We are a developmental track and cross country team serving students in the Pope High School district and surrounding areas.

Registration for our Spring Track and Field Season will open at 10 am December 2nd.

Our Spring 2024 Team is full.

Spring fees are $300 for returning athletes and $350 for new athletes.

We will have an evaluation day on January 21st and practices will begin January 28th. Athletes will practice 3-4 times per week depending on their training group.

Meets will be most weekends in March and April on Saturdays or Sundays. We will not have meets on the first or second weekend of spring break. All meets are optional.

Our season will be complete the last weekend of April or first weekend of May.

Competitions:

• Track and field competitions are called ‘meets’ and consist of up to 2 dozen events. Our meets will take place on Saturdays or Sundays and are usually all-day affairs with running and field events overlapping. We do occasionally have mini-meets that will last a few hours rather than all day.
• All of our meets are optional for our athletes and you are only required to be present for the events that you sign up for in advance.
• Registration for each meet will open 1-2 weeks before with clear entry deadlines.
• Some meets will limit the number of events each athlete can enter; this limit may be different for each meet but is generally 3 individual events and 1 relay event.
• Often only the first event of the meet is at a scheduled time and each event after that happens on a “rolling schedule” meaning each event starts when the last one finishes. Every meet will have a different schedule and we encourage everyone to show up at least 1 hour before their expected event time.
• Here is an example schedule:
  • 3000m run - start time 8:00 am

o   100m hurdles (estimated 8:30 am)

o   400m dash (estimated 8:45 am)

o   1500m run (estimated 9:45 am)

o   100m dash (estimated 11:00 am)

o   800m run (estimated 11:30 am)

o   200m dash (estimated 12:15 pm)

o   4x100m relay (estimated 12:50 pm)

o   4x400m relay (estimated 1:15 pm)

o   Full size javelin (ages 13+) 8:00 am

o   Shot put, Mini-javelin (ages 12 & under), long jump, high jump begin at 8:30 am and will be open to all athletes on a first come, first serve basis

·      The coaches can guide the athletes and help them choose the events to participate in, but it is the athlete's (and parent's) decision as to what they want to compete in. The athletes can try multiple field events and running events. The purpose of the developmental meet is to give the athlete experience in competing in a particular event.

Meet Schedule:

• Our spring season is developmental in nature. This runs from the end of January-end of April with meets in March and April. During March and April we will have 4-6 developmental meets with other track clubs around the Metro Atlanta area. These meets are a great time for athletes to try new events and build confidence in their favorite events. 

There is an event for every type of athlete in Track & Field:

·      Sprints: 100m, 200m, and 400m are contested for each age group

·      Relays: 4x100m (all ages), 4x400m (all ages), 4x800m (11 up)

·      Hurdles: 80mH (11-12), 100mH (13 up Girls and 13-14 Boys), 110mH (15 up Boys), 200mH (13-14), 400mH (15 up). Hurdle heights vary by age, gender, and distance.

·      Mid-Distance & Distance: 800m, 1500m, 3000m (11 up)

·      Jumps: Long Jump (all ages), Triple Jump (13 up), Pole Vault (13 up), High Jump (9 up)

·      Throws: Shot Put (all ages), Discus (11 up), Javelin (all ages)

·      Multi-Events: Triathlon (9-10), Pentathlon (11-12, 13-14), Heptathlon (15 up Girls), Decathlon (15 up Boys) are contested during the USATF meets in the summer

Not all events will be contested at each meet

Age Grouping for Competition:

Athletes are grouped into age groups based upon their “race age” or age as of December 31st of the current calendar year (not necessarily their current age). At meets they will compete against other athletes in their age group:

• 8 years old and under
• 9-10 years old
• 11-12 years old
• 13-14 years old
• 15-16 years old

Grouping for Training:

We have lots of different groups for training. Each athlete is placed in one or more groups depending on the events they are most interested in (events list below). Athletes are welcome to compete in any event at a meet regardless of their training group. The  Greyhound Track Club groups as follows for training:

• Sprint age groups (Velocity, Acceleration, Intensity, and Power). Athletes are grouped by age and based upon data from our pre-season evaluation
• Distance groups (Navy, White, Grey) these groups are based upon pace, not age and will be formed after the distance assessment
• Jumps (any athlete interested)
• Throws (any athlete interested)

We encourage all athletes to try a variety of events. You never know what you will like until you try it!

