Home

2009 CYA TRACK SCHEDULE (Upcoming)

• 5/10/09:  Mothers’ Day – Optional Practice 4:00 - 5:00pm
• 5/17/09:  CYA Invitational 2:00 - 6:00 pm
• 5/24/09:  Memorial Day Weekend – Optional Practice  4:00 - 5:00pm
• 5/31/09:  End of year picnic/party 4:00 - 6:00pm 

Scheduled practice and meet times are tentative and subject to modest changes.

All practices and events take place at the Chantilly High School Track and surrounding fields.

Your children will be placed in groups according to their gender and age. Here is how it works:
CYA Track is an official member of USA Track & Field (USATF), THE governing body of Track & Field in the USA. USATF sets the standards for ALL track in this country, maintaining records at all age levels and sanctioning the National Track Championships, selecting the US Olympic Team and governing the Junior Olympics.

As such, we abide by the age classifications designated by the USATF.  Age classifications are much different than in many other sports, and for the most part, I think they are much easier to figure out.  Age classification is determined simply by a child/youth/olympians' year of birth. Unfortunately, the USATF does not classify children who were born more than 10 years from the present year.  Therefore, CYA has created younger groupings that will eventually feed into officially recognized USATF age categories.  The breakdowns are as follows:

Birth Year        Name of Group   
2005 & after    Little Ones
2003 & 2004    Rising Stars
2001 & 2002    Sub-Bantam     Official USATF Designation
1999 & 2000    Bantam           Official USATF Designation
1997 & 1998    Midget            Official USATF Designation
1995 & 1996    Youth             Official USATF Designation
1993 & 1994    Intermediate    Official USATF Designation
1991 & 1992    Young             Official USATF Designation      

A few guidelines:

1. I & your coaches will communicate with you primarily by email.  Please check your email EVERY Sunday after 1pm on days that you think practice might be cancelled. (that is how I communicate cancellations).  I also usually send out emails during the week regarding upcoming events.
2. Practice will be cancelled if there is an Electrical storm threatening.  We practice in the rain.
3. Practice will be cancelled if there is snow or ice on the track (Oh please, no more snow!!)
4. Please make sure your kids have comfortable running shoes, that they dress in a few layers, that they are warm enough, and that they have a water bottle with their name written on it. My next email will give you a great suggestion on where to look for running shoes!
5. There are NO RESTROOMS.  We are only there for an hour.  Make sure your child goes to the bathroom before practice.
6. Parents are welcome to hang out in the stands during practice, or to walk in the infield, or to participate with your children's group.
7. Children are not allowed to leave the track during the practice.
8. If you drop your child off, it is your responsibility to make sure they check in with their age group coach.  YOU MUST be there at or before 5pm to pick your child up.  Parents of young children are ENCOURAGED to stay and watch or participate.
9. Track is a low-key program.  If you have to miss a practice, no problem.  Once you have been assigned to a coach, you can let them know about your scheduling conflicts.
10. The first few practices will mainly be running and stretching.
11. Make a name badge for your child.  Cut a piece of fabric about the size of an index card.  Use a permanent marker to write their first name on the badge.  Use safety pins to attach it to your child's jersey/t-shirt.  This way coaches can more easily recognize the childrens' names, and other kids can cheer for them when they are racing.
12. We will be verifying jersey and T-shirt sizes in the first two-three weeks, so the kids have their stuff for the first meet that occurs in April.
13. CYA is a 100% volunteer league.  NONE of us are paid.  If I ask for help, it will only because I need it, and I am sure you will rise to the occasion if needed.
14. CYA Track's mission is to develop a love and appreciation for the sport of Track and Field.  We will do sprints, distance running, long jumping, triple jumping, high jumping, shot putting, discuss throwing, relays.  Kids will be challenged physically on some occasions, but we are not intending to push any child to their limits.  The emphasis is NOT ON WINNING, it is on developing skills and improving one's times as the season progresses.
15. It is your responsibility to let me and your child's coach know if there are any health issues of which we should be aware.