Track meets are not mandatory but highly encouraged. It is a way for athletes to showcase their hard work from practice, test personal limits, gain confidence, and show team spirit!

Track meets require a full day commitment from athletes and parents. If an athlete an is unable to attend a track meet, the athlete should note their attendance in Teamsnap prior to the deadline for meet registration.

Please do not RSVP "going" to a track meet if you do not plan to attend.

Please note:

• Qualifying meets require participation in a serious of meets in order to advance. For example, an athlete cannot participate in a regional track meet if they have not competed and qualified at the district level track meet.
• The TeamSnap Calendar will note whether a track meet is developmental or a qualifier. This information will also be shared during the parents meeting.

Athletes:

• Track meet entry fees were included in the registration fee!
• For your convenience, the coaching and administrative staff will register athletes for all  scheduled track meets.
• Parents are fully responsible for any meals and hydration of their own athletes.

Please Note: A fee of $30 may be issued for any athletes that RSVP to compete but do not show. It is very important to communicate any emergencies with your child's coach.

Spectators ( All non-athletes or non-coach):

• Each track meet requires spectators above a certain age to purchase tickets.
• Tickets range from $10-$20 per day
• Information regarding the cost and how to purchase tickets will be shared on the TeamSnap Calendar and in the parent meeting prior to each track meet.

TRACK MEETS ARE LONG AND CAN LAST ALL DAY!!!

Track meets typically start before 9am and can end after 8pm. This depends on the schedule and flow of the track meet.

Schedules will be provided for each track meet (when the host makes them available)

• On the TeamSnap Calendar
• Shared in the group chat on the TeamSnap app.
• Provided during the parents call prior to the meet.

Athletes should arrive at least 90 minutes before their first scheduled event.

This allows:

• The athlete time to properly warm up
• Time for the athlete to receive their race bib and important instructions.
• Roll call for all relay participants
• Be present for any meet alterations or events that run ahead of time.

Before each meet, a spreadsheet will be emailed to parents. This spreadsheet will  list the events for every athlete that was registered to compete .

• It is important to review this spreadsheet to make sure your athlete is listed and express concerns immediately.
• We value your feedback but ask that you trust the coaching staff. Event selection will be made at the discretion of the coaches only.

• Athlete should arrive in full uniform
  • Firebirds Compression Top
  • Firebirds Compression Shorts
  • Warm up suit
  • Running shoes

Uniform Information: https://www.firebirdstrackclub.com/uniform-store/

• Competition Spikes (for sprinter, jumpers, throwers)
• Lots of  Water!!!!!
• It will be a long day. Please bring items that will allow you and your athlete to be comfortable.
• Food and snacks
• Any Medication

Other items that may be helpful:

• Portable Chairs
• Lotion/Sunblock
• Deodorant
• Sun visors or hats
• Umbrella
• Female hygiene products
• Trash bags
• Wipes
• Hand Sanitizer
• Pony tail holders
• Sun glasses
• etc

https://www.firebirdstrackclub.com/track-meet-essentials/

An "event" is the category or activity that an athlete will compete in.

An Outdoor Track is 400 meters (double the size of a typical indoor track.)

SPRINTS

50 Meters – 50m distance on the straightaway section of the track (Usually for younger athletes)

100 Meters – 100m distance on the straightaway section of the track

200 Meters – Halfway around the track from the curve to the finish line

400 Meters – 1 whole lap around the track

MIDDLE DISTANCE:

800 Meters – 2 whole laps around the track

1500 Meters – 3 & 3/4 laps around the track

3000 Meters – 7½ laps around the track

5000 Meters Race Walk – 12.5 laps around the track

HURDLES:

80m Hurdles – 8 Hurdles over 80 meters

100m Hurdles – 10 Hurdles over 100 meters

110m Hurdles – 10 Hurdles over 110 meters

400m Hurdles – 1 whole lap around the track, athlete stays in their lane the entire race after starting out of the blocks and must clear ten hurdles that are evenly spaced around the track

RELAYS:

4x100 Meter Relay – 4 athletes run in lanes over one lap of the track each covering 100 meters before passing a baton to the next relay team member.

4x400 Meter Relay – 4 athletes run one complete lap of the track each covering 400 meters before passing a baton to the next relay team member.

4x800 Meter Relay – 4 athletes run two complete laps of the track each covering 800 meters before passing a baton to the next relay team member.

FIELD EVENTS (THROWING):

Shot Put – Athletes compete to push a heavy metal ball as far possible; the winner is the athlete who has the longest throw.

Hammer Throw – Athletes complete by throwing a heavy metal ball attached to a handle of flexible wire as far they can; the winner is the athlete who has the longest throw.

Turbo Javelin – (ages 8-12) Athletes compete by throwing an object known as a javelin, a spear-like object made of metal and fiber glass, the winner is the athlete who has the longest throw.

Javelin - (ages 13-18) Athletes compete by throwing an object known as a javelin, a spear-like object made of metal and fiber glass, the winner is the athlete who has the longest throw.

