?



2010 CHANGES - An Important Announcement from the Directors of Napa Track Club.


•Due to the limited availability of several of our coaching staff members, we will not be able to accommodate nearly as many athletes as we have in the past. While we hate to turn away any athlete that has a good attitude and is willing to work hard, we just won't have the resources to accept everyone like we have in the past.

•With a limited number of spots available on the roster, we had a difficult decision to make---who do we accept and who do we turn away. We discussed the pros and cons of a number of different scenarios and in the end decided that the plan that made the most sense was to hold try-outs.

•Our goal is to identify and accept only those athletes that are willing and able to compete at a very high level. Unfortunately, this means that some athletes who were on the team in previous years may not be eligible to participate in 2010. We truly regret this turn of events, but we see it as the only way for the Club to continue to operate and move forward.

•The Club has always relied on parents who are willing to volunteer their time as coaches and administrators. Since it is usually the families that experience the most success on the track who become the most involved, we feel that it is crucial to the Club's long-term survival that we support the athletes with the most potential.

• Try-outs for athletes who are not competing on junior and high school teams will be held on March 25th. Athletes will be tested in the 100 meter dash, the standing long jump, and the 1500 meter run. "Click here for information on a table showing the minimum performance standards that will be accepted". (athletes only need to meet the requirement in one of the three tests).

•We believe that this will help us identify the athletes with the most potential to be competitive at the meets we attend. These contests are well attended and we see a lot of very talented performers. Attaining the minimum standards of our try-outs will probably mean finishing in the middle of the pack at these meets.

• Older athletes who are competing for school teams will be eligible for the Club on an invitation-only basis. Since they are coming to us with more experience, they will be held to higher performance standards. We are looking for athletes that have obtained or have the potential to obtain the standards set by the U.S. Youth Outdoor Championships. Those marks can be located at this link.

•Under this new format, we will no longer have separate “conditioning” and “championship” seasons.

•Track practice will begin on April 5th and continue into July. High school and Junior High athletes can join the Club whenever their school season in completed.

•Membership dues will be $175 for the season for all athletes. Athletes must also be a member of USATF ($30 fee) and purchase a club uniform, if needed, which is $60.

•The athletes on our roster will be expected to attend all practices and compete at all meets that the Club attends.

•Our practices will be held at Napa High School on Mondays, Tuesdays, & Thursdays from 4:45-6:15. Our goal is to develop athletes who are enthusiastic about the sport of track and field and families who will help support and guide the Club in the future. We feel that the changes we are adopting give us the best opportunity to accomplish this.

•If you will be attending try-outs, please let us know by e-mail.


REGISTRATION

•All NTC registrations will take place after the try-out date of March 25, 2010.

Click here to register with USATF.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO JOIN THE NTC FOR THE 2010 SEASON?

•Membership dues will be $175.00 for the 2010 season for all members.

•USATF membership - $20.00(this is paid to USATF when you register with them).

•Uniforms cost $60.00 per athlete and are yours to keep.

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WHAT ABOUT UNIFORMS?

•The Napa Track Club will issue a uniform set to each athlete after payment of a $60.00 the uniform is the athletes to keep after payment is received.

•The set consists of a singlet top and shorts.

•The uniform coordinator will issue the set before the athlete competes in his/her first meet.

•The Napa Track Club offers team warm-ups for the athletes to purchase; these will be sold through the club and are yours to keep, at a cost of $75.00. (The team warm-ups are optional).

•Team warm-ups are also available to "rent" from NTC with a deposit of $50.00, that will be reimbursed to the athlete when the warm up is returned in good condition.

•At the beginning of each track season, there will be an opportunity for a shoe and warm-up exchange day.

•All athletes are required to wear Napa Track Club issued uniforms at all USATF meets including any award, opening and closing ceremonies, and as directed by your coach.

•Anything worn under the uniform, compression shorts, underarmor, etc., must be black.

•Shoe color and style are up to the athlete.

MEDICAL RELEASES

•The Napa Track Club recommends that any athlete participating in track and field be examined and cleared by a physician.

•It is up to the parent, athlete, and physician to determine if the athlete can participate, by signing the Consent for Treatment form.

•This is very important and we must have this form on file before an athlete may begin practice.

Click here to go directly to the Registration Forms to download the Consent for Treatment form, and the other forms necessary to register with NTC.

COACHING STAFF

•The Napa Track Club's coaching staff is 100% VOLUNTEER, mostly made up of parents of athletes.

•Most of our coaches are USATF certified Level 1 with many years of youth coaching experience.

•All coaches are required to be registered as coaches with the USATF.

• Previous coaching and track and field experience is a must.

•The club's objective when forming the new season's coaching staff is to have a well rounded staff that can coach all track and field has to offer: conditioning, sprints, hurdles, middle to long distance running, jumps and throws.

•We require all coaches to teach the athletes with positive reinforcement and respect.

•The end product is an athlete that respects and supports his/her coach, teammates and fellow competitors.

•As in the past years, the Pacific Association is requiring that all coaches fill out a coaching resume and be subject to a criminal background check.

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WHAT ABOUT PRACTICES?

