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2008 SEASON INFORMATION

MOST COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS



SPECIALTY CLINICS ARE NOT AVAILABLE THIS YEAR.

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?



SPECIALTY CLINICS

•The Specialty Clinics, which in previous years were made available to high school athletes, will not be offered this year due to changes in our insurance plan.


REGISTRATION

•If you are a returning NTC member you must contact Andrea by March 7, to reserve your spot in the club.

•We will have, after March 7, the 2008 season registration forms available. You can print the necessary forms from "Registration" .

• If you are interested in joining the NTC as a new member, for our Conditioning Season, please e mail Andrea to be added to the waiting list.



HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO JOIN THE NTC FOR THE 2008 SEASON?

The Napa Track Club has two seasons; the first being the Conditioning Season, and the second being the Championship Season. An athlete must be chosen by the coaches to continue with the club for the Championship Season.

Conditioning Season. March, April and May Membership $75.00
•This membership is ideal for the new members, those who wish to learn or continue to learn the different aspects of track and field, and athletes that have no high school track obligations.

Championship Season. May, June and July Membership $110.00
• This plan works well for the experienced athlete with high school track obligations to fill before he/she is eligible for USATF competition. This is strictly for the younger athletes chosen by the coaches and for high school athletes.

•The Napa Track Club offers a 20% discount off the membership fee, for additional family members.

•Field Use Fee: $10.00 for all athletes.

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

•REFUNDABLE uniform fee $20.00

•Cost of Warm-ups (optional) $75.00-not included in price below.

$125.00 is the total cost for one athlete for the Conditioning Season.($20.00 of this amount is paid directly to USATF when registering with them). The Championship Season is an aditional $110.00.

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WHAT ABOUT UNIFORMS?

•The Napa Track Club will issue a uniform set to each member after payment of a $20.00 REFUNDABLE deposit.
•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 items in the set are the property of the Napa Track Club and must be returned to the club in comparable condition at the end of the season, at that time you will receive the deposit repayment.
•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).
•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.
•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 medical release.
•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 Medical Release, 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 season begins March 31, 2008 and ends May 10, 2008.
•Most practices as well as meetings and other club functions will be held at St. John's Lutheran School on Linda Vista.
•Practice dates and times during March and April vary depending on the Middle School and High School’s event schedule.
•Tentative practice schedule is as follows:

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

4:45 to 5:00 team warm-up, flexibility and conditioning

5:00 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.
•IT IS MANDATORY FOR ALL NAPA TRACK CLUB PARENTS TO HELP WORK AT THE ALL COMERS MEET THAT NTC IS PUTTING ON ON APRIL 21, OR PAY THE OPT-OUT AMOUNT OF $50.00


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 2008 are as follows:

Bantam Boys/Girls born in 1998 or 1999

Midget Boys/Girls born in 1996 or 1997

Youth Boys/Girls born in 1994 or 1995

Intermediate Boys/Girls born in 1992 or 1993

Young Men/Women born in 1990 or 1991, and in 1989 if born on or after July 27.

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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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