High quality running shoes and spikes are critical to the health and success of the athlete. Athletes whom pronate could do harm to themselves wearing neutral or minimalist shoes. Those neutral runners may feel discomfort wearing shoes that offer rigidness and support. Buying a beginner runner, or even a novice scholastic athlete, cheap shoes, is not a good idea.

Now, that doesn't mean that the athlete needs the latest and greatest model- those shoes can get expensive. If price is an issue, there are many 1st and 2nd generation shoes that are very affordable and will support the running style and comfort of the athlete.

Many newcomers to track should expect to have some muscle “soreness” during the first couple of weeks of practice.  This is normal and usually does not require medical attention.  Ice should be applied to muscle soreness in the first 72 hours.  If this soreness persists it is important that athletes seek additional treatment. Kirkwood High School is fortunate to have on staff a full-time, credentialed athletic trainer.  Her knowledge of track-related injuries and muscle soreness is extensive.  It is imperative that all track athletes check in with both their event coach and the trainer whenever they experience prolonged soreness or pain.

If any problems arise (if a team member has to miss practice or a meet, questions about not being entered into a meet, requests to try a different event, etc..) we ask that the ATHLETE speak with a COACH.  Missing practice because another team member said there wasn’t practice, not showing up for your event or to a meet, etc.. is inexcusable! It  is important that parents and athletes understand that when an athlete is entered into an invitational they are expected to compete.

So, when an athlete does not show up for the meet he/she has put an incredible strain on the coaches and his/her teammates.  Thus, it is extremely important that athletes communicate to their coaches weeks in advance if they are unable to attend a meet that is on the schedule.  Athletes who are entered in an invitational and who do not/cannot show up will be held responsible for their lost entry fee.

If parent’s have additional inquiries it is best to speak with or email their child’s event coach.  After that, if parent’s still have questions they can contact the head coaches.

A) Sleep. The suggested amount of time for the average high school athlete to sleep is 9-11 hours. Sleep cleans the brain of toxins, helps muscle heal, and lets oxygen and water flow through the body.

B) Diet. Runners need complex carbs, clean protein, fatty acids, and plenty of water, vitamin A,C,D, K along with potassium, calcium and iron.

C) Obedience. Please let the coach, coach. Contradicting the coach removes that credibility the athlete needs to have in the program. The more the parent believes in the program, the athlete will follow. Please let the coach work in the manner they know best- even if you were taught differently.

An athete can compete in up to four events per meet. Some athletes may only compete in one event, but many compete in four that may include a sprints, relay(s) and field event or may include all distance events or all field events.

All competition is divided into Junior Varsity and Varsity dividions. The top times, distances are used to compete in the Varsity division in the individual events and the top 4 times are used in the relays. Athletes that are Varsity athletes can also compete in the Junior Varsity division if they are a freshman or sophomore. There is a Freshman division only in meets that are designated as Freshman meets. An athlete can change divisions from meet to meet, but not in the same meet on that day. 

If an athlete has to arrive late to practice, he or she needs to bring a note from the teacher, doctor that will show why the athlete was late for practice.

There are no tryouts to become a member of the team, but you are required to come to practice everyday prepared to practice and have a strong work ethic as well as have a good attitude.

Meets during the week can last up to 4 hours or more. Meets on the weekend can last for several hours. The athlete is not required to stay until the end of the meet, unless its a home meet. During the week the athlete may leave when they have finished competing in all of their events. However, they  must check in with a coach before leaving. The athlete is not allowed to leave the AWAY meet with a friend and must leave with a parent or relative. When we are hosting a home meet the athlete is requires to stay until the conclusion of the meet, unless special circumstances have been arraged by Coach McWoods. There will always a bus to take the athletes to the meet and bring them back to the High School.

Track practice begins at 3:00 and typically lasts until 5:30 pm. Practice time varies, due to the event that the athlete may need to practice for that day. If the athlete needs to leave practice early, please let the event coach know at the start of practice.

Practice is every day and sometimes there are Saturday practices, depending on the event that the athlete will be competing in. An athlete has to have 14 days of practice before he or she is eligible to compete in the first meet of the season.

During the first two weeks of practice, there are several assessments that the new athletes are required to undergo to assess their skill level for the events on the track and in the field. The Red & White Intra-Squad meet is also used as an assessment. Some of the earlier meets also serve as assessments of events for the season. 

All athletes are required to ride the bus to away meets, unless there are some extentuating circumstances that have been discussed with Coach McWoods in advance, ie. ACT.

The athlete must wear training flats and comfortable athletic shorts, warm-up pants and t-shirt or athletic shirt for practice. Jeans and street shoes cannot be worn to practice. The athlete should also bring extra clothing in the event that the temperature changes. A pair of spikes is strongly encouraged for competition and for practice on certain days of the week.

The athlete is required to check their attendance daily on the TEAMSTUFF app. Any day or days that the athlete knows ahead of time that he or she will miss should be written in the team calendar, ie. band, orchestra or school field trips.

A light snack before practice is strongly encouraged before practice. If there is a meet during the week, the athlete is encouraged to pack a light snack lunch. You can find additional information under the Nutrition tab in the PROGRAM INFORMATION tab.

A water bottle is a good idea to bring to practice every day. Water will be provided at practice, but having your own water bottle with your name is in good practice to have. Packing an athletic bag the night before practice with the proper workout clothing or shoes and water bottle is highly recommended, so that nothing is forgotten the next day.

As always, we appreciate any support that our parents give to the T&F program. As a coaching staff, we cannot emphasize the crucial role parents can play in the success of our track and field program.  In a given year, we may have as many as 180 track athletes on our team, which obviously presents some logistical problems.  Throughout a season, we may need parents to assist at a meet or help getting an athlete home from a meet after we arrive back at the High School. Please participate in our fundraiser and come to the parent information meeting and that will help keep you well informed on what we do.