COMMITMENT AND COMMUNICATION
Please give very careful consideration to you and your child’s participation in the track and field program. Track and field is a very time intensive program. Participants are expected to attend all practices and track meets.
Track meets are primarily held on Saturdays and occasionally on Sundays. The Sunday meets include two-day meets that are mandatory for participation in USATF district, association, regional and Junior Olympic competitions. Track meets are all-day long and athletes and parents need to be prepared to stay at track meets – all-day long. On occasion, a track meet may even run into the evening hours. If you cannot or are unwilling to wholeheartedly and cheerfully make the time commitment, track and field at this level is not for you and your child. There is a no refund policy for participating on Pure Talent Elite Track and Field. Please be in prayer and consider your decision thoroughly.
Our primary mode of contact with you will be via e-mail, text messages, facebook, twitter and our fabulous website. Please be mindful of the fact that there are loads of athletes and parents but only two Team Administrators. In short, if you have a question or concern, it is your responsibility to make contact with the appropriate personnel. Our team has team parents assigned to assist in the communication and team administration process; however, the ultimate responsibility rests with you to make sure that you have sought all of the necessary information. “I didn’t know” – “I didn’t understand” – etc. are not legitimate excuses.
UNIFORMS
Each athlete must be in a clean, well-maintained team uniform in order to participate in scheduled track meets. All uniforms must be handled with care in order to look their best. Specifically, athletes are to cover their uniforms, especially the bottom portion, when not competing. Athletes must only wear an approved team uniform. We are a team – we will look like a team by being dressed in a TEAM uniform. At many meets, the wearing of jewelry is prohibited – so it’s best to leave it at home. We will be unable to replace uniforms during the track season because the uniforms are custom (production time approx six (4) weeks).
MORE INFORMATION
1. Clothing: The weather always seems more extreme at outdoor track meets. If it’s pleasantly cool at home, it’s freezing at the track; if it’s breezy at home, there are gale force winds at the track, and if it’s warm at home, you will burn up at the track and so forth. Be prepared. The weather may change throughout the day (for example, when the sun goes behind the bleachers). For rain, consider getting one of those big plastic ponchos with a hood or a rain suit and always bring a towel to wipe off the bleachers, etc... Usually an umbrella won’t keep you dry. Wear colors similar to our team colors or a team t-shirt if you have it. It makes it easier to find the PTE team and is a great way to show your team spirit plus since every color in the rainbow is some teams color. You want to look like you belong with the right family.
2. Items to keep in your car: Rain and sun umbrellas; blanket; change of clothes & underclothes; hat; extra socks, extra sneakers; flip-flops; trash bag for wet/soiled clothes, etc.
3. Seating: Often we’ll have bleachers provided that get more uncomfortable the longer you sit. It is well worth investing in one of those padded fold-up stadium seats (with a back) or a cushion. You can also bring a blanket to sit on.
4. Food: They sell food at some of the bigger meets, but you can bring your own food as well. Also, you should bring plenty of water and something else to drink in your cooler and plenty of ice. Athletes and their parents have to bring their own food and beverages to the meets. It is tricky to time the eating and drinking around athlete’s events, but this can be worked out by touching bases with the coaches and team parents. Often athletes are hungry when they finish competing, and it can be a long time between events and before they can go home. Athletes should have nutritious snacks and foods. For example, bring sandwiches, bagels, fruit, applesauce, nutrition/power bars, and salads for the athletes. Please try to have the athlete eat something like cereal etc. for breakfast and nothing that is greasy or too heavy. You’ll have to work it out with your own daughter/son. Definitely should bring something to drink. Water is best and should be brought ALWAYS another suggestion is Gatorade and other sports drinks.
5. You might want: Your camera, binoculars, a hat or visor, sunscreen.
6. Where to sit at meets: It’s more fun to sit in a group with the Pure Talent family, plus it gives you a chance to get to know the other parents and cheer for all of the kids. Information is often given out at the location where the team is seated last minute changes are made and usually benefit athletes sitting where the team is sitting. In other words, the team parents and coaches will not look for you or your children during the meet so stay close.
7. If you are clueless about track: Come to the meets, hang around with the veteran parents, and learn the rules. There is plenty of time for conversation and all of the Pure Talent parents will be very friendly.
