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CLUB INFORMATIONWho are the Cornhusker Flyers? What is Age Group track? What is USA Track & Field? What are Youth Athletic and Junior Olympic meets? When are the meets and how do I enter them? Will the Flyers help me get to these meets? What about practices? What about uniforms? What are the parents' roles in the Flyers? Are the Flyers more than just meets and practices? How much does it cost to join the Flyers? What do I need to do to join the Flyers? How can I stay up-to-date on Flyer happenings? I’m in track at school. Can I also participate with the Flyers? Who are the Cornhusker Flyers? The Cornhusker Flyers Track Club is a private organization established in 1977 to promote the sports of track & field and cross country in the Omaha metropolitan area through age group competition. The Flyers are a member of USA Track & Field's Nebraska Association, which includes all of Nebraska's 93 counties. Also, Iowa athletes residing in counties that border Nebraska may compete for Nebraska Association clubs.
Age group track is just as the name implies: track & field competition based on an athlete's
age in the current calendar year. The age group divisions for competition in 2010 are as
follows:
USA Track & Field (USATF) is the national governing body of track & field. Before any athlete can compete in a USATF-sanctioned meet, whether as a member of the Cornhusker Flyers or not, he/she must first become a member of USATF. Included in the Flyers membership fee is the cost of the athlete's USATF membership. Any athlete wishing to join the Flyers must, after paying the club membership fee, complete a USATF membership application and return it to the club along with proof-of-age verification, such as a copy of a birth or baptismal certificate, state or military I.D. card, or driver's license. The athlete is encouraged to apply for their USATF membership as soon as possible to ensure that they have their USATF membership card (usually called a "USATF card") in hand before their first meet. What are Youth Athletic and Junior Olympic meets? Both Youth Athletic and Junior Olympic meets are sanctioned by USA Track & Field, and the same events are offered in both. Athletes in the Young Men/Women, Intermediate, and Youth age groups may compete in up to four (4) events, while Midgets, Bantams, and Sub-Bantams may compete in up to three (3) events. Combined event competitions (e.g. triathlon, pentathlon) do not count against an athlete's event limit. Youth Athletic (also called "Youth" or "Age Group") meets are open to all USATF-member athletes. The entry procedure for each Youth meet will be explained at club practices, usually within a week or two of the meet. Any USATF-member athlete may register for and compete at any Youth meet. All meets on the competition schedule are Youth meets except those that include the phrase "Junior Olympic". Junior Olympic (or "JO") meets are based on a stair-stepping program of qualifying meets, leading to the National Junior Olympic meet. The advancement procedure looks like this:
When are the meets and how do I enter them? Our 2010 meet schedule is here. An athlete wishing to compete in any of these meets as a Cornhusker Flyer must first become a member of the club. After practices begin in mid-April, the competition season starts in early May, with meets held generally each weekend through the end of July. As information on each of these meets becomes available to the club, it will be relayed to the athletes during the team meeting that follows most practices. Note: May meets are usually open only to the younger age groups (Youth, Midget, Bantam, Sub-Bantam), since the older age groups are not allowed to compete until their high school seasons have completed.
When an athlete is ready to sign up for an upcoming meet, he/she or a parent must contact
Brian Zimmerman, our Meet Entry Coordinator,
either at practice or by e-mail or phone. Please be prepared to give: Remember: At each meet, Young Men/Women, Intermediates, and Youths may compete in up to four (4) events, and Midgets, Bantams, and Sub-Bantams may compete in up to three (3) events. If an athlete wishes to run on one or more relay events, tell the Meet Entry Coordinator what other events, if any, to drop to ensure that the athlete is not competing in more than the maximum number of events allowed. Will the Flyers help me get to these meets? Yes, in some cases. The athlete and their parents are, for the most part, responsible for securing their own transportation to any in-state meets (e.g. in Omaha or Lincoln). However, the Flyers will provide assistance to out-of-state national meets for athletes who have met pre-determined performance criteria. If an athlete twelve (12) years or younger qualifies for out-of-state competition, their parents have the responsibility of accompanying the athlete to the meet or procuring adequate supervision for the athlete before he/she will be allowed to accompany the club on the trip. All athletes who receive assistance will be required to adhere to the club's travel policy form. Parents and athletes who make alternative housing arrangements other than at the team hotel will not be eligible for travel funds. Travel expenses will not be made available to any athlete in the Young Men's/Women's age group who has transferred from another USATF club. The criteria concerning assistance with national transportation and housing will rest with the head coach. There will also be a practice attendance expectation during June and July. The Flyers track practice season begins in mid-April and ends in late July. Most practices will be held at Omaha Burke High School, southwest of 120th & Dodge Streets. Practice dates and times during April and May will vary depending on Burke's activities calendar, although most practices will start at 5:30 p.m. Practices during June and July will generally be on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. Check our Calendar page for the most up-to-date schedule. The 5:30 p.m. starting time is the