Practice Schedule:

• Practice attendance is encouraged but not mandatory. Sick or injured athletes should not come to practice.
• Practice Schedules are not yet set, but will likely be on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
• Jumps group will maintain their own practice schedule and may take place during regular practice time or may be at different times based upon coach and field availability

• Throws group will maintain their own practice schedule and may take place during regular practice time or may be at different times based upon coach and field availability

Practice times and locations are subject to change and will be communicated via email or message through SportsEngine and updated in the team SportEngine calendar.

Team Communication:

·      Team communication will be through SportsEngine. You can access the team and training groups on our SportsEngine website and the app. Please download the app on your phone and turn on notifications. The app will have calendar and chat function for the whole team and for each training group your athlete is rostered in. 

·      Emails will also come to your through our SportsEngine platform so make sure you do not have those emails going to your junk box.

• You can reach the administrative team by emailing us at greyhoundtnxc@gmail.com 
  • USATF Membership

Our club participates in the USATF sanctioned series of meets and our meet registration system is linked to the USATF database. All Club athletes must keep a current USATF youth membership and the membership must be renewed each year (expires in December). This is a separate fee is paid online directly to USATF.

To register for USATF youth membership, follow the steps below.

USATF memberships must be obtained online at www.usatf.org.  

New Runners: 

Please sign up for a new membership. 

**IMPORTANT: During membership registration, ensure that your membership is affiliated with Greyhound Track and Cross Country Club (club #9081).

All new runners will be required to complete the age verification process for USATF.

Returning Runners: 

Make sure that your current membership is valid for 2024. If not, please renew it. 

**IMPORTANT: During membership registration, ensure that your membership is affiliated with Greyhound Track and Cross Country Club (club #9081).

Note if your age is verified through USATF. If it is not, you will need to complete this step through the USATF website. 

Athlete Safety

• Safety will always come first.
• All of our young athletes will be taught to do a comprehensive warm-up that involves jogging, stretching, drills and exercises, and a gradual increase in intensity leading up to the workout. 
• There will be adequate separation between athletes practicing throws and other athletes.
• We try to maintain a 10 to 1 ratio of coaches to athletes in our training groups. All coaches must submit to SafeSport training and a background check and at no time should a child be alone with only 1 other adult or child.
• We ask that our athletes do not attend practice or a meet if they are sick. 

What running gear does my child need?

• The only equipment that is needed (highly recommended) is a new/newer pair of performance running shoes. Using worn-down shoes, non-running shoes, or running shoes that do not provide the proper fit and support will lead to injuries. Some athletes also choose to purchase running spikes for use during the meets (this is purely optional). A wide selection of all these shoes, and advice about proper fit and selection, are available at the Big Peach Running Company.
• Uniforms and spirit wear for the team will arrive before the first meet and will be handed out at practice.

Tips for Success

• Some practice facilities DO NOT HAVE restrooms. Please ensure your athlete uses the restroom at home before coming to practice.
• Hydrate consistently throughout the week, especially the day prior to running. Drinking a lot of water immediately before practice or a race will not hydrate you properly and is not a good idea.
• Meals prior to running should be small, nothing heavy, and we recommend you limit dairy.
• If your child has a condition that may be life threatening, please notify your coach and Administration.
• Asthma, allergy, and any other critical medications should be on site with a means for the athlete or parent to administer - coaches cannot administer these medications. 
• Stretching before and after runs will help prevent injury and reduce recovery time and soreness.
• Make sure all personal items are labeled with your athlete’s name and do not leave items at practice.