8. Entertainment items: Athletes can bring various electronic and video entertainment items (if there is noise, ear plugs must be used), card games and a book. However, team parents and coaches are not responsible for any lost items. Especially popular items have a way of growing feet and walking away from the place where your child thinks they last had it.
9. Items Parents/Athletes to keep in their track bag: SPIKES!!! Always have warm clothes and a windbreaker ready. Also add an extra pair of socks, hat and shorts (to cover your uniform). You might also want to add Kleenex or napkins or paper towels, a bottle of sunscreen (in a Ziploc bag so it doesn’t leak all over), and wet wipes. It may be good to have extra replacement spikes & wrench, safety pins.
10. Know The Expectations of Your Athlete Age Group Team Parent: Pure Talent Elite Track is an organization run 100% by volunteers, and we especially need parent volunteers! We would like to have at least one team parent per age group who will be able to do such things as: give out event labels at the track meets, make sure all athletes hear and get to the events when called, make sure athletes drink plenty of water, make sure athletes go to the bathroom before the events, remain informed by the athletes as to their whereabouts at all times, make sure your age group athletes are well behaved and in appropriate areas at the meets and not running and playing in the bleachers, make sure athletes pick-up trash and clean their section of the bleachers at meets, keep up-to-date entries in the athlete event results booklet, make phone calls and send emails to their age group parents, make sure that athletes are properly and appropriately dressed for competition stay abreast of athlete’s performances and events so that they are equipped to fill-in events for athletes when requested by coaching staff be the eyes and ears for the coaching staff.
11. Team Parents: Team Parents provide a service to you as parents and athletes but are primarily for the benefit of the coaching staff. Please offer to assist them in any way possible and do not abuse them by forgetting that you are still a parent and are part of the team effort. The term “team parent” is NOT synonymous with the word “babysitter”. They are highly skilled professionals a well-tuned machine headed by the Team Administrator -- with a critical job to do (smile).
12. Meet Book: Each age group will have an event results book given to the team parents. Team Parents will make every effort with your assistance -- to obtain the event results from results display for each of your age group members. This information is used by the coaches to assess performance, restructure practice and drills, and for parents to see if their child is improving. Also in this book there will be target times/distances for each event in order to qualify for the district, regional, and national meets.
13. Who competes in the following age groups and categories: Most local meets will offer competition in double age groups (8 & under; 9/10; 11/12, etc.) Track & Field has its own “lingo” for describing these age groups. The lingo for AAU meets is slightly different that the lingo for USATF meets. Our primary focus at the regional and national level will focus on AAU this year. For both you determine age as of 12/31/2016.
Primary 2009 and after
9 Year Old 2008
10 Year Old 2007
11 Year Old 2006
12 Year Old 2005
13 Year Old 2004
14 Year Old 2003
15-16 Year Old 2001-2002
17-18 Year Old 1999/2000 (*Athletes born in 1998 who will turn 18 after July 31 are also
eligible)
14. Figuring out when the athlete will be competing: Listen to announcer; follow event agenda (these will be given out by the track coach to team parents at the beginning of the meet). Please let the team parent know if you are leaving the meet for any reason.
15. Cancellations: For weather: Track meets are delayed or canceled only if there is thunder and lightning. If it’s just raining they keep going. For general reasons: Team parents will be notified if a practice or track meet will be cancelled. The team parent will contact the parents. If parents want to inquire as to the status of a practice or meet they should call the team parent or the coaches.
DOCUMENTATION
The following documentation is needed by no later than April 1 for Regular, December 1 for Indoor:
Copy of birth certificate (Unless previously submitted)
Completed emergency form.
EVENTS
Coaches will select the events in which an athlete will participate. No athlete is guaranteed to participate in a particular event at any or every meet. Our selections will be based upon what we believe is an appropriate event for the child and our desire to ensure each athlete is exposed to a variety of events. On occasion, an athlete will have the option of selecting an event in which to participate. In addition, relay participation is not guaranteed. We will make every effort to ensure that every child participates on a relay at some point during the season. However, we will also make any and all necessary adjustments throughout the season (including use of alternates at regional and national competitions).
