Track News for the Week of March 6th

War Path Recap
I hope everyone had fun on Saturday. We got a little wet, but then again nobody got heatstroke--there's always an upside. We'll try to get in more relay practice and field event practice this week so that athletes are more comfortable with those events for our next meet.

Our regular meets are conducted much the same way, but results are recorded on paper, typed into the computer afterward, and then posted online. The paper feathers are a War Path exclusive.

Uniform Pickup

Uniform shirts and team sweatshirts will be handed out at practice Tuesday and Thursday. Look for a table at the bottom of the stairs from the parking lot. They will also be available at the meet on Saturday, starting at 8am. 

We'll hand out the ordered sizes first, and then we can make swaps for unworn items (trying it on is fine.) Parish assignments are fixed, so we can't swap one parish's shirt for a different one.

Why is our shirt red/yellow/blue? Shouldn't it be blue/red/yellow?

Our team is technically three teams: Christ the King, St. Catherine, and St. Stephen. Parish assignments are done according to a sacred trinity of CYO rules:

1. Athlete's school, if they attend the parish school, otherwise
2. Athlete's parish, if they attend religious ed/faith formation classes, otherwise
3. Athlete's home address

You let me know if your athlete fell under rule #1 or #2 on your registration forms. Those who aren't attending school or RE at a parish are assigned by rule #3.

It is entirely possible for public school classmates to run for different parishes, solely based on geography.  

Nothing has changed. We are still one team made of three parishes: we practice and hold meets together. Only at the end-of-season championships does it matter, and only then when we're forming relay teams.

Meet on Saturday, March 12, Dublin High School

• Volunteers, athletes, coaches arrive: 8:00am
• First event starts: 8:30am
• Estimated finish:  1:00pm

Volunteers are committed for the entire meet, but athletes can come for just the first half or just the 2nd half in the case of schedule conflicts. Just let your primary coach know when that's the case.

Note that whereas dropping off athletes for practice is perfectly acceptable, for meets that's not the case. It is impossible for coaches to keep track of all the athletes at a meet and so parents should plan to stay and provide a "home base" in the stands for their kids. Food and drink other than water should remain in the stands. At some meets, athletes and coaches are also expected to stay in the stands except for athletes whose events have been called. In any case, the team will drop bags and extra clothes in one area on the field or in the stands and athletes should be encouraged to hang out there when not competing so it is easier for coaches to find them when events are called or relays need to be formed.

Looking ahead to next season, and beyond

I know we've barely begun, but we're already looking ahead to 2017. If your athlete likes CYO track and you enjoy running, please consider joining up as an assistant coach next season.

Most coaches follow their own kids through CYO, and move on to greener pastures after eighth grade. Our three parishes have been very lucky to have parents willing to volunteer their time as coaches, but we can only continue as long as we keep bringing in new ones to help out. A good loud mom/dad voice is a benefit, as are senses of humor and perspective.

Team coordinators also follow their kids through CYO, and next season will be my last. Our team needs someone to step up as coordinator in the 2017 season while I'm around to smooth the transition (assuming I've learned something about the role by the end of the season).

Please think about it!

Volunteer News

Volunteer Jobs Update

New and exciting changes for this season!

Our Division Coordinator has assigned the volunteer jobs for ALL parishes. This has streamlined the volunteer assignments for all teams and also brings notable changes.

Our volunteer shifts are for the duration of the meet. We had been the only parish that had split every shift and now we are consistent with the other teams. We will still have some half shifts, but most of our shifts are from the beginning of the meet to until the event closes.

Where is the Middle Shift?

The new assignments did not include any middle shifts. So far we only have one meet with a middle shift, Meet #2 and hopefully Meet#3.

What is a Middle Shift?

The Away Side of the track where either the boys or girls run the 50m/100m simultaneously with the Home Side of the track.

How does this affect you?

With no middle shift, this has reduced our volunteer requirement 5 shifts to 4 shifts (equals 2 meets in new format). But, if we regain those middle shifts, we will need volunteers to fill them.  

Do I really have to volunteer ALL Day?

You only work until your event closes. In past seasons, parents would sign up for a double shift and split it. Ygnacio Valley High School will also have the “Rent a Student”, where you can pay a high school track student to work for you. This is a fundraiser for their track team. I will send more info about renting a student when it becomes available.

When and how do I sign up?

Sign Up Genius is set to go live this Friday at 6 am for ALL the meets. Look for Sign Up Genius emails with a link to each meet.

Thank you for donating your time and talent. CYO Track and Field is 100% volunteer fueled and would not be possible without your support.

