Westwood Track & Field Association is part of the New Jersey Striders Track & Field Club. Through the month of June all of our athletes get to compete in NJ Striders developmental track forum which provides a fun and learning competitive environment.

Some of our athletes will continue to compete beyond early June as members of the NJ Striders in the Championship Season of USA Track & Field (USATF) and will participate in the National Junior Olympic Track & Field Program.

 

TEAMSNAP

All practices and meets will be posted in TeamSnap.  The app is a great tool to help plan the season and to communicate with the rest of the team, coaches and families.  Uploading a current photo of your athlete will help us get to know each athlete quicker.  Please update your athlete’s availability for both practices and meets weekly.   Availability is the tool used by us to ensure that we have both the right coaches and enough coaches  scheduled for each practice.

Availability can be changed on the App once entered.  Check TeamSnap frequently for updates and pertinent information, especially on Meet Sundays.

 

PRACTICES

Practices are held at Westwood Regional High School track. The schedule will be posted on TeamSnap.  Practices are mixed gender and age- everything is based on the events your child participates in and their ability level.  All our practices are based around the High School schedule. We share the field with the High School so when they need to change their schedule we will need to also adjust our schedule.

Changes to the original schedule due to weather or other schedule conflicts are beyond our control. **

Always be sure to check TeamSnap before heading out to the field for practice.

Please be aware that we train and compete in the rain as long as conditions are safe (ie. no lightning/thunder/strong winds).

 

PRACTICE SCHEDULE AND INFORMATION

• Practice begins at 7:00PM, Arrival time is 6:55 PM. Please be prompt!
• All athletes will warm up by running two laps and then will report to the Starting Line where Head Coach, Claire Keller will make announcements and kick off Drills.
• After Warm-up and Drills, the team will be separated into groups by the Events.
• Initially all Athletes will rotate through Track & Field events as decided by the Athletes and approved by the coaches. Athletes are encouraged to try different events at the start of the season.
• All Athletes will gather at the middle of the field after event practices for Stretching and Announcements.
• At dismissal athletes will be picked up from the track by parents/guardians. They will not be permitted to leave the field unattended. Please be prompt when picking up your child after practice.
• Parking next to the track is limited.  Additional parking is located on the opposite side of the school.  Please arrive for pickup with enough time to park and walk to the track.
• Bring a labeled bottle of water for your athlete to have at practice.
• It can be windy and cold at the track during the beginning of the season, be sure to have your athlete dress in layers. Running shorts and a t-shirt with sweats on top.  Lace up sneakers.  Bring gloves and a hat at the beginning of the season.
• Please take home everything you came in with, including garbage. We do not have a lost and found.
• ONLY CERTIFIED COACHES AND ATHLETES ARE PERMITTED ON THE TRACK & FIELD DURING PRACTICES.
• Remind your children that horseplay (before, during and after practice) may result in their dismissal from practice or if it is habitual, removal from the team as it could cause injury to the other athletes.
• RAIN/EMERGENCIES-  We encourage families to stay during practices if possible.
• The coaches and volunteers are not responsible for your children after practice is over. Practice can end unexpectedly, especially in the event of sudden inclement weather. We have no place to go if it rains or if there is the threat of lightning.  Make sure your child knows your phone number if they need to call.

 

SUNDAY MEETS

Initially we will be competing within the New Jersey Striders Track & Field Club, which consists of over 14 Teams. NJ Striders is the third largest youth track club in America. Our meets contested in April, May & June are developmental in nature and open to all levels of competition.

Meet Schedule and directions can be found on the NJ Striders website at http://njstriders.com, as well as on TeamSnap.

Singlet (team tank top), bibs (with competition number) and development meet fees are included in your registration. 

If your athlete continues to compete at the Junior Olympic Association meets (USATF) you will need to purchase a USATF membership which will require age and residency verification.  Registration and payment of USATF meet fees will be the athlete’s responsibility.  Coaches and staff will assist with the Championship season process.

There is no entry fee for meets so you are welcome to bring family and friends to cheer on our athletes.

Parking may be a challenge at some venues, especially for Session II so be prepared to arrive with enough time to find parking.

Feel free to bring chairs or blankets.  Pack light healthy snacks for your athlete and family.

Post competition Gatorade will be provided by Westwood Track & Field for athletes only.

Some venues will have snack stands but not all.

Bring sunscreen, tents or umbrellas to protect you from the sun and rain.  NJStriders meets take place rain or shine and are only canceled due to EXTREME weather conditions.

Children are not allowed to play under the bleachers.

