Congratulations on becoming a part of the Bloomington Girls Track and Field program.  You have taken the first step toward continued Raider pride and Raider tradition.  We have a tremendous opportunity to build very successful team this season; however that success is dependent on each member of the team contributing as much as they can and making personal sacrifices toward the team’s success.  Just as we train the muscles, and ligaments to perform, we must consciously train our minds to perform; we must sometimes confront fear in order to test our will.  As a coaching staff we do not look at what place you finish, but more importantly how you compete.  Not in how many medals you win but how you conduct yourself as a young lady, not only at practice or in meets, but in the classroom as well.  How do you reflect your Raider pride?  How does Raider pride reflect from you?

Eligibility
In accordance with Illinois Laws, students who represent the school in athletics, academic teams, performing groups, and those selected in school-wide and grade-level elections must meet academic standards. To be eligible, all students must have passed five classes in the prior high school semester. Students must maintain continuous passing grades in five classes during the course of the season. Students failing to meet these standards will be suspended from competition or performances for a minimum of one week, until their grades meet the standard. This provision will not apply to activities that are required extensions of class work as indicated in the official Course Description Guide.

Consider these Questions:

Are you committed to excellence?  Not everyone will be on the varsity or participate in their first choice of events, or go to state.  However we do expect each of you to do your best and to be proud of that.  As long as you develop yourself into the best person you can be you will have achieved excellence no matter where you finish.

Do you care about the team?  Of course, you must work to make yourself better, but also to make your teammates better.  Encourage. Cheer.  Compete in practice as well as meets.  A true leader/teammate lifts those around them to a higher level.  Teamwork is a commitment by everyone to the success of everyone else.

No one is born a winner or a loser.  You are exactly what you think you are, nothing more, nothing less.  Have a positive attitude.  What you are capable of doing is determined by your talent; what you actually do is determined by your attitude. 

Perseverance is a great element of success.  If you only knock long enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody  

How do you measure success?

• How do you prepare yourself to compete? 

• Do you obtain focus before your event and work to maintain focus throughout the competition? 

• Do you show up to practice everyday with an attitude ready to work hard and learn?

• Do you support your teammates when you are not competing?

• Do you listen to your coach’s instructions and follow them to the best of your ability?

• Are you accountable for your actions and the actions of your teammates?

• Are you cognizant of how those actions represent yourself, your family, your school, and your community?

• Do you think of track outside of practice and meets?  

• Do you visualize how track & field can impact your life? Friendships, Scholarships, Healthy Lifestyle, Memories

Goal Setting

Each athlete should set goals at the beginning of the new track & field season.  These objectives should be realistic but challenging; every athlete should have a personal standard to achieve.  Each athlete should think every day about why they are here.  If you do not know clearly why you are here, it will be too hard for you to reach your goals and your time is being wasted.

Captains  

Coaches will assign team captains each year.  Selection will be based on leadership qualities, event representation, and Track & Field skills, not solely on the athlete’s year in school.

Practice Itinerary

• 800m warm-up for all athletes.
• Stretching, led by Team Captains
• Coaches address athletes
• Designated practice plan for the day.
• Warm-down for all athletes (based on their event type)
• Dismissal from practice by coaches

Practice Attendance

We expect athletes to be at training every day, on time!  Our daily training sessions usually end by 4:45pm.  Be dressed and ready to go by 2:45 pm.  If you are detained by a teacher or another school-club activity, you must bring a note signed by that teacher or sponsor with departure time to be excused for being late to training.  These delays should be kept to a minimum.

If you are unable to attend school because of an illness, a doctor’s appointment or a family emergency, you or your parents must call a coach to inform of your impending absence. 

Team Uniforms  

You will be issued a competition singlet, running shorts, and a team warm-up suit.  These are the property of BHS and must be returned at the end of the season.  You will be billed for the replacement cost of any equipment you do not return.  You will also have the option of purchasing any of these items for your own possession.

Shoes

It is advised you purchase a track bag for all your gear and a pair of training and/or racing spikes for competition and training.  Ask your coaches for specific recommendations before you purchase training or competition shoes. 

Meet Day Preparations

Get a good night’s sleep the evening prior to the meet, but do not alter your routine by going to bed at 7:00 pm if you normally turn in at 10:00 pm.