Discuss – Athletes compete by throwing a heavy disc called a discus in an attempt to mark a farther distance than his/her competitors.

FIELD EVENTS (JUMPING):

High Jump – Athletes run forward to gain momentum and then jump over a horizontal bar.  The bar is raised higher in each successive round.  The athlete with the highest jump wins the competition.

Pole Vault – Athletes compete by using a long, flexible pole as an aid to leap over a horizontal bar. The bar is raised higher in each successive round.  The athlete with the highest leap wins the competition.

Long Jump – Athletes jump for distance from a running start into a sandpit. The winner is the athlete with the longest jump.

Triple Jump – Athletes perform a short run and three consecutive jumps landing first on one foot, then the opposite foot, and finally both feet, in continuous motion.  The winner is the athlete with the longest jump.

An "event" is the category or activity that an athlete will compete in.

An Indoor Track is 200 meters (half the size of an outdoor track)

 SPRINTS

55 Meters – 55m distance on the straightaway section or infield of the track

200 Meters – 1 whole lap around the track

400 Meters – 2 whole laps around the track

MIDDLE DISTANCE:

800 Meters – 4 whole laps around the track

1500 Meters – 7½ whole laps around the track

1600 Meters – 8 whole laps around the track

HURDLES:

55m Hurdles – 5 Hurdles over 55 meters

80m Hurdles – (ages 11-12) 8 Hurdles over 80 meters

100m Hurdles  – (ages 13-14) 10 Hurdles over 100 meters

RELAYS:

4x200 Meter Relay – 4 athletes run in lanes over one lap of the track each covering 200 meters before passing a baton to the next relay team member.

4x400 Meter Relay – 4 athletes each run two complete lap of the track each covering 400 meters before passing a baton to the next relay team member.

4x800 Meter Relay – 4 athletes each run four complete laps of the track each covering 800 meters before passing a baton to the next relay team member.

FIELD EVENTS (THROWING):

Shot Put – Athletes compete to push a heavy metal ball as far possible; the winner is the athlete who has the longest throw.

FIELD EVENTS (JUMPING):

High Jump – Athletes run forward to gain momentum and then jump over a horizontal bar.  The bar is raised higher in each successive round.  The athlete with the highest jump wins the competition.

Long Jump – Athletes jump for distance from a running start into a sandpit. The winner is the athlete with the longest jump.

All races are run in “Heats”.  Heats are sets of athletes within the same age division/group that compete.  The number of heats is determined by the number of athletes in each age group.

For example, using an eight (8) lane track, there are fifty-six (56) girls in the 9/10 age group, then you will have seven (7) heats total with eight (8) girls competing in each heat.  The first-place winner in each particular heat, is the winner of that heat only but NOT the overall the 9/10 girls age group.

The top-ranked athletes (1^st – 8^th places) are determined by the athletes who had the FASTEST TIMES OVERALL, after all the heats have been run.

At each meet, your child will be issued a paper with his/her assigned race number.  The number is used to identify the athlete throughout the entire meet. The athlete will use safety pins to attach the race bib number to their competition shirt.

For multi-day meets, the athlete will be required to wear the same bib number and must retain the bib for all days of the competition.  Loss or inadvertently discarding the bib typically requires a replacement cost to be paid by the parents.  The bib number is also used in many meets for the athletes to gain free admission to the track meet.

An " Age division" refers to the categorization of athletes into groups based on their age. Athletes are also, classified by gender. This type of classification helps ensure fairness in competition by grouping similar age ranges together.

AAU AGE DIVISIONS 

https://aausports.org/track-and-field/age-divisions/

USATF AGE DIVISIONS

https://dt5602vnjxv0c.cloudfront.net/portals/4180/docs/2025/2025%20usatf%20age%20division.pdf

Once you arrive to the main entrance of a track facility, please send a TeamSnap message indicating the athlete is at the entrance.

A coach or parent volunteer will meet your athlete at the entrance , inform you of the team location, and guide athletes to the team camp location.

Athletes will them receive their bibs and follow coach instruction. Once you have entered through the spectator line, please follow the instructions to locate the team camp.

• During the track meets, the bleachers and Firebirds tent are reserved for the athletes and coaches first. Parents/Guardians should not ask the athletes to move to other locations and should not remove the athlete’s belongings from under the bleachers or under the tent.
• Parents/Guardians may be seated in this area if there is enough space after the athletes and coaches have been seated.
• Please help us advise athletes. During meets, when the athletes are not , athletes should stay together under the team tent and out of the sun. This will help preserve their energy for their race or field event.  This is also a safety requirement, so the coaches and staff know where our athletes are always.

Events will be called based on the meet schedule.

Track facilities have speaker systems, some better than others. The meet announcer will call specific events and age groups when it is time to check in for a race.

• Please be attentive and listen out for these messages.
• Parents are encouraged to monitor the TeamSnap chat as parent volunteers try to update the chat when events are announced.
• Athletes 13 and up, are required to listen for their events and make sure they check in on time.