Special Note on Relays: Prior to placing your child on a relay team for association, regional or national competition, you will be asked whether you are prepared to make a commitment to participation on that relay team. Commitment to a relay team means that you and your child are willing to go as far as the relay team can go, no matter what. For example, you are committing to participate, in an instance where you or child believe that a relay team is not competitive because the fastest leg doesn’t show; or the coaches made a change in the composition of the relay because of a runner’s negative attitude; or a relay member is sick and an alternate who is willing to give their best is substituted, etc. --- You will promise to encourage your child to do their very best; and your child will put a smile on his/her face, encourage his/her relay team to give it their all; and make up any slack for a weaker runner by giving of themselves 150+% -- while maintaining that smile and a positive attitude.
TALENTS
Please let the commissioner or coach know what you, as a parent or volunteer, can do to help improve our track program. We are always in need and are a very gracious team. If you know of possible sponsors, we will be happy to provide receipts for tax-deductible contributions. Let us know what you can do for the team that may not have crossed our minds!
FUNDRAISING
As you can see, there are a lot of things that we have planned for the season and a lot of expenses to you, as parents, involved in your child’s participation. Therefore, fundraising is important to the team as a whole, as well as, to the participants in those fundraising efforts.
THANKS -- The track season, as you are all realizing, is a very busy and long season. Therefore the coaches, team administrator, team parents, etc. are taking this opportunity to thank each of you in advance for your vote of confidence, your assistance and your cooperation. We will make every effort to keep you informed throughout the season. However, please keep in mind that Pure Talent Elite Track is the Lord’s track team. If you see something that needs to be done to improve our program, please share as our primary goal is to bring glory to our Lord. The coaches are here to give to each of our children; your children -- the very best in coaching of track and field that they have to give and are looking forward to a truly fun, educational, relaxing and successful track season. We try very hard to avoid DRAMA (and will do our best to display grace, if necessary we will dismiss athletes and/or parents from the team if it comes into to the family). Our practice is to maintain our focus on what really matters -- this family that we have built and your children. Throughout the season, please let us know your skills, talents, connections, etc that may benefit the team or these events. We have the ability to offer advertising, publicity, etc. in exchange for items, services, etc.
Please give very careful consideration to you and your child’s participation in the track and field program. Track and field is a very time intensive program. Participants are expected to attend all practices and track meets.
Track meets are primarily held on Saturdays and occasionally on Sundays. The Sunday meets include two-day meets that are mandatory for participation in USATF district, association, regional and Junior Olympic competitions. Track meets are all-day long and athletes and parents need to be prepared to stay at track meets – all-day long. On occasion, a track meet may even run into the evening hours. If you cannot or are unwilling to wholeheartedly and cheerfully make the time commitment, track and field at this level is not for you and your child. There is a no refund policy for participating on Pure Talent Elite Track and Field. Please be in prayer and consider your decision thoroughly.
Our primary mode of contact with you will be via e-mail, text messages, facebook, twitter and our fabulous website. Please be mindful of the fact that there are loads of athletes and parents but only two Team Administrators. In short, if you have a question or concern, it is your responsibility to make contact with the appropriate personnel. Our team has team parents assigned to assist in the communication and team administration process; however, the ultimate responsibility rests with you to make sure that you have sought all of the necessary information. “I didn’t know” – “I didn’t understand” – etc. are not legitimate excuses.
UNIFORMS
Each athlete must be in a clean, well-maintained team uniform in order to participate in scheduled track meets. All uniforms must be handled with care in order to look their best. Specifically, athletes are to cover their uniforms, especially the bottom portion, when not competing. Athletes must only wear an approved team uniform. We are a team – we will look like a team by being dressed in a TEAM uniform. At many meets, the wearing of jewelry is prohibited – so it’s best to leave it at home. We will be unable to replace uniforms during the track season because the uniforms are custom (production time approx six (4) weeks).
MORE INFORMATION
1. Clothing: The weather always seems more extreme at outdoor track meets. If it’s pleasantly cool at home, it’s freezing at the track; if it’s breezy at home, there are gale force winds at the track, and if it’s warm at home, you will burn up at the track and so forth. Be prepared. The weather may change throughout the day (for example, when the sun goes behind the bleachers). For rain, consider getting one of those big plastic ponchos with a hood or a rain suit and always bring a towel to wipe off the bleachers, etc... Usually an umbrella won’t keep you dry. Wear colors similar to our team colors or a team t-shirt if you have it. It makes it easier to find the PTE team and is a great way to show your team spirit plus since every color in the rainbow is some teams color. You want to look like you belong with the right family.
