THE WEEK BEFORE THE MEET

Each athlete can compete in 3 individual events and 1 relay.  NOTE: Gremlins are allowed to compete in a maximum of 2 events and 1 relay, or 3 total events.  Make sure to work out with your coach during practices the week before the meet what events you want to compete in.  Athletes wishing to participate in field events should work with the field event coach to make sure they understand how to do the event with proper form.  Please do not sign up for a field event until you have practiced with the appropriate field event coach.  Injuries or disqualifications at the meet can be the unfortunate result.

THE DAY OF THE MEET

Be sure to bring the athlete’s complete uniform, including sweats, spikes (if needed), sun protection, snacks, water or other appropriate drinks (Gatorade, etc), and something for the athlete to do while waiting for their event.  Food and drink are usually available at the meet at a concession stand, but its safest to bring your own food and drink in case they run out of something or they don’t have what your athlete likes.  On hot days, sun protection and lots of water are vital for the well-being of the athlete.  There are a limited number of EZ-Ups set up by the team in the stands at each meet.

Our complete uniform must be worn at all meets per Conference Rules.  Tights are allowed under the uniform if they are a solid color.  The solid color must be either black, white or maroon and must not have any logo affixed so it is visible.  Any athlete appearing out of uniform will not be allowed to compete. Shirts must be tucked in before an event or the athlete can be disqualified.

Make sure to allow plenty of time to drive, park and locate your age-group coach for tags.

AT THE MEET

Event Name Tags : Prior to participating in a meet each athlete must check in with their coach and receive event tags with their name on it for each event in which they will participate.  All athletes should have their
tags by 8:30 a.m. or as soon as possible thereafter. Once the meet starts, the coaches are busy with the events, so please make sure your athlete(s) get their tags before the coaches’ meeting begins at appr. 8:30.

Warming Up: Most coaches want their athletes warming up at least 30 minutes before his/her scheduled event, unless otherwise noted.  Check with the coaches for age group warmups held during the meet.  If the athlete is participating in the first event of the day (3000M, Gremlin Long Jump, Bantam High Jump or Youth Shot Put) it is important to get to the meet early enough to get tags and have time to warm up before the meet starts.  Other athletes just need to get their tags before 8:30 and wait until their event is called, or their coach starts group warmups.

Event Calls: Each event will be called three times by the meet announcer before the event occurs.  The first call is for the athlete to make any last minute preparations – bathroom, sunscreen, water, warming up, finishing a snack, removing sweats – before heading down to the staging area for running events or the appropriate field event area.  The second call is when all athletes should be going to staging or the field event.  Athletes participating in a field events need to tell the field event judge they are leaving for their running event at this time, if the two are occurring simultaneously. The third call is very close to the time of the event, to make sure everybody is at the appropriate area. If you are not where you are supposed to be by third call, you need to get there quickly!  Please listen to the announcer and keep track so your athlete(s) don’t miss their events.  Coaches will not have time to find athletes during the meet to make sure they are at their events on time. Relays may be organized and warmed up before first call, at the coach’s direction.

ORDER OF EVENTS

Track Events (Running)
Running events usually begin at 8:45 a. m.  Each running event is run in age group order:
GG, GB, BG, BB, MG, MB, YG, YB, IG AND IB.
Sometimes age groups will be combined such as the 800 meter and often the Youth and
Intermediate.  Typically the order of running events is as follows:

3000 meter, 80 meter hurdles, 100 meter hurdles, 4×100 meter relay, 1500 meter, 400 meter, 100 meter, 800 meter, 200 meter and 4×400 meter relay.

Field Events
Field events usually begin at 8:30 a. m.  The order of participation is usually as follows:
Long Jump: GG, GB, IG, IB, MG, MB, YG, YB, BG, BB
High Jump: BG, BB, MG, MB, YG, YB, IG, IB
Shot Put: YG, YB, IG, IB, BG, BB, MG, MB

Time of each event: There is no way of determining the time a particular event will start. It depends on too many variables such as the number of participants, quantity of help, etc.  The order of events is subject to change, although this very rarely happens. Coaches will usually inform the athlete when getting tags if there are changes to the normal order of events.

Be aware of the order of events when choosing which events your athlete will participate in that week.  Running the 100m, 800m and 200m in the same meet will not give the athletes much of a break in between races to rest. Conversely, doing the 3000m, 1500m and 4×400 relay means the athlete will have a long time in between events and you will be at the track for the entire meet.

