Frequently Asked Questions; Click here to download FAQ file
- What ages can participate?
- What does the registration fee cover?
- Are there additional expenses required?
- What are are the different youth age division?
- What are practice times and locations?
- What to expect at practice sessions?
- What to expect at track meets?
- What about different weather conditions?
- What are student-athletes responsibilities before and during track meets?
- What are the events in Track & Field?
- What running fear does my child need?
- Will there be parent/guardian meetings?
- What are my parent/guardian obligations?
- What is the purpose of fundraising?
- What is the organization's fundraising goals?
- What is the Travel Policy?
Q: What ages can participate?
Trial By Fire Youth track & Field Club is available to student-athlete boys and girls from 8-18 years old.
Q: What does the registration fee cover?
Trial By Fire Youth Track & Field Club’s registration is processed online under the "registration” page. An Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) membership is required before starting the online registration process and can be purchased for $12 at www.aauathletics.org. The registration fee includes the uniform package, t-shirt, entry fees for district and national qualifying meets only, and a administration fee. Registration is $220 for new members, $150 for returning members, and $50 for strength and conditioning only members. Registration fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. All registration fees must be paid prior to participating in practice sessions; however, payment plans can be developed if needed. Please do not withhold your child from practice because of fees. We can always catch up the money, but we cannot always catch up on conditioning and preparation. New Members - $220 Copies of 2012 AAU membership card, birth certificate, sports physical examination, athlete’s latest report card, and receipt of payment must be presented by or before the first day of your child’s practice:
- Team uniform package: $70 - Team T-shirt: $15 - District and National Qualifying Meets: $50 - Track meet meals: $35 - Administrative fee (equipment, insurance benefits, website and online tools maintenance): $50
Returning Members - $150 Copies of 2012 AAU membership card, sports physical examination, athlete’s latest report card, and receipt of payment must be presented by or before the first day of your child’s practice.
- Team T-shirt: $15 - District and National Qualifying Meets: $50 - Track meet meal: $35 - Administrative fee (equipment, ins.-benefits, website and online tools maintenance): $50
Strength and Conditioning Members - $50 Copies of 2012 sports physical examination, athlete’s latest report card, and receipt of payment must be presented by or before the first day of your child’s practice.
- Team T-shirt: $15 - Administrative fee (equipment, insurance benefits): $35
Q: Are there additional expenses required?
Q: What are the different youth age divisions
Student-athletes will compete in groups determined by the athlete’s age as of 12/31/2012. This year, the age groups are:
Q: What are practice times and locations?
Practice sessions will be held 4 days a week for about 2 hours at East Literature Magnet School outdoor track and Shelby Park. The practice schedule is posted on the website and reminders through email, texting, Facebook, and Twitter social networks.
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday at 6:15pm-8:00pm (or dusk) - Saturday from 9:00am -11:00am.
Q: What to expect at practice sessions?
During each session, your child will do warm-up, stretching, runs, strength and core exercises, and cool down. Practice for field events will be on a rotating basis. Information about running, nutrition, injury care, etc will be provided throughout the running season. Our primary goal is to introduce and/or advance skills in the healthy sport of running by training your child physically; motivating them mentally and emotionally, developing and keeping their interest in running and fitness, and most of all HAVE FUN! We often incorporate games or relay races where they run and play. It is important that your child bring a plastic water bottle to every practice, preferably labeled. Note the club will provide a cooler of water, but not individual bottles. Please have your child use the bathroom before coming to practice.
Q: What to expect at track meets?
Developmental meets are optional and typically held on Saturdays and Sundays starting at the end of May. As the season move toward important competition, which are the District Qualifier (local), National Qualifier (State), and the Junior Olympic Games (National), your child is REQUIRED to participate in these meets in order to have the opportunity to advance further. Please try and plan vacations accordingly. Track meets usually start at 8:00am and last about 4:00pm in the afternoon. In preparation for track meets and warm (hot) weather conditions, the club will provide tents, tarps, healthy snacks and beverages for athletes, chaperones, and coaches only. Parents are encouraged to bring a cooler of drinks, food, chairs, umbrellas/tents for shade, reading book, and sunscreen. Parents are not allowed under the team’s tent and on the field during track meets unless designated as chaperone or as a registered volunteer official
Q: What about different weather conditions?
Practice sessions and track meets are run in all kinds of conditions – hot, cold, rain. About the only thing that will stop practice session and meets is the threat or presence of lightning and activities will be canceled if considered too dangerous to run. The coaching or administrative staff will make every attempt to communicate changes and alerts by calls, emails, texting, social media tools, and on the website.
Q: What are the student-athletes responsibilities before and during track meets?
Student-athletes should check-in on time with coaching staff at each track meet and follow all rules. They should drink water before, during, and after competition. Consumption of sports drinks will be permitted after strenuous competition and not as a substitute for water. CONCESSION STANDS ARE OFF LIMITS FOR ALL STUDENT-ATHLETES.