2. Items to keep in your car: Rain and sun umbrellas; blanket; change of clothes & underclothes; hat; extra socks, extra sneakers; flip-flops; trash bag for wet/soiled clothes, etc.
3. Seating: Often we’ll have bleachers provided that get more uncomfortable the longer you sit. It is well worth investing in one of those padded fold-up stadium seats (with a back) or a cushion. You can also bring a blanket to sit on.
4. Food: They sell food at some of the bigger meets, but you can bring your own food as well. Also, you should bring plenty of water and something else to drink in your cooler and plenty of ice. Athletes and their parents have to bring their own food and beverages to the meets. It is tricky to time the eating and drinking around athlete’s events, but this can be worked out by touching bases with the coaches and team parents. Often athletes are hungry when they finish competing, and it can be a long time between events and before they can go home. Athletes should have nutritious snacks and foods. For example, bring sandwiches, bagels, fruit, applesauce, nutrition/power bars, and salads for the athletes. Please try to have the athlete eat something like cereal etc. for breakfast and nothing that is greasy or too heavy. You’ll have to work it out with your own daughter/son. Definitely should bring something to drink. Water is best and should be brought ALWAYS another suggestion is Gatorade and other sports drinks.
5. You might want: Your camera, binoculars, a hat or visor, sunscreen.
6. Where to sit at meets: It’s more fun to sit in a group with the Pure Talent family, plus it gives you a chance to get to know the other parents and cheer for all of the kids. Information is often given out at the location where the team is seated last minute changes are made and usually benefit athletes sitting where the team is sitting. In other words, the team parents and coaches will not look for you or your children during the meet so stay close.
7. If you are clueless about track: Come to the meets, hang around with the veteran parents, and learn the rules. There is plenty of time for conversation and all of the Pure Talent parents will be very friendly.
8. Entertainment items: Athletes can bring various electronic and video entertainment items (if there is noise, ear plugs must be used), card games and a book. However, team parents and coaches are not responsible for any lost items. Especially popular items have a way of growing feet and walking away from the place where your child thinks they last had it.
9. Items Parents/Athletes to keep in their track bag: SPIKES!!! Always have warm clothes and a windbreaker ready. Also add an extra pair of socks, hat and shorts (to cover your uniform). You might also want to add Kleenex or napkins or paper towels, a bottle of sunscreen (in a Ziploc bag so it doesn’t leak all over), and wet wipes. It may be good to have extra replacement spikes & wrench, safety pins.
10. Know The Expectations of Your Athlete Age Group Team Parent: Pure Talent Elite Track is an organization run 100% by volunteers, and we especially need parent volunteers! We would like to have at least one team parent per age group who will be able to do such things as: give out event labels at the track meets, make sure all athletes hear and get to the events when called, make sure athletes drink plenty of water, make sure athletes go to the bathroom before the events, remain informed by the athletes as to their whereabouts at all times, make sure your age group athletes are well behaved and in appropriate areas at the meets and not running and playing in the bleachers, make sure athletes pick-up trash and clean their section of the bleachers at meets, keep up-to-date entries in the athlete event results booklet, make phone calls and send emails to their age group parents, make sure that athletes are properly and appropriately dressed for competition stay abreast of athlete’s performances and events so that they are equipped to fill-in events for athletes when requested by coaching staff be the eyes and ears for the coaching staff.
11. Team Parents: Team Parents provide a service to you as parents and athletes but are primarily for the benefit of the coaching staff. Please offer to assist them in any way possible and do not abuse them by forgetting that you are still a parent and are part of the team effort. The term “team parent” is NOT synonymous with the word “babysitter”. They are highly skilled professionals a well-tuned machine headed by the Team Administrator -- with a critical job to do (smile).
12. Meet Book: Each age group will have an event results book given to the team parents. Team Parents will make every effort with your assistance -- to obtain the event results from results display for each of your age group members. This information is used by the coaches to assess performance, restructure practice and drills, and for parents to see if their child is improving. Also in this book there will be target times/distances for each event in order to qualify for the district, regional, and national meets.