Use common sense and don’t eat anything that tends to disagree with you the night before or day of a meet.  On meet-day eat a light lunch.  If our lunch period is too close to your race time, eat you lunch earlier.

Report to the bus dressed to compete, with all your equipment.  When we arrive at the meet, we will designate a spot for our team area.  Stay in our team area during the meet when you are not competing, warming up, or cooling down.  Put the proper length spikes in your shoes the day before the meet.  Double-check your track bag to be sure you have everything. 

Your preparation for competition should follow the same sequence as your every day training: Running warm-up, stretching-rhythm drills, and buildup runs.  Your warm-up should conclude approximately five minutes before the start of your event.

At the conclusion of the meet, we will reassemble in our team area, complete team lap and stretch, and then move to the buses for departure back to school. 

Athletes should remain at the scene of all home and away meets and not leave for any reason.  Team members must ride the team bus to and from all away meets.  Any exceptions can only be cleared through the head coach.

Success Results from Hard Work & Team Goals

• Win Intercity Title
• Win Big 12 Outdoor Conference
• Win IHSA Sectional
• Top 3 Finish at State Meet

Varsity Letter Requirement

·         Score 16 or more varsity points

·         Four years track participation

·         Top 6 Individual Finish at Conference/Sectional

·        Must have a good attendance record  

ORDER OF EVENTS

In big meets (invitational), usually there are some preliminary races in the 100m & 200m dashes and 100m hurdles. There is also, sometimes a slow heat of 3200m run. Then the finals start. Some meets have a changed order of events so always check before the meet begins.

Unlike Junior High Track & Field there is not a limitation in the number of field events or relays an athlete can compete in.  For example an athlete can compete in the 4 X 100, 4 X 200, and 4 X 400 all in the same meet.

FIELD EVENTS

** In most meets the Triple Jump will be contested after the Long Jump and the Discus Throw will be contested after the Shot Put.  If facilities allow, these events can be contested simultaneously.

·           Long Jump

·           Pole Vault

·           High Jump

·           Shot Put

·           **Triple Jump

·           **Discus Throw

TRACK EVENTS

·         4x800-Meter Relay

·         4x100-Meter Relay

·         3200-Meter Run

·         100-Meter High Hurdles

·         100-Meter Dash

·         800-Meter Run

·         4x200-Meter Relay

·         400-Meter Dash

·         300-Meter Low Hurdles

·         1600-Meter Run

·         200-Meter Dash

·         4x400-Meter Relay

 TEAM COOL DOWN - no matter what, everyone healthy together   

ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION (IHSA) OUTDOOR QUALIFYING STANDARDS

All athletes who equal or exceed these standards in the Sectional Meets qualify automatically for State.  

13 Pillars of Success

1)      Be an overachiever, not an underachiever.  Give your best effort, always.

2)      Learn to be a good listener.  Look at the person when they are talking to you.

3)      Communication.  Talk with your coaches.  We can’t help you if we don’t know what is on your mind.

4)      Sportsmanship.  There is nothing more important than sportsmanship.  You must respect coaches, teammates, officials, opponents and yourself with the highest regard.

a.       Respect your coach who works so hard to help you reach your goals.

b.      Respect your teammate who is trying hard to improve.  Be her friend.  Friendships are what you will most remember from this sport.

c.       Respect the official who is here to make our sport fair.  They are human and will make mistakes.  Remember, they love the sport as much if not more than you.

d.      Respect the opponent who gives you the opportunity to compete.  Competition brings out the best in a person.  They are giving you the opportunity to test your skills against theirs.  Respect their talent and effort.

e.       Respect you, the person and athlete.  You are blessed with a mind, body, and spirit.  Don’t ever take your gifts for granted.  Get the best out of your gifts every day.  

5)      You are a student-athlete.  We expect you to give 100% at school each day.  That is as a student and athlete.  We will receive regular eligibility reports from the AD.  We expect no Raider track and field athlete to be on the list.

6)      Have fun and enjoy track & field.   You must work hard to improve, but always look for opportunities to smile and laugh.

7)      It only takes one throw/jump.

8)      Run through the line.

9)      The bus will leave on time.

10)  Don’t get caught looking.

11)  Learn to appreciate the butterflies.

12)  Respect, don’t fear competition.

13)  The stop watch doesn’t lie, people do.