God Bless You,

Gina Marks

Volunteer Coordinator

"You are rewarded not according to your work or your time, but according to the measure of your love." – Saint Catherine of Siena

Track News for the Week of February 29th

Practice this week: 5:00-6:05ish at College Park

Updated Meet Schedule
There should be an updated meet schedule on the website very soon. Dates have not changed, but some TBD locations have been filled in and start times are filled in. The schedule is here:

http://ctktrack.org/meets.html


War Path Invitational
Our first meet is this Saturday, 3/5, Ygnacio Valley's "War Path" invitational. Uniforms not required: regular running clothes are fine. The team pays the entry fee for all of our athletes, but there is a charge for spectators too. We won't need volunteers for this meet, but look for an email soon regarding signups for the meets that start the following weekend.

Remember to bring:

• Cash for gate admission ($2 per spectator) and some extra in case there's a snack table
• Appropriate weather protection: sun hats and/or jackets, sunblock, sunglasses (or more likely rain gear this weekend!)
• Something soft to sit on, like a stadium cushion or old blanket
• Optionally: a cooler of healthy snacks like fruit, yogurt tubes, pretzels: nothing too heavy

If you plan to bring a pop-up tent or umbrella for shade, please set up in the back row of the bleachers so you don't block anyone's view. Pack bungee cords or tie-downs, as Ygnacio Valley can be windy, especially in the morning.

There is no smoking or alcohol permitted at this or any CYO event.

Athletes should:

• Have a light breakfast
• Wear sunscreen and running shoes
• Be on time to warm-up with the team
• Be willing to try events and have fun

We want to get the team together on the basketball court no later than 8:45am.  The courts are between the stadium and the school. Coaches will warm the team up and get a head count.

The team is paying admission for our coaches and registered athletes.

Find a seat when the gate opens, and we'll bring the team in when we're warmed up. They'll find you in the stands.

New to track meets?

Don't worry: meets are pretty predictable, even if they don't look it.

Field events start when the meet begins. There will be announcements over a PA system or bullhorn calling different age groups down to participate. Events at this meet are:

High Jump
Long Jump
Shot Put

In CYO, we limit shot put and high jump to 5th graders and older, for safety.

Athletes check in at the event when their age group is called, provided they're not already lined up for a race (or are on the track!) High jump and long jump will be visible from the stands, but the shot put ring is tucked out of the way outside the main stadium fence.

Running events follow an order, usually done from youngest athletes to oldest.

These stage (line up) on the field. Last year there were hurdles with signs attached per age group. The same PA or bullhorn should be used for calls for these events.

The event order is:

1. 1600m  (4 laps, "the mile")
2. 4x100 Relay   (every runner carries the baton 1/4 of a lap)
3. 400m   (1 lap)
4. 100m   (a short dash along the straight)
5. 800m   (2 laps = 1/2 mile)
6. 200m   (1/2 lap)
7. 4x400m Relay  (every runner carries the baton 1 full lap)

A key tip: if an athlete is waiting at a field event when their desired race is called, they should leave the field event to go run.

Running events determine the pace of the meet, and won't stop if an athlete is busy at long jump or in the bathroom. Paying attention to the calls is a track meet survival skill. If you miss your call, you miss the race. Oops!

Which event?

That's pretty much up to the athletes and their coaches. This week is a little looser, just to get everyone to see how it all fits together. Unless the coaches have something specific in mind, I'd encourage a go ahead and try it attitude. Cross country athletes especially should not be scared of the distance events.

Everything will look a little rough this weekend. That's OK. Think of this as a practice, not the Olympic tryouts.

No Parent Meeting

I got three responses of interest in a parents' meeting, so I'm not going to schedule one. Feel free to email me questions and I'll either answer directly or in the next newsletter.

Track News for the Week of Feb 21

Practice this week, 5:00-6:00pm

Full disclosure: These newsletters are shamelessly copied and modified from last year's gems by Mike Clemens.

The Golden (Track) Rule

The number one rule in CYO is the Golden Rule: treat others as you want to be treated.

This means being quiet during announcements, listening to the coaches during practice, and respecting all your teammates. Our practice groups are large, and track is very social, but there's never a good time to tease, belittle, or harass anyone else.

CYO publishes a code of conduct (PDF) that everyone is expected to read and follow. You can add "teammates" anywhere that you see the word "opponents."

Athletes: if you're having problems during practice, please tell your coach as it happens. They're in the best position to correct it, and to let me know the names of who was involved.

Anyone who finds that they cannot follow the Code of Conduct will be asked to leave the team, with their fees forfeited. That would be unfortunate, so please be kind.

Volunteer News

We hope to have the volunteer schedule posted in the first week of March. We're still waiting for final meet information from the League. We'll let you know when you can start signing up. If you have questions in the meantime, you can email volunteers@ctktrack.org.