•The Napa Track Club practice for the 2010 Season begins April 5, 2010 and go through the end of July.
•Practices will be held at Napa High School's new track & field.

•Practice schedule is as follows:

4:45pm to 6:15pm Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday

4:45 to 5:15 team warm-up, flexibility and conditioning

5:15 to 6:10 specialty training

6:10 to 6:15 team cool down and team meeting

•The practice ending team meeting is mandatory for all athletes and we encourage parents to attend as well.

•This meeting will foster strong communication across the entire club.

•The coaches will share important club news, such as information on upcoming meets and practices and to recognize athlete’s accomplishments.

•This is also a great opportunity for parents and athletes to ask questions and give feedback regarding club activities.

•The Napa Track Club’s basic philosophy on practices is “you get out what you put in” put another way, the harder you work the greater the accomplishments.

•Our practice sessions are very demanding; if you are not coming to work hard, then please don’t come.

•We also understand that there is life outside of track and missing practices is sometimes unavoidable, please let your specialty coach know in advance that you are unable to attend practice and together you can setup a home workout to fit your current training cycle.



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WHAT IS THE PARENTS ROLE IN THE NAPA TRACK CLUB?

•First and foremost, supporting our athletes with positive encouragement and reinforcing the concept that winning is not everything, but by trying your best and continuously improving your efforts you will become a winner.

• Parents are strongly encouraged to be involved with supporting the Napa Track Club. The club embarks on an on-going fund-raising projects throughout the year and the parents involvement in this is very important and vital for the club to run successfully.

•We also encourage parents to attend as many practices as possible, this gives you the opportunity to meet the parents of the other athletes, and by being at practice you will get the same information on upcoming meets as we give athletes during the team meetings following practices.


WHAT IS AGE GROUP COMPETITION?

•Age group competition is just as the name implies, track and field competition based on your age in the current calendar year.

•The age group divisions for competition in 2010 are as follows:

Bantam Boys/Girls born in 2000 or 2001

Midget Boys/Girls born in 1998 or 1999

Youth Boys/Girls born in 1996 or 1997

Intermediate Boys/Girls born in 1994 or 1995

Young Men/Women born in 1992 or 1993, and in 1991* if born on or after August 1.
(*athletes born in 1991 are also eligible if they do not turn 19 on or before 8/1/2010. )


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WHAT IS USA TRACK AND FIELD?

•USA Track and Field is the national governing body of track and field.

•Before any athlete can register for and compete in an USATF-sanctioned meet, whether a member of the Napa Track Club or not, he or she must first become a member of USATF.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUTH ATHLETIC AND JUNIOR OLYMPIC MEETS?

•Both Youth Athletic and Junior Olympic meets are sanctioned by USA Track and Field.

•Youth Athletic (also know as “age group”) meets are open to all USATF-member athletes.

•The entry procedure for each meet will be explained at practices, usually within two weeks of the meet.

•Any USATF-member athlete may register for and compete at any youth meet, with a few exceptions, for example the Youth National meet where the athlete must meet or exceed the performance standards, (i.e. run a certain time or jump or throw a certain distance).

•All meets on the competition schedule are Youth meets except those whose name includes the phrase “Junior Olympic”. Junior Olympic (JO) meets are based on a stair stepping program of qualifying meets, leading to the National Junior Olympic meet.

•The advancement procedure looks like this: The Pacific Association Championship advances the top eight in each individual and relay event, to the Region 14 JO Championship.

•At the Region 14 JO meet the top three in each individual event and the top three in each relay event qualify for the JO National Championship meet.



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WHAT DIFFERENT TYPES OF MEETS ARE AVAILABLE TO ATTEND?

Mini/All comers Meets
•These meets are held early in the season to familiarize athletes with how a track meet is conducted.

•It is a good opportunity to establish baseline times and distances for improving personal records during the season.

Sectional and Invitational Meets
•During the Conditioning Season we will attend one USATF youth meet in Santa Rosa.

•There are usually hundreds of athletes participating in these meets, creating an atmosphere of excitement for our athletes - as well as an organizational challenge for the coaches and parents.

•Athletes must register in advance with our meet cordinator.

•We will post the information for upcoming events on this web site.

•Napa Track Club pays the meet entry fees.

•We erect our canopy first thing in the morning, obtain the official registration packet and moniter our athletes' performances.

•Parents are responsible for transportation to and from meets, food and supplies for the day and sending athletes to events at the meet. (our coaches will provide as much guidance as possible, but they cannot be responsible for getting each and every athlete to the right place at the right time).


HOW MANY AND WHAT EVENTS ARE AVAILABLE TO CLUB MEMBERS?

•The Bantam and Midget groups may compete in up to three events per meet, while the athletes in the Youth, Intermediate, and Young Men/Women may compete in up to four events per meet.

Click here for a direct link to USATF "Youth Age Group" page to see what events are available to the different age groups.

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HOW DO WE HANDLE TRAVELING TO AND FROM MEETS?

•The athletes and his/her parents are responsible for securing their own transportation to and from any meets held in Northern California.

•If an athlete is 12 years or younger, and qualifies for an out of state meet, his/her parents have the responsibility of accompanying the athlete or procuring adequate supervision for the athlete before he/she will be allowed to accompany the club.



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