actual time our workouts begin. Arrive at the track 10 to 15 minutes early to warm up and stretch so that you're ready to begin your workout at 5:30. Most practices will last about 75 to 90 minutes and are followed by a mandatory team meeting, where the coaches will share important club news, such as information on upcoming meets and practices and to recognize athlete accomplishments. If an athlete needs to leave practice early for any reason, it is their responsibility to inform the head coach at the beginning of practice. In the event of inclement weather, each athlete's parents should make their own decision on whether to come to practice. Practices will normally be held, but may be cancelled at the last minute if the weather is a problem. If practice is called off early enough, we will post a notice on the club's web site and e-mail all parents and athletes whose addresses we have on file. The Flyers' basic philosophy is that our coaches cannot help an athlete unless they are at practice. Our practices are very demanding, so if an athlete is not coming to practice to work hard, then the Flyers may not be for them. We'd like the athlete to attend practice as often as possible, but also encourage them to participate in other sports that they enjoy. If the athlete needs to miss a practice for any reason, the coaches can give them a workout to do on their own. Ultimately, the harder the athlete works in practice, and on their own outside of practice, the better they will perform in meets. The Flyers uniform kit consists of a jersey, warm up suit (jacket and pants), and travel bag. A kit will be issued to each club member after a $100 uniform deposit check is submitted to Andrea Otte, our Uniform Coordinator. Club members are expected to adhere to the Flyers Uniform Agreement policies. The uniform kit is the property of the Flyers and must be returned to the club after the season is over. If the kit is returned in a comparable condition as when it was issued, the deposit check will be returned. Competition shorts and Flyer T-shirts are also issued with the uniform kit, but are the athlete's to keep, and so need not be returned. The Flyers uniform is nationally recognized and club members wear this distinctive uniform with pride. Athletes will represent the Flyers by wearing the uniform at all USATF meets, including any award, opening, and closing ceremonies, and as also directed by the head coach. Shoe choice and style is up to the athlete. The Flyers have many shoes available through our Shoe Exchange program. Contact Andrea Otte, our shoe exchange coordinators, for more information. Parents are also encouraged to represent the club at meets by wearing a Flyers polo shirt, available for purchase from the Uniform Coordinator. What are the parents' roles in the Flyers? Parents are strongly encouraged to be involved in the support of the Flyers. The club hosts one or two track meets each year and the parents' help at these meets is vital to them being successful. The Flyers have no other fund-raising activities besides these meets. The club also encourages parents to attend our practices. This gives you the opportunity to meet the parents of other athletes, and, by being at practice, you will get the same information we give the athletes during our post practice team meetings. We would ask, however, that parents watch the practices from the bleachers. Also, we encourage parents to become USATF members by purchasing a USATF card, which can be used to gain free admission into all USATF-sanctioned association, regional, and national meets.
Yes! Our club motto is "The Family of Champions". Lifelong friendships between athletes,
and also between adults, have been fostered through participation and involvement with the
Flyers. Several social activities are planned for this season. Tentative dates are:
How much does it cost to join the Flyers? For athletes wanting to join the Flyers for the 2010 track & field season, there are two options, depending their age:
#1) Regular athlete club membership fee - $200
#2) Sub-Bantam athlete club membership fee - $125 This amount includes:
· Add $10 to either option if new competition shorts are needed (required for new members). · Add $150 to either option if athlete joins on/after June 19, 2010. For families with more than one child joining, a compounding $25 membership discount is available for each additional child. For example, the first child would pay their regular membership fee, the second child would receive a $25 discount from their membership fee, the third child would receive a $50 discount, the fourth child would receive a $75 discount, and so on. No athlete will be denied membership based solely on financial considerations. Please contact the head coach regarding payment options. No one need sign up for club membership if they are unsure if the Flyers are right for them. We encourage newcomers to participate in a few practices first to see if it is something they want to do. Before competing in a meet as a Flyer, however, the athlete must first become a member by paying the membership fee. What do I need to do to join the Flyers? If you want to join for the upcoming season, here's what we need:
How can I stay up-to-date on Flyer happenings? The best way to stay "in the know" is to attend the team meetings that follow most practices. Any upcoming meet, practice, or other club activity information will be distributed and/or discussed there. Another way is to periodically check the Flyers web site for updates. Plus, make sure the club knows your e-mail address, as occasional announcements, reminders, or other news items are e-mailed to parents and athletes. I’m in track at school. Can I also participate with the Flyers? High school athletes may not participate in our practices or compete in our meets until their school season is over, either after their district or state meet. However, junior high and middle school athletes may participate in our practices and compete in our meets, but only with the permission of their school track coaches. |