Track News for the Week of February 15th

Hello families, it's time again for this week's news...

Safety at College Park

There are lots of other sports going on inside and outside of the track stadium. Remind your athletes to walk around the outside of the track fence to get to the stands. Don't cut across the field during games or other teams' practices. And look both ways before stepping onto the track--a good rule for volunteers and spectators as well as athletes.

During lacrosse practice, we get to add dodge ball to our list of skills. Please make sure your athletes keep their eyes open for the occasional missed pass.

Uniforms

...have been ordered. We'll let you know when they come in and are ready to be picked up.

Track not working out?

Hopefully things are starting to get a little smoother for your athletes. The first few practices can be chaotic until the groups settle in.

Sometimes track isn't a good fit, though, and that's OK. You may drop from the program with a full refund if you notify me via email by February 28. Your deposit check will be shredded, and we'll remove you from the volunteer sheets.

Starting March 1, the fees refund drops to 50%, with the deposit check shredded.

Dropping on or after our first meet on March 12 means a forfeit of both your fees and deposit.

Uniform costs are refunded at 100% or 50% as above, provided you haven't picked them up yet. Once handed to you, the uniforms and sweatshirts are yours to keep.

Don't just vanish. Let me know if you need to withdraw an athlete from the team so we can update our records and handle any refunds you're entitled to.

Upcoming Event: "War Path" Invitational, March 5

It's hard to believe, but we're halfway through February already. That means our first event is coming up.

Ygnacio Valley High School holds a special all-comers track meet each year to help raise funds for their track team and for new equipment. Provided we have good weather, we'll attend this meet as a team again this year. The team will pay the admission fee for our registered athletes and coaches.

I highly encourage everyone to come out if they can. It's a very low-key event, with no volunteer requirements. It gives everyone a chance to see how meets work. Think of it like a special Saturday practice.

We don't need our uniforms for this meet since it's not a CYO function. Regular running clothes are fine.

I'll send more reminders as we get closer to the event.

Track news for early February

Practices continue Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:00 until dusk (~5:50).

Weather Watch

If the forecast calls for rain, I will post any cancellation of practice by 4:00pm on the team Twitter account (@ctktrack). Those tweets appear on the front page of our web site, too. If there is no tweet, practice is on!

Sharing at College Park

Although we have permits for practice, the stadium belongs to College Park, and we sometimes need to wait patiently for high school games to complete, or will practice at the same time as other teams. College Park track team will be starting up soon, too, which include some CYO alums.

New Family Meeting

If there is enough interest, we will schedule a family information meeting at Christ the King in Pleasant Hill. This would be a brief presentation of things to know about how the season works, how meets work, and how the various meet jobs work. Please email info@ctktrack.org if you'd like to come to such a meeting.

Late Signups Still Accepted

We're still taking signups at practice and we're still collecting missing birth certificates, concussion forms, payments, and deposits. If you haven't received an email reminder, then you probably don't owe anything.

Late Signups, Practices

Some quick updates for the next few days:

Late Signups

Missed signups? Bring the paperwork and two checks (1. $125 volunteer deposit and 2. $75 per athlete plus $15 per shirt) with you to practice. Requirements are on the team site: ctktrack.org

First practice Tuesday February 2, 5pm at College Park track

You may park in the large lot under the solar panels and then walk your athlete down to the track. There are stairs near the school-side corner of the lot, and a paved path leading along the side of the baseball field to the stadium. Athletes should resist the urge to run up and down the hillside and climb fences.

Please walk your athletes down to the track to avoid anyone wandering off. We are planning to meet in the stands as usual. Athletes need to stay off the track until instructed by a coach.

Practice ends at dusk, which is around 5:45pm right now. Parents are welcome to stay and watch from the stands.

If you have turned in all your completed paperwork, adults do not need to stay at practice, but do need to be back in time for pickup. Please don't make your athletes suffer the embarrassment of being the Last Kid Waiting with me and the other coaches.

Being Prepared

Athletes should come to practice:

• On time. We only practice until dusk, which comes fast at this time of year. I know that religious education goes until 5pm for some families. It's fine if you need to be a bit late.
• Dressed appropriately. It can be cold and windy at the track. Dress in layers, and label your team sweatshirt and anything else that could be easily mixed up. Our Lost & Found pile historically starts at first practice.
• With water to drink. A reusable sport bottle with plain water is the best drink, and the only beverage allowed on College Park's track and turf -- no sports drinks. Label the bottle, too!
• Wearing running shoes. Flats, basketball shoes, and skate shoes (Vans) are not running shoes.

Athletes never need track shoes ("spikes") at practice, and generally don't need them at all.

See you soon!