Welcome

Things You Need to Know About Track Meets

• Meets are a Marathon, Not a Sprint: Track meets, especially Invitationals and Championship meets, can last anywhere from 4 to 8 hours. Bring a comfortable chair, sunscreen, an umbrella, and plenty of patience.

• The "Rolling Schedule": Many meets operate on a "rolling schedule." This means events don't have exact start times; as soon as one event finishes, the next one begins. We recommend arriving well before you think your athlete will compete.

• Weather is a Factor: Spring weather in Missouri is unpredictable. Meets are rarely canceled for rain or cold—only for lightning or severe weather. Pack layers, blankets, and rain gear.

• The "Infield" is Off-Limits: For safety and fairness, parents and spectators are never allowed on the track or the infield during a competition. Please cheer from the designated spectator areas or bleachers.

Parent-Coach Communication Expectations

Our goal is to build strong, independent student-athletes. Therefore, we expect the student-athlete to be the primary communicator regarding practice attendance, injuries, and event participation. 

When parent-coach communication is necessary, we ask that you adhere to the following guidelines:

• Appropriate Concerns to Discuss with Coaches:

  • The mental and physical treatment of your student-athlete.

  • Ways to help your student-athlete improve.

  • Concerns about your student-athlete's behavior or academics.

• Issues Not Appropriate to Discuss with Coaches:

  • Event selection or relay placements.

  • Coaching strategies or meet strategies.

  • Other student-athletes.

• The "24-Hour Rule":

  •  Track meets are highly emotional and fast-paced environments for both athletes and coaches. If you have a concern regarding a competition, we ask that you wait 24 hours after the meet concludes before contacting a coach. We will not discuss team issues at the completion of a meet.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How do I know what events my athlete is competing in? 

A: Event entries are usually finalized 24–48 hours before a meet. Athletes will be informed of their events during daily team meetings. We will also post the meet schedule and entries via Athletic.Net.

Q: What should my athlete bring to a meet? 

A: Athletes need to bring their team uniform, running shoes/spikes, plenty of water, and healthy snacks (fruit, granola bars, etc.). Because meets are long and weather fluctuates, they should always bring their team warm-ups and extra dry layers.

Q: Can my athlete leave the meet early with me once they are done with their events? 

A: We strongly encourage athletes to stay for the entire meet to support their teammates, as team camaraderie is a huge part of our program. If an athlete must leave early with a parent, they must sign out directly with their event coach before leaving the facility, per district policy. Athletes may never leave with another parent without prior district approval.

Q: How can I help support the team? 

A: We are always grateful for parent volunteers! Hosting home meets requires a lot of manpower (working the concession stand, moving hurdles, helping at field events). Keep an eye out for our monthly communications or check the parent Facebook group for volunteer sign-ups.