Age group
track is just as the name implies: track & field competition based on an
athlete's age in the current calendar year. The age group divisions for USATF
competition in 2009 are as follows:
Young
Men/Women (YM/YW) - born in 1990 or 1991, or in 1992 on or after July 30
Intermediate
Boys/Girls (IB/IG) - born in 1993 or 1994
Youth
Boys/Girls (YB/YG) - born in 1995 or 1996
Midget
Boys/Girls (MB/MG) - born in 1997 or 1998
Bantam
Boys/Girls (BB/BG) - born in 1999 or 2000
Sub-Bantam
Boys/Girls (SBB/SBG) -born in 2001 or later
Example: A
child turns 13 on February 15, 2009 and his/her friend turns 13 on November 15,
2009. Since they were each born in 1995, USATF considers them both to be 13
years old for the 2009 season, even though the one born in November would
actually be 12 during the season and not turn 13 until after the season is
over.
USA Track
& Field is the national governing body of track & field. Before any
athlete may register for and compete in a USATF-sanctioned meet, whether as a
member of the Wildcats Track Club or
not, he/she must first become a member of USATF. Any athlete wishing to
join Wildcats
Track Club must complete a USATF membership application
online www.usatf.org or (which the club will provide) and return it to the club
along with proof-of-age verification (a copy of a birth certificate). The
athlete is encouraged to apply for their USATF membership as soon as possible
to ensure that they have their USATF membership card (usually called a
"USATF card" or sometimes, by the more grizzled veterans of summer
track, a "TAC card") in hand before their first meet or practice.
Both Youth
Athletic and Junior Olympic meets are sanctioned by USA Track & Field, and
the same events are offered in both. Athletes in the Young Men/Women,
Intermediate, and Youth age groups may compete in up to four (4) events, while
Midgets and Bantams may compete in up to three (3) events. Combined event
competitions do not count against an athlete's event limit.
Youth
Athletic (also called "Youth" or "Age Group") meets are
open to all USATF-member athletes. The entry procedure for each Youth meet will
be explained at club practices, usually within a week or two of the meet. Any
USATF-member athlete may register for and compete at any Youth meet. All meets
on the competition schedule are Youth meets except those which include the
phrase "Junior Olympic".
Junior
Olympic (or "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:
Southern
California Association JO meet - The top eight (8) in each individual event and
top eight (8) in each relay event from this meet qualify for the Regional JO
meet.
Regional JO
meet - The top three (3) in each individual and relay event from this meet
qualify for the National JO meet.
Our 2009 meet
schedule can be found on the Meets page of our website. An athlete wishing to
compete as SOC
Wildcats Track Club in any of these meets must first become a
member of the club. After practices begin in Jan, we have a few tune-up meets
in Feb-March, then the competition season Apr-July will start, with meets held
generally each weekend. As information on each of these meets becomes available
to the club, it will be relayed to the athletes during the each practice.
SOC Wildcats track practice
season begins in late January and ends in late July. Most practices, as well as
some meetings and other club functions are held at parks at various locations
and JSerra High School. Practices will start at
Please show
up on time so you have enough time to properly warm up and stretch. Practices
usually last about 60 to 75 minutes and are followed by a team meeting, where
the coaches will share important club news, such as information on upcoming
meets and practices and to recognize athlete accomplishments. If the athlete
needs to leave practice early for any reason, it is their responsibility to
inform the head coach at the beginning of practice.
SOC Wildcats cross country
practice may be held at various locations. Please check the Schedule to see
which days at which locations. All practices begin at
Our basic
philosophy on practice is that our coaches cannot help the athlete unless
he/she is at practice. SOC Wildcats
practices are very demanding. If the athlete is not coming to practice to
work hard, then maybe Wildcats Track is not for them. We would like the
athlete to attend as many practices as is possible, but also encourage them to
participate in other sports that they enjoy. If the athlete needs to miss a
practice for any reason, the coaches can give them a workout so they can
practice on their own. The harder the athlete works in practice, and on his or
her own outside of practice, the better they will perform in meets.
The Wildcats uniforms are custom designed
and consist of a speed suit or a singlet & shorts
and warm-ups. Our team colors Navy Blue and Gold. Uniforms will be issued to
each club member all the registration process is completed. Any variation to
the uniform must be first cleared with the head coach.
Athletes
will represent SOC Wildcats by
wearing the uniform at all USATF meets, including any award, opening, and/or
closing ceremonies, and as directed by the head coach. Shoe choice and style is
up to the athlete. Parents are also encouraged to represent the club at meets
by wearing a Wildcats shirt or warm-ups
which both may be purchased from the Club.
What is the parents' role in Wildcats Track Club?
Parents are
strongly encouraged to be involved in the support of Wildcats Track. We need support in any other fund-raising
activities during the year that we may hold.