Event Description

The 2023 Ann Arbor Track Club (AATC) Youth Program outdoor track season will start on Monday, April 10 and will end on Thursday, July 27.  Youth ages 6 – 18 are welcome to participate. 

Practices are held Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at UM’s Ferry Field (April – May) and at Greenhills outdoor track (June – July).  (IS THIS CORRECT?)

Practice Schedule

April 10 – June 1: 6:30 – 8:30 pm

June 5 – July 27: 7:00 – 9:00 pm

No practice on Monday, May 29 (Memorial Day).

Ferry Field: 1150 S. State St. on the UM campus. Parking is free.  There aren’t bleachers, so parents who wish to stay during practice will need to bring chairs or wait in their cars.  Restrooms are generally available near the track.

Greenhills: 850 Greenhills Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48105. Parking is free.

Meets

There will be as many as 11 track meets, including the AAU Junior Olympics National Track & Field Championships which will be held in Des Moines, Iowa, July 29 – August 5. Most meets will be held in Michigan, but some will be held out of state.

Fees

All athletes are encouraged to participate in as many meets as they can. Fees will cover entry fees to ALL scheduled meets, with the exception of the AAU Junior Olympics. The season cost is $600 for April start and $400 for June start (late start is for middle school and high school athletes who are competing with school teams). There will not be a fee reimbursement for any meets a child does not participate in.

Uniforms are not included in the fee. Instructions for how to order uniforms will be sent with your registration confirmation. If you already have a uniform, a new one is not needed unless the athlete needs a new size. All new athletes should order uniforms immediately after registering to ensure you get it in time for the first meet.

We will not be offering Basic Training or the Train-Only options this year. However, athletes may be split into different groups after warm ups to practice in (sprints, mid-distance, long distance, field events) to provide individualized training. Younger athletes (7 and younger) may be split into an additional group. This year this group will focus on teaching athletes the "rules" of track&field and introductory track events to prepare them for meets. At coaches discretion, they can move up to practice with the older athletes-7U group athletes can still participate in meets when they are in the 7U group and will have their coaches to guide them at meets. All athletes of all ages are encouraged to participate in any meets they are able to. 

Those who are unsure of a colds interest in the sport are welcome to attend and observe practice.  You may not participate until registration is completed.

The Ann Arbor Track Club is committed to ensuring that any child who wishes to participate in one of our programs can do so regardless of cost. Please contact the Youth Program Co-Chair, Sarai Brachman Shoup (sbshoup@gmail.com) for information about financial assistance. If you are planning to request financial assistance please do not register your children for any programs until you have heard from Sarai.

COVID Policies - NEEDS REVIEW

We recommend all athletes are vaccinated for COVID-19 if they are able to be. If any athlete has tested positive or is suspected to having COVID (or a member of the household has COVID), do not attend practice and follow current CDC guidelines for isolation and mask wearing for when it is okay to return to practice. Per CDC guidelines, we recommend an at home antigen test prior to returning to practice or the athlete should wear a mask during practice through Day 10 since their symptoms started. 

Coaches

Tim Harris (Head Coach -- Short-sprints, long-jump, relays):                313-247-2870 (timgharris@comcast.net)

Stacey Jackson (Assistant Coach -- Mid-sprints, high-jump, hurdles):  734-678-0546 (stacey@latcha.com)

Vesna Cadikovska (Assistant Coach -- Throws):                                    313-587-8810 (vcadik@hotmail.com)

Mike Munson (Assistant Coach -- Distance):                                          803-609-1126 (munsonm@med.umich.edu)

Wanda Brann (Assistant Coach -- U7 Coach):                                734-276-5164 (wcd_jr@hotmail.com)

Lori Guy-Robinson (Assistant Coach -- U7 Coach):                        734-417-8776 (school4lori@aol.com)

The entire staff is USOC SafeSport trained and has many many years of coaching experience. We take safety concerns for your kids very seriously. To know more about SafeSport, please visit https://uscenterforsafesport.org/