13. Who competes in the following age groups and categories: Most local meets will offer competition in double age groups (8 & under; 9/10; 11/12, etc.) Track & Field has its own “lingo” for describing these age groups. The lingo for AAU meets is slightly different that the lingo for USATF meets. Our primary focus at the regional and national level will focus on AAU this year. For both you determine age as of 12/31/2016.
Primary 2009 and after
9 Year Old 2008
10 Year Old 2007
11 Year Old 2006
12 Year Old 2005
13 Year Old 2004
14 Year Old 2003
15-16 Year Old 2001-2002
17-18 Year Old 1999/2000 (*Athletes born in 1998 who will turn 18 after July 31 are also
eligible)
14. Figuring out when the athlete will be competing: Listen to announcer; follow event agenda (these will be given out by the track coach to team parents at the beginning of the meet). Please let the team parent know if you are leaving the meet for any reason.
15. Cancellations: For weather: Track meets are delayed or canceled only if there is thunder and lightning. If it’s just raining they keep going. For general reasons: Team parents will be notified if a practice or track meet will be cancelled. The team parent will contact the parents. If parents want to inquire as to the status of a practice or meet they should call the team parent or the coaches.
DOCUMENTATION
The following documentation is needed by no later than April 1 for Regular, December 1 for Indoor:
Copy of birth certificate (Unless previously submitted)
Completed emergency form.
EVENTS
Coaches will select the events in which an athlete will participate. No athlete is guaranteed to participate in a particular event at any or every meet. Our selections will be based upon what we believe is an appropriate event for the child and our desire to ensure each athlete is exposed to a variety of events. On occasion, an athlete will have the option of selecting an event in which to participate. In addition, relay participation is not guaranteed. We will make every effort to ensure that every child participates on a relay at some point during the season. However, we will also make any and all necessary adjustments throughout the season (including use of alternates at regional and national competitions).
Special Note on Relays: Prior to placing your child on a relay team for association, regional or national competition, you will be asked whether you are prepared to make a commitment to participation on that relay team. Commitment to a relay team means that you and your child are willing to go as far as the relay team can go, no matter what. For example, you are committing to participate, in an instance where you or child believe that a relay team is not competitive because the fastest leg doesn’t show; or the coaches made a change in the composition of the relay because of a runner’s negative attitude; or a relay member is sick and an alternate who is willing to give their best is substituted, etc. --- You will promise to encourage your child to do their very best; and your child will put a smile on his/her face, encourage his/her relay team to give it their all; and make up any slack for a weaker runner by giving of themselves 150+% -- while maintaining that smile and a positive attitude.
TALENTS
Please let the commissioner or coach know what you, as a parent or volunteer, can do to help improve our track program. We are always in need and are a very gracious team. If you know of possible sponsors, we will be happy to provide receipts for tax-deductible contributions. Let us know what you can do for the team that may not have crossed our minds!
FUNDRAISING
As you can see, there are a lot of things that we have planned for the season and a lot of expenses to you, as parents, involved in your child’s participation. Therefore, fundraising is important to the team as a whole, as well as, to the participants in those fundraising efforts.
THANKS -- The track season, as you are all realizing, is a very busy and long season. Therefore the coaches, team administrator, team parents, etc. are taking this opportunity to thank each of you in advance for your vote of confidence, your assistance and your cooperation. We will make every effort to keep you informed throughout the season. However, please keep in mind that Pure Talent Elite Track is the Lord’s track team. If you see something that needs to be done to improve our program, please share as our primary goal is to bring glory to our Lord. The coaches are here to give to each of our children; your children -- the very best in coaching of track and field that they have to give and are looking forward to a truly fun, educational, relaxing and successful track season. We try very hard to avoid DRAMA (and will do our best to display grace, if necessary we will dismiss athletes and/or parents from the team if it comes into to the family). Our practice is to maintain our focus on what really matters -- this family that we have built and your children. Throughout the season, please let us know your skills, talents, connections, etc that may benefit the team or these events. We have the ability to offer advertising, publicity, etc. in exchange for items, services, etc.