Q: What are the events in Track & Field?
Running events include: 100, 200, 400, 800, 3000 meters, Hurdles, 4X100 relay, 4X400 relay, and 4X800 relay. Field events include: long jump, high jump, triple jump, javelin, shot put, and discuss. Multi events include: heptathlon and decathlon. We will not train for pole vault during this season.
Q: What running gear does my child need?
Student-athletes must train in running shoes during practice and compete in spikes. Appropriate running attire should include warm-ups/sweats/running tights, running shorts, and a t-shirt. The cost of running shoes varies according to body structure, special needs and running events, and strongly recommended to consult the coaching staff before purchasing both running shoes and spikes. No basketball or cross-training shoes.
Student-athletes are strongly urged to have two different types of shoes. The first is a pair of running shoes that are still have a fair amount of tread on them. The second is a pair of “spikes”. Our recommendation for purchasing these shoes is via mail through “East Bay Sports” (www.eastbay.com), or “First to the Finish” (www.fttf.com), or "New Balance Shoes (www.shopnewbalance.com).
Q: Will there be parent/guardian meetings?
Parents/Guardians will be asked to attend parent meetings on occasions throughout the running season to discuss and answer questions about track meets, travel cost, event participation, relay selections, rules of practice and track meets, safety, discipline, fundraisers, and other important subject matters.
Q: What are my parent obligations?
It is mandatory that parents support and respect the rules and policies set by the organization in order to help the coaching and administrative staff foster a safe and fun environment that will allow your child to thrive physically, spiritually, academically and athletically. It is also the obligation of at least one parent to participate in “team” and “individual” fundraising events and volunteer to help with different task throughout the season to make sure activities of the organization run smoothly and in a timely manner. We understand that time is valuable to many parents/athletes and acknowledge that track & field is not the only responsibility in your day-today activities, therefore the organization’s aim is to schedule volunteer hours in short shifts, typically 2-hour shifts, to avoid long taxing commitments.
Q: What is the purpose of fundraising?
TBF “Trailblazers” is a nonprofit organization that depends primarily on sponsorships and fundraising activities to meet our team needs and operating expenses. Registration fees are based on the bare minimum compared to overall expenses that the club will incur during the course of the season. Before and during the running season, several “team” and “individual” fundraising events will be scheduled to help offset expenses such as, but not limited equipment, travel expenses associated with qualifying meets and the Junior Olympic Games, administrative cost, coaching education, and other relates expenses. “Team” fundraisers are planned before or during the early part of the season, and “Individual” fundraisers will be presented during developmental and competition months. Fundraisers will include:
- Business and Corporations Petitions - Various “Team” and “Individual” fundraisers such as sponsorships & pledges, bake sales, etc. - Grants
* Parents may opt to pay a $75 fundraising fee in lieu of team fundraisers, per fundraising events, per student-athlete.
Q What is the organization's fundraising goals?
The 2012 fundraising goal is to raise and/or exceed $11,000 to cover expenses relating to practices sessions, developmental meets, and travel expenses associated with the District and National Qualifiers, and the National Junior Olympic Games. The projected expenses include, but not limited to:
- Practice water and ice: $400 - Junior Olympic transportation & gas: $3,700 - Junior Olympic lodging expenses: $4,800 - Fundraising expenses: $300 - Equipment: $500 - $800 - Banquet & Awards: $1,000
* Note these figures are based on 25 participants and subject to change
Q: What is the Travel Policy
Parents responsibilities
Each year the coaching staff will plan out the track meet schedule that will consist of local and out-of-town track competitions. Parents are responsible for their child’s transportation to and from local and out-of-town competitions during the regular developmental track meet season, including accommodations. Travel to out-of-town meets consists of additional cost not included in the registration fee. Parents are responsible for securing hotel reservations, transportation and all accommodation associated with travel expenses. In the effort of having members stay at the same location, the Club will recommend a safe and clean hotel and will block rooms for a specific period of time to assist parents with travel accommodations. But this may not always be possible and members who do not desire to stay at the Club’s hotel, are welcome to select hotels of choice. Please keep in mind that all developmental meets are optional and noted on the schedule of events.
Club’s Responsibility:
All student-athletes are expected to participate in all qualifying meets for which they qualify (relay team included). These meets include the District Qualifier (local), the National Qualifier (statewide), and the National Junior Olympic Games (out of state). Travel to out-of-town meets entails additional costs not included in the member’s registration fee. The Club arranges travel and hotel accommodations for out-of-town qualifying meets. Team and individual fundraisers are designed to help defray the cost of travel expenses. However, if the organization falls short of fundraising goals, payment for individual room, cost of transportation, and meals will be the responsibility of the parent. During qualifying meets and the National Junior Olympic games, all student-athletes are required to travel and stay with the team throughout the duration of the meet. While out-of-town meets are often viewed as opportunities for family vacation time, these meets are business trips for the student-athletes and guiding principles will be strictly enforced.