Running Events: Athletes in running events must stay in their lanes until the volunteer takes their tag at the end of the event.  Water is available at the finish line for athletes.

Field events (shot put, long jump and high jump): Field events are held at different locations near the track oval.   An athlete who is doing a field event at an away meet should be aware that at some tracks the field events may be in areas that are not visible from the stands.

Before warming up, the athlete needs to check in with the field event judge and give them their name and tag. The field event judge will give instructions about warming up to the athletes – field judges will allow a certain number of practice jumps or tosses before the event is judged.

BOTH ATHLETES AND SPECTATORS NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL OF WHERE THEY STAND AND WALK DURING A FIELD EVENT.  Being in an inappropriate spot can hinder an athlete’s performance and/or get somebody injured.   Judges will be very clear and forceful about this. Parents of younger athletes and children need to make sure their athletes and children are in a safe place at all times during the event.

The athlete is done with the event when they have completed all of the throws or jumps.  They can return to the stands or support their fellow athletes and stay and cheer for them.

Running vs. Field Events
Running events take precedence over field events. First check in at the field event. After the 2nd
call for a running event, talk with the field event judge, and proceed to the staging  area to
check in for the running event. Return to the field event immediately after finishing your race.
You have 5 minutes to return to your field event after your race is finished to complete that event.

Home Meets and Away Meets

Home Meets: Home meets are always at College of the Canyons.  Allow a little more time for parking, as there are more people here on meet days.  Our team is responsible for the home meets, so we need as many volunteers as possible to make sure the meet goes smoothly and quickly. The week before the meet, a sign-up sheet will be on the website.  Please sign up for the time and activity that fits in with your schedule.  Most of the volunteer activities are easy to do – somebody just needs to be there to do them.  If you have not signed up and find you have available time during the meet (your athlete is in staging or in a field event, for example) please offer your volunteer services during the meet.  The few minutes you help out could give a volunteer already on the field a much needed break.

Away Meets: Directions to the locations of away meets will be available on the website under “Maps/Directions.”  Make sure to allow enough time to drive to the meet, find the track, park and still arrive in time to get tags before 8:30 or so.

Ribbons

Ribbons are awarded to all participating athletes in a running or field event. Ribbons will be
awarded for 1st through 8th place and a participant ribbon for all others in each heat.  Ribbons
will be distributed the week following each meet at practice.  Meet results are posted on the website, usually a day or two after the meet is run.

Rules and Regulations

Rules and regulations for judging, running of events and the conduct of parents and athletes will
be in accordance with those rules and regulations established and published by the
Conference. Personal conduct of spectators, officials, coaches and participants must, at all times, be beyond reproach. Physical and/or verbal abuse WILL NOT BE TOLERATED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. Adults or participants unable to display acceptable behavior will be directed to leave the competition site by the meet director and participating head coach. All involved individuals are to carefully consider their words and actions criticism, aggressiveness and intemperate behavior are all too easily generated by the stress of competition. All parents and participants are expected to maintain a positive atmosphere in all situations.  Our team supports all excellent athletic effort, no matter what uniform that athlete wears.

POST-SEASON AND FINALS

VARSITY (LEAGUE) FINALS **

In order for an athlete to attend this meet, he/she must initially meet or surpass a Qualifying
Standard. These standards are available from the coach. These standards are set very high and
most of the athletes do not meet these goals. In order to fill all the lanes of the track with
participants, we may ask additional athletes to compete in this meet based strictly on times or
distances. If an athlete meets or exceeds aqualifying standard, he/she becomes INELIGIBLE to compete at Open Finals. Athletes who qualify for League Finals will be listed on the website and notified by their age-group coach.

J.V. (OPEN) FINALS**

All participants that did not qualify for the League Finals attend this meet.  This is the final meet of the season for these athletes.

**For an athlete to participate in ANY Finals, he/she must have attended at least half of the regularly scheduled meets.  Athletes do not participate in both Open and League Finals.

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS (I. E. C.)

This is the final meet of the year at conference level.  An athlete participating in this meet must have been among the top four finishers in the League Finals.  This is the “creme de la creme”.  We would encourage anyone who enjoys watching a track meet to attend this one.