We recommend your child attend a practice to determine if Mercury is a good fit for your child. From there you will be invited to complete the new athlete registration form, pay the registration fee, provide a copy of your child’s birth certificate, and completed physical examination.

Mercury San Diego Track Club starts at age 6. We strongly encourage that before signing your child up for Mercury San Diego Track Club your child can tie their own shoe.

Our Registration Fee is approximately $205.00, which includes the U.S.A.T.F. Membership Fee of $20.00.

Also included:

Athlete’s Warm-up Uniform

Athlete’s Competition Uniform

Mercury San Diego Track Club Bag

Yes! Each Parent/ Guardian is responsible for paying each child’s Entry Fees to compete in the scheduled track meet. The Entry Fees range from $4.00 per event depending on the level track meet, and are due the Wednesday before each scheduled Saturday/ Sunday meet.

1. If more than two practices are missed during the week, it will be up to the head coach’s discretion, if they can compete. This rule helps prevent unnecessary injuries.

2. No confrontations between Board Members, Coaches and parents at any time. All disagreements will be handled after track meets and before or after practice. All complaints will be directed to the Head Coach and/or Parent Liaison.

3. No smoking or drinking alcohol at track meets or practices. Anyone who violates this rule will cause parent and child to be removed from the team.

4. Please have your child at the track meet at the scheduled given time.

5. Please if there is a problem between the kids; see the Head Coach and/or Parent Liaison before getting upset, because kids will be kids.

6. Respect and treat others the way you would like to be treated.

7. The parent is responsible for dropping off and picking up their child from practice. Practices are only 1 hour and 45 minutes; you must pick up your child on time. It is the parent’s responsibility not the coaches.

8. Parents/guardian must be at all track meets; it’s the parent’s responsibility to provide transportation for their child.

9. Parents ensure that your child uses the restroom before their event or entering the field.

10. All entry fees must be paid on Wednesday prior to the event as required by the USATF.

11. Rain or shine all entry fees are non-refundable.

12. Parents are responsible for their child’s behavior, and to insure that they remain in complete team uniform through-out the track meet.

13. There will be absolutely no horse playing, foul language or the use of equipment as a form of weapon on the field during practice or track meets. Athletes will be subjected to suspension from the track team. Athletes should be on the field to warm up and compete. Once your event is over you must leave the field and return to the stands.

14. It is the parents’ responsibility to provide the athlete with nutrients food during all track meets.

NON-COMPLIANCE WITH RULES 2, 3, 12, & 13 ARE SUBJECT TO ATHLETES’ SUSPENSION

Track Conditioning starts in January, with Developmental Track Meets beginning in February through early-April. However, Invitational Track Meets, and National Championship Meets start towards the end of April and go through July.

(A Track Meet Schedule will be posted on the Team Website and handed out in January.)

It is not an issue for your child to participate in other sports during track season, however keep in mind that Track and Field can be a very time consuming and a physically demanding sport, and there can be schedule conflicts.

Mercury Coaches are dedicated to the development of each athlete. A consistent effort from all coaches, parents and athletes is required in order for each athlete to have the best opportunity at success. Therefore, we highly recommend attendance to all practice sessions. This is also highly important for athletes who may be participants on relays. Unless there is a family emergency, illness/ injury, or academic challenge, it is expected that each athlete attend all scheduled practices and track meets. In the event that one of the aforementioned instances occur you will need to notify your child’s respective Coach before the practice or track meet. Athletes who miss more than (3) practices or (3) track meets will be asked to return the following season in hopes they will have more time to dedicate.

Depending on what Training Phase we are in, practices will be held 3-4 times a week and are typically no more than 2 hours long.

Track Meets can vary in length depending on your child’s events. All track meets take place on most Saturdays and some Sunday’s. Be prepared for possible long days starting as early as 7:30am-4:00pm. (Competition Schedules will be posted on the Team Website and copies will be handed out to ALL Parents at the beginning of the season in order to plan your Weekends, Holidays, and Vacations accordingly. This will only be a Tentative Schedule and Dates and Times are subject to change with ample time notification).

Water/ Low Calorie Sports Drink

Mercury San Diego Track Club Competition Uniform and Warm-ups

Proper Warm-up Shoes and Running Spikes

Sunblock

Tent or Umbrella to stay cool

Snacks such as Fruit, Granola Bars, and Sliced Veggies

(We recommend writing your child’s name on ALL personal belongings to assure they are not mixed up with other athlete’s).

NO! If your child cannot practice with Mercury Coaches at the scheduled Practice times, Mercury is NOT the team for you. Please respect and show gratitude for the effort made by our Coaching staff. Mercury aims to create a healthy, safe, challenging, and competitive training environment so that your child can excel in all of their events.

Mercury Coaches will evaluate each athlete on their ability and enter them in events that they are the strongest and have the best opportunity to be successful.

PARENT DO NOT CHOOSE THEIR ATHLETES EVENTS

Yes! The family of each participating Mercury Team Member is encouraged to participate in ALL fundraising efforts. As mentioned, Mercury San Diego Track Club is a Non-Profit Organization that raises funds to host their Annual Track Banquet, Annual Track Meet Invitational, and pay for qualifying athletes to attend National and Championship Track Meets. These funds also pay for equipment (spikes, mini javelins, etc...)

Yes! In order for our team meets to run smoothly and efficiently we need a family member from each Mercury Participant to Volunteer to work a station at the track meet. If a parent/ guardian cannot participate we strongly encourage you to appoint someone from your family to cover you.

Coaches will notify parents if your child qualifies for a Championship Meet.

PLEASE NOTE: ALL athletes who qualify for such Championship meets and whose parents participated in the fundraising efforts:

Traveling ticket will be sponsored by Mercury San Diego Track Club. Parents who wish to participate will have to cover their own traveling expenses.

For those athlete’s that win medals, ribbons, or trophies at scheduled track meets, coaches will collect these awards at the end of the Track Meet. They will distribute them at practices throughout the season or at the end of season banquet.

Mercury San Diego Track Club is committed to the community, safety, and development of each team member. We are asking for the support of each Parent/ Guardian in enforcing Team Rules and Expectations. Please respect the Coaches by picking up/ dropping off your children at the scheduled times and making sure your child conducts themselves appropriately. Please make sure that your children fully understand the Team Rules and Regulations. Depending on the severity of a rule broken, appropriate action/consequences will take place. However, Mercury San Diego DOES NOT and WILL NOT tolerate Fighting, and Bullying of any kind, and any team member that does so will be IMMEDIATELY dismissed from the team. We thank you in advance for your support!

Please Refer to Team Rules and Regulations.