TULSA SPIKES

Guidelines for Sprint and Jump Athletes

1. Practice begins at 6:00. It is important that the athletes be at practice on time. The practices are designed to build from warm-up, to stretching, to movement drills then to the normal practice. It is very important for the athlete to go through the entire process.

2. Practice will not be held if the temperature is less than 45 degrees, it is raining and/or lightening at the time practice starts or if the weather is such that the athletes have to struggle with the weather conditions to maintain their form, i.e. high winds.

3. Practice will normally end at 7:30. It is important for the athlete to stay for the entire practice. The cool down and stretching are just as important as the warm-up. Parents, please be on time picking your athlete up after practice. It is not fair to make the coaches wait after practice with your kids. Coaches will never leave kids unattended.

4. All athletes must bring water to practice every day. Use a plastic bottle. Glass containers present a safety hazard. All athletes need to drink plenty of water throughout the day.

5. All sprinters and jumpers should wear sweat pants to practice every day. Reason: They need to keep their muscles warm, especially their legs. This does not exclude warm or hot days. Coaches will decide when the athletes can remove their pants.

6. Sprinters and jumpers should bring their spikes to practice every night. We may not use them every night, but the need to bring them just in case.

7. Athletes should attend as many practices as possible. The practices are designed to build on each other. Nothing exposes lack of practice like competition.

8. Each athlete working out with the team must have a current United States Track and Field Association membership. No exceptions. This is a liability issue.

9. Athletes will exhibit good sportsmanship toward officials, athletes, coaches and parents from other teams at all times. This includes sportsmanlike behavior at practices and meets. “Trash talking,” derogatory or belittling remarks, or excessive victory celebrations are unsportsmanlike and will not be tolerated. All Spikes will congratulate good effort of other competitors and fellow Spikes.

10. Athletes will also encourage other Spikes athletes to exhibit good sportsmanship all times. This includes sportsmanlike behavior at practices and meets.

11. The Spikes organization uses a “Three Strikes” policy. Strikes are issued for inappropriate or unsportsmanlike behavior. Strikes are not negotiable. If an athlete accumulates three strikes, he/she will be suspended from participation in the Spikes program.

12. Athletes are discouraged from working out more that once a day. It is better to under work young athletes than to over work them. Over work will only cause injuries that will slow their progress.

13. Most track and field meets, with the exception of the National meets, will last too long and run very inefficiently and slow. When you go to a meet, expect to spend the day.