Regional Championships Update from Email

Field Events:

If a field event conflicts with a running event that an athlete is running, the running event takes priority.  I would like to keep the disruption to the field events to a minimum, however if there is a conflict, the athlete or one of the team coaches should check that athlete in at the field event.  I will ensure that EVERY athlete has the opportunity to do their field event in the case of an event conflict.  All I ask is that the people running the event know that athlete will be coming over.  I am also allowing a 10 minute break period for that athlete.  If an athlete runs the 400 Meter race, I do not want them running over to the field event and being rushed.  I would prefer to give them time to get over the race, and switch mentally to the field event.

 Long Jump / Triple Jump – There is only one long jump pit at Henderson.  This is going to work against us for time.  We need to keep the events moving at a steady pace, so I will be loading the Long Jump pit up with support. 

Medals:

We are going to hand out them out the same way we did last year.  Medals will be on the infield again.  Only one person from each team (other than a coach) is authorized to pick-up the medals.  Medals will NOT be given out to athletes.  Colleen will be in charge of this task again this year, and like last year each team will have their own bin with the medals in them.  Please give us at least 30 minutes after an event before collecting medals.

Last year we made everyone sign for the medals, but it really held things up.  I am inclined to not do signatures this year as long as your team representative makes sure that they check the medals before leaving with them.

  

Infield:

The infield is off limits to anybody who is not volunteering or managing an event.  ONLY athletes whose events have been called should be on the infield.  You should also remember that this is the last meet where you will be allowed on the infield.  After Regionals, you must coach from outside the fences.  Newer coaches who have not done this before might want to try coaching a few events away from the infield.

Timer:

Vince from Kennett Timing is back with us again, so we are in good hands.  We need Vince concentrating on timing the meet, so if there are any issues, they must be brought to the clerks on the field.  In the event of a big issue, just come to me, we will work it out.  Make sure that all coaches, and volunteers stay clear of the timing camera.  It needs a direct line of site to the finish line.

Hip Numbers:

This year hip numbers will be put together by heat on the day of the race.  I am going to need all clerking volunteers at around 12:15 p.m. to put the packets together.  I know we usually go into race day with them pre-packaged, but not this year.  This is not a big deal, we should be able to knock them out quickly.  I am only mentioning it to hammer home the need for clerks to arrive prior to the meet.

Field Judges: This has changed since my 4/29 email to coaches:

Henderson HS Track Team will be providing 2 zone athletes per zone as judges.  These judges are only there to watch hand-offs at the front and back of each zone.  It will be our volunteers job to get the athletes on the track in preparation of the race and hand-offs.

Meet Director:

Our coaches / volunteer meeting will begin promptly at 12:30 p.m.  We will call the first race at 12:45 p.m. along with the field events.  The National Anthem and Prayer will be at 12:55 p.m., and we will begin the Meet at 1:00 PM.  We will keep the paddock area full of upcoming races, and have a pre-staging area for the paddock as well for upcoming races.  We must clear the finish line quickly to get the next race under way.  I have included a rough schedule of events, however we will hopefully be running ahead of schedule.  Our Meet pace supersedes the schedule, and it is there merely as a guide.

We will not have the large PA system, but a portable system instead.  It is important that coaches and athletes pay attention to where we are with the list of events, and be prepared to participate when your event is called.

Volunteers:

We still have about 30 open volunteer slots on the sign-up genius.  If you have not already picked your volunteer positions, please log onto the Sign-up Genius site and pick the assignments you would like your team to handle.  I am leaving the Sign-up open thru Thursday afternoon.  Thursday night I will assign the empty spots to individual teams.  You will need to make sure that you have volunteers ready for the day of the meet.  I will send another note out about volunteers on Friday afternoon.  We will need our volunteers ready to leave the coaches meeting, and get into place for the 4X200 relay race, as well as the field events.