The Tri County Express Track Club

 

 

The Tri County Express Track Club (TCX) provides a means for youth of Western Montgomery, Eastern Berks, and Northern Chester Counties to participate in track & field and cross country and compete in the Junior Olympic programs in each sport.  The club is sanctioned by the Mid Atlantic USA Track and Field (USATF) and Middle Atlantic AAU Associations.

 

I.  PROGRAMS

 

Outdoor Track and Field – This is the club’s core program.  The season starts in April and continues through the first week of August for the most successful athlete.  Practices are held at two sites – one in the Pottstown area and one in the Royersford/ Collegeville area.  Initially, practices are held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at Pottstown from 6:15 – 7:45 and on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays in the Royersford/ Collegeville area.  In June, the site groups will have combined practices three times a week from 7:00 – 8:30.

 

In May and early June, the club competes in the Mid Atlantic USATF Youth Athletics Developmental Series and Suburban Youth League meets, which are usually held on Saturday or Sunday mornings.  We will also hold intra squad meets to give each athlete additional meet experience.  IF WE FEEL THAT YOUR CHILD HAS THE ABILITY TO SUCCEED AT HIGHER LEVELS OF COMPETITION IN TRACK & FIELD, WE WILL LET YOU KNOW BY THE END OF THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE. 

 

In addition to the above meets, the more advanced athletes will compete in AAU, USATF, and other invitational meets.  Most of these meets take place on weekends beginning in June and ending in late July or August.  The athletes progress in these championship from the association to regional to the national levels.  Qualification is based on placing in the top 5 places at the area preliminary meets, top 4-6 places at the association, and top 3 places at the regional level.

 

Beginning 2007 season, we will divide the summer group into two groups: 

 

The first group is the Junior Olympic Group. This group is committed if able to qualify, to competing at the National Junior Olympic Program and is willing to travel to the National Championship Meet regardless of the location.  The National Meet rotates every three years between the western states, the Midwest states, and the eastern states.  Also included are those who qualify for the National Youth Athletics Championship meet.

This requires much commitment and dedication from the athletes and parents themselves.

 

The second group are those will not committed to making the National Junior Olympic Meets or are eliminated at the association or regional level,  can participate in non advancement meets such as the UAGTCA Summer Classic the Cliff Wiley Meet, the Keystone Games, and any all comer meets.  The commitment may not be as vigorous as the other group, but the commitment to participate in those meets is important because it allows continued development for the athletes who don’t advance in the Junior Olympic program.

 

The events in which the athletes may compete are as follows:

 

Track events:

100m dash                   1500m run                    80m hurdles                  400m hurdles

200m dash                   3000m run                    100m hurdles                400m relay

800m run                      5000m run                    110m hurdles                1600m relay

800m run                      2000m steeplechase     200m hurdles                3200m relay

 

Field Events

Long jump                    Shot put                       Pentathlon                    Pole vault

Triple jump                   Javelin Throw               Heptathlon

High jump                     Discus Throw               Decathlon

 

Cross Country:  In the fall, the club offers a cross country program for the distance runners beginning the second Monday in September.  Practices are held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at either the runners’ homes, local parks, or schools.  Meets are usually invitationals of the AAU or USATF youth series.  Both of these organizations hold national championship meets in December.

 

Indoor Track:  From January to early February, the club offers a low-key indoor track and field program.    We participate in the Mid Atlantic USATF Youth Athletics Meet series, which are held at Lehigh University.  Our high school athletes will also compete in open high school meets.

 

Pottstown Elementary School 5th Grade Playground Program:  This is in cooperation with the Pottstown Track Classic and the Pottstown School district.  Practices are held at each elementary school playground and the high school track (for field events and relay practice).  This culminates in each school competing at the Pottstown Track Classic held each first Monday in May.  Later that week a track meet is held for the fifth graders and the sixth graders which consists of the 100m, 200m, 400m, 1600m, LJ, SP, and turbo javelin.  Participants are then welcomed in the Tri County Express Track Club.

 

II.  Age Groups

 

All of the above programs divide the athletes by age and gender.  The year of the athlete’s birth will determine which age category he or she will compete.  The follow outlines the age categories for the 2007 season:

 

USATF

 

8 & Under                    Sub Bantam                              1999 & After  

9-10                             Bantam                                     1997-1998

11-12                           Midget                                     1995-1996

13-14                           Youth                                       1993-1994

15-16                           Intermediate                             1991-1992

17-18                           Young Men/Women                 1989-1990

 

AAU

 

           

 

Division

2007

 

Primary

1999 & After

 

Sub Bantam

1998

 

Bantam

1997

 

Sub Midget

1996

 

Midget

1995

 

Sub Youth

1994

 

Youth

1993

 

Intermediate

1991-1992

 

Young Men/Women

1989-1990

 

 

III.  Practices

 

  1. FOLLOW DIRECTIONS FROM COACHES.  Be respectful to coaches and teammates at all times.
  2. Attendance:  Athletes are expected to attend all practices and should notify a coach when unable to attend.  At least 60% of the practices should be attended to be in good standing.
  3. Dress:  Running shoes, running shorts, and a T-shirt are to be worn at practices.  Also, wear a sweat suit if necessary.  For cross country, a knit hat, knit gloves, and spandex pants are preferable as the weather gets colder.  DO NOT wear basketball shoes to practice.
  4. Eating:  Do not eat heavily 1 ˝ hours before a practice or meet.  Eat a light snack of crackers, pretzels, or fruit, if necessary.  Bring a marked bottle of water to practice.
  5. Athletes with asthma should have their inhalers with them at all times during practice.
  6. Arrive promptly to practice in order to have time to warm up properly.  Athletes must be picked up promptly at the end of practice.
  7. Parents should listen for announcements at the end of practice.  All questions should be asked at that time.

 

IV.  Fees & Expenses

 

All initial fees are non-refundable.  All athletes will receive a T-shirt.  We have arranged for discounts at local stores for track shoes.

 

Membership Fees:

            Seasonal Fee (Spring, Indoor, Cross Country): $30 per athlete

            Full Year Fee                                                               $45 per athlete

            Family Full Year Fee                                                    $80.00 per Family

            USATF Membership Fee                                             $19.95 per athlete

            AAU membership is required for AAU meets                $10 per athlete

 

Meet Fees:                                                                   Varies from $3 to $15 per athlete. $5.00/event for the association level; $7.00/event for the regional meet; $8.00/event for national meet.

 

Uniform:                                                                       $40 for tank and shorts (summer season only)