2011 Southwest Licking District Youth Meet - Sunday, May 15th, 2011 - 2 pm

Meet Information:

Breakfast: eat a healthy breakfast at least 90 to 120 minutes prior to first event

Arrival at meet: Plan to arrive at track 60 minutes prior to first event. This gives you time to locate things, get settled, and still have at least 30 minutes to warm up and check in for your event.

What to bring:

• Uniform
• Warm-ups
• Extra pair of shoes and socks
• Raincoat
• Umbrella for rain/shade
• Sunscreen – (Athletes should stay out of sun as much as possible; it drains your energy)
• Cooler with water and /or Gatorade
• Snacks such as fruit, peanut butter, nuts,
• Recovery drink such as chocolate milk or protein shake
• Lawn chairs
• Tent/canopy for shade if have one- we usually have 1-2 there, but the more we have the more space we can have for everyone to sit in the shade.

Familiarize yourself with the facility as soon as you arrive: You don’t want to be looking for things at the last minute and create additional stress. Walk the track and note the finish line (is there a 1 mile start line or other lines that could be confused for the finish line), lane lines (especially the curve at 100meter start line where there are both curved and straight lane lines), relay exchange zones, etc...

• Where are the bathrooms?
• Where are the field event locations?
• Where is check-in for running events?

Warm up properly for your event! This is essential for achieving your best performance as well as preventing injuries. We have covered this in practice, but ask me if you are unsure how to properly warm up

Track Rules and Procedures, and Guidelines:

3 calls for each event: 1st call: warm-up and make your way to the event to check in; 2nd call: check in now if you haven’t already; 3rd and final call: jog to the event and check in immediately if you haven’t already. Be aware of the order of events and what events are prior to your event. They may not announce all 3 calls for every event so always be aware of what race is currently being run on the track and know when it is time to warm up.

Parents and athletes need to be responsible for reporting to their events

Age groups are contested youngest to oldest and may be combined in some cases (especially distance events)

Do not run on the lane line; you can be disqualified for running on the lane line

Ask questions if you are unclear on any rules or procedures: Athletes need to speak up if they don’t understand an instruction from an official.

Heats: Be aware if there are multiple heats of your race (400 meters especially) that are being run as timed finals. You are not only racing against competitors in your heat, but the other heats as well. Run for time!

Finish Line: Always run all the way through the finish line. DO NOT slow down before or right at the finish line. It can and will cost you time and place.

Starting Blocks: We encourage our athletes to practice using starting blocks and use them in meets. However; per USATF rules, they are not required to be used by athletes Youth age division and younger.

Staggers: Understand what it is and how 1, 2, and 3 turn staggers work. The USATF guidelines for staggers: 200 meters = 1 turn stagger; 400 meters = 2 turn stagger; 800 meters and 4x800 relay = 1 turn stagger; 4 x 400 relay = 3 turn stagger

Waterfall Start: Understand what it is and when you can cut in. Typically used for races 1500 meters and longer.

Field events:

Long Jump, triple Jump, Shot put, discus, javelin: smaller meets you may receive 3 or 4 attempts. Larger meets: take 3 jumps/throws; the top 8 after 3 attempts advance to the finals and receive another 3 jumps/throws. Ask how many attempts when you check in.

Shot Put and Discus: you must exit the back of the ring

High Jump and Pole Vault: 3 attempts at each height. 3 misses in a row and you are done.

If you pass 3 consecutive heights: you are entitled to a warm-up jump

Running events always take precedence over a field event (i.e. complete race first if at same time)

High Jump and Pole Vault take precedence over other field events (do these field events first if you have 2 going on at the same time)

If you are at a running event or another field event and they call for your field event

1. Check with the officials to see if you have time to go check in for your field event and return (if yes, check in for your field event and let them know what running event you need to return to)
2. If not, ask someone to ask one of the coaches to let the field event officials know you are at a running event or another field event
3. If you are at a field event and they call for your running event: you should stay at field event until second call for the running event. The officials can assist you in deciding when the right time is to leave for your race. You don’t want to leave sooner than you need to and sit around waiting for the race, but you also need to get checked in and not feel rushed getting to your race. When they make second call you need to tell the official with the clipboard you are checking out for X running event and proceed to check in for the running event.
4. In the case of high jump and pole vault; they must give you a reasonable amount of time to return to the field event before the bar can be raised to the next height. This means you should promptly walk (no need to run) back to your field event after your race. They can raise the bar if you take too long. If they raised the bar past a height you never had the opportunity to jump, but you checked out properly and returned promptly from your race ask them to lower the bar to the previous height. If they will not and you are not confident you can clear the current height, find me immediately and ask for the head field event judge. We may or may not be able to convince them to lower the bar (the amount of time you have to return after your race is discretionary, but if you went straight back you have every right at jumping the previous height). Best to avoid this situation if at all possible.

Video and photos during competition:

You may take video or pictures only if you are outside the competition area and you must not show the athlete video or photos of the event until the event is completed. If you take images from inside the competition area or show them to the athlete during the competition they can and will disqualify the athlete.

Parents are not allowed in the competition area

What to eat during meet:

This is a bit more complicated when athletes have multiple events spread out over a period of time. I could give much more specific information for a single event. In general: eat a good breakfast 90 -120 minutes prior to 1st event. Avoid fatty foods during the meet. Try to eat frequent, small, healthier snacks. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS.

Teamwork: We are a team. Help your fellow track club members with steps, warm-up, getting where they need to be, understanding rules; etc. Cheer for each other!

Relax as much as you can and just do your best: Be more concerned with your performance and improving rather than what the other athletes are doing. Don’t be intimidated. If you have done your best: you have nothing to feel bad about.