Additional information on meets is located at njstriders.com

• If you cannot attend a meet, please update Availability in TeamSnap the Monday before the scheduled event- it assists with registration and relay teams.
• ATTIRE- during competition all athletes will wear Westwood track singlet (provided) and black shorts.  Black long sleeves and leggings can be worn under in the event of cold weather.
• COMPETITION BIBS- Your athlete will be given one bib with a number on it per season, along with four safety pins. This bib number is your athlete’s ID while competing and the only way the judges and referees can identify your child. This number is the same for all 5 NJStriders developmental meets.  Bibs need to be fastened to the FRONT of the singlet and pinned in ALL FOUR CORNERS (WWT&F will provide safety pins).
  • These bibs are ONLY to be worn at the meets. DO NOT throw bibs away and do not wash them. There will be a color coded dot on the bib that tells the officials on the field what age group your athlete is competing in. In the event that the sticker falls off, bring it to a coaches’ attention so it can be fixed before the start of the meet.
  • Lost/Destroyed Competition Bib Numbers- You must inform the coach at the meet before noon on meet day, to receive a replacement number.  A new bib number will REPLACE the old in the computer.  The cost of replacement is a mandatory $10 and is paid in CASH ONLY at the time of replacement at your expense.
• THE COACHES WILL ASSIST AND GUIDE YOUR ATHLETES IN DECIDING WHAT EVENTS THEY WILL COMPETE IN.
• Meet at the Westwood Track & Field tent no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of the meet.   Check TeamSnap for directions/location of the tent at the venue and any other pertinent information relating to the meet.
  • Session 1 (12pm-2pm) for athletes born 2014 and after (turning 7, 8, 9, or 10 in 2024)
  • Session 2 (2:45pm-5pm) for athletes born 2013 and before (turning 11, 12, 13, etc in 2024)
• Upon arrival, check in with Coach Claire.  An approximate event schedule will be provided by NJStriders.com and will be posted at the tent.  Please listen for announcements by meet officials when to send athletes onto the field. Coaches will make every effort to collect the athletes and bring them onto the field but being aware of the schedule and timing will help to ensure your athlete does not miss their event.
• ONLY Coaches, NJStriders Officials and Athletes will be allowed onto the track.  When your athlete is done competing, he/she may leave after checking in with one of the coaches.

 

MEET RESULTS

Results will be posted on NJStriders.com one day or two after the meet. If there are any questions or issues related to results please speak with a Westwood Track & Field coach who will in turn speak with a NJStriders Official.

 

AGE GROUPS AND AWARDS 

The age group your athlete competes in is based on his/her year of birth. This is regulated under USATF guidelines with no exception.  Awards are given out the following week after the meet at the end of practice.  Every child who competes in a meet receives a ribbon regardless of placement. If your athlete misses the practice in which awards are given out, please see one of the coaches or managers at the end of the next practice to collect the award.  It is the athlete/family’s responsibility to collect their awards.

 

FOOTWEAR 

Shoes must fit correctly, soles that bend and are light. There are many types of running shoes, throwing shoes, jumping shoes. If it is your athlete’s first year go for a middle-distance running shoe.  The fit and make of the shoe is the most important factor.  While not necessarily, some athletes might also want an additional pair of running flats/spikes.  Spike lengths of 1/8 inch are permitted at our developmental meets.

The Runner’s House in Park Ridge has extended a 15% discount to Westwood Track & Field families.  No coupon necessary- just mention WWT&F. 

 

TERMINOLOGY

Track: a surface made of rubber and is usually 400 meters long.

Track lanes: boundaries marked with white lines that range from 36” wide to 48” wide, depending on the facility.

Who wins a race: Athlete who crosses the finish line torso first! Arms or feet do not count

SPRINTS: run in lanes for our developmental series, and the athlete must stay in their lane at all times. If they take three steps in a row outside of their lane, they can be disqualified.

• Starting commands in races of 400M or less: On your marks, set, (slight pause), then *gun sound*
  • 100M (meters): a sprint down a straightaway of the track
  • 200M: ½ of a lap
  • 400M: one lap

MID & LONG DISTANCE: run from the starting line and the athlete must cut into lane 1 once they have a 1 stride lead.  If they take three steps in a row inside of lane 1 they can be disqualified.

• Starting commands in races of 800M or longer: On your marks, (slight pause), then *gun sound*
  • 800M: two laps
  • 1500M: 3.75 laps, and is known as the metric mile. A mile is 1609 meters or four full laps. (1600M)
  • 3000M: 7 ½ laps

RELAYS & RACEWALK

Relays: four athletes run a percentage of the race and hand a 1-foot long aluminum tube(baton) to each other.

Racewalk: a fast walking race where the athlete must keep one foot on the ground at all times and also straighten their leg upon impact to the ground each time. (This race is judged and timed)

THROWS

The following are used for throwing events and recorded by measure.

Shot put: a round steel ball that weighs 2 lbs for 7-8 yr olds, 6 lbs for 9-12 yr olds & 13- 14 yr old girls 8,8lbs (4kg) for 13-14 yr old boys

Discus: like a weighted Frisbee (contested 11/12 and up)

Turbo javelin: a developmental level spear training tool plastic modified (for safety) that is made especially for young competitors (300g 7/8 and 9/10)

Finn Flier/Aero Jav: a developmental level spear training tool plastic modified (for safety) that is made especially for young competitors (450g 11/12 and 13/14)

Javelin: a long piece of wood with a sharp point (thrown by 13 and up only in USATF Junior Olympic competitions only)

JUMPS

The following are jumping events and recorded by measure

High jump: a parallel crossbar that is jumped over from one foot, landing on three foam mats placed behind the stance.

Long Jump: a sprint down a straightaway jumping off a whiteboard into a sandpit.

Triple Jump: a sprint down a straightaway jumping off a whiteboard on one foot landing onto the opposite foot onto the board and leaping into the sandpit. (this event is contested by 13 & up)