Youth Information (updated August 27, 2008)

News, results, event information and entry forms can be found here for all USA Track & Field of Oregon youth events.

For more information, please contact Gail Kleinke, Youth Chair (503) 581-7424. 

Attention Parents

It is highly recommended by the Oregon Youth Committee
that each parent take the responsibility of checking the Approved Coach/Volunteer Link
to be certain that your child's coach(es)/volunteer(s) has successfully passed
the criminal background check that the Oregon Association
does on each coach that has submitted an application.

Click here for Approved Coaches/Volunteers 

USA Track & Field will heighten anti-doping education initiatives at its three youth national championships in 2008 and will begin in-competition drug testing at the 2009 championship events. The programs are a partnership with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and are tied to USATF's Zero Tolerance and Win with Integrity programs. 

At the 2008 USA Youth Outdoor Track & Field Championships, USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships and USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships, USATF will work with USADA to distribute educational materials on drug testing, will conduct town hall meetings for parents and coaches to learn more about anti-doping efforts, and will require athletes in the Youth, Intermediate, and Young divisions to view USADA's Doping Control Process video which highlights the processes and procedures that occur during an in-competition drug test.

USATF will also work with USADA to further promote USADA's 100% Me, My Choices Matter campaign, which focuses on equipping young athletes with knowledge and skills to make responsible, ethical, and healthy choices.

In 2009, formal drug testing at the USATF youth championships will be conducted for athletes in the Intermediate (15-16 years old) and Young Men/Woman (17-18) divisions. American athletes in the Intermediate and Young divisions have always been subject to drug testing when competing in the USA Junior Championships, IAAF World Youth Championships, and IAAF World Junior Championships.  USATF hopes that by adding the educational programs and the drug testing at the youth events the athletes will be provided with the information and experience necessary to compete drug-free at the highest levels of competition and in life.

"In keeping with USATF's Zero Tolerance initiative, we felt that it is critical to send a strong message to our young athletes, their parents, and our youth club coaches that the use of drugs is wrong and will not be tolerated in our sport," stated Lionel Leach USATF Youth Athletics Committee Chair.   "We feel that a strong educational program that includes in-person education and more information distributed via e-mail and the internet would provide us with the foundation to move forward in 2009 with formal drug testing." 

View list of prohibited substances and permitted medications on reverse side 

View 2008 Results: Associations - Regionals - National
click here

View Past Cross Country Results - Association - Regionals - Nationals
click here

Youth Competition typically take place in two-year age divisions.  These age divisions provide young athletes the opportunity to compete with other athletes of similar ability.  The age divisions for competition year 2008 are as follows:

     Sub Bantam         2000+   
     Bantam               1998+
     Midget                 1996-1997
     Youth                  1994-1995
     Intermediate        1992-1993
     Young                 1990-1991*

*Athletes who are still 18 through the final day of the USATF National Jr Olympic Track & Field Championships are eligible to compete in the Young Men's and Young Women's divisions through that meet.  This extended eligibility does not apply to cross country events.

Developmental track & field meets generally are hosted by Association Track Clubs beginning in April of each year and for Cross Country beginning in September.  (Click here for the current developmental meet brochure or  for the   Youth calendar -- Click here.

USATF requires a Criminal Background Check for each coach or volunteer that has direct contact with our youth athletes. Beginning in 2008, approved youth coaches and volunteers are required to wear badges at practices and youth developmental and championship meets.  Click here to see the  Approved Youth Coaches/Volunteers List.  You may also want to  Click Here for important Information for Registered Youth Clubs regarding Mandatory Criminal Background checks for Coaches & Volunteers.

Round Advancement for Track & Field Championships Meets

Sportmanship Guidelines

USATF National Youth Website

Event information, registration, and more

Current year USATF Membership is required for all of the Oregon Association Junior Olympic State Championship Meets.

Entry Process

• Youth Athletes: Online entry is the only method of entry. No other form of entry will be accepted.
• Masters and Open Athletes must mail in the entry forms provided through the Open and Masters web pages.
• A 2008/2009 USATF membership is required to enter (please join online if you are not a member).
• For individual online entires, to enter online, you will be required to provide your USATF membership number and password (click here to retrieve your password if you don't know it).
• For club batch entries: Only the club contact person (as noted on the club registration form) will be able to do batch entries.  Use your current membership number and password for these batch entries.   For entries close to the deadlines: although we will make every reasonable effort, we cannot guarantee responses to requests for passwords.  Please enter early!
  Club Cross Country teams: Download the 2008 Team Roster here
• Athletes will receive a confirmation page at the end of the entry process;
  please print a copy of the entry confirmation to present to packet pick-up as proof of entry.
  
  A Help Line is available for those who need help with the entry process. For assistance call 503-581-7424 during normal business hours, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. PT.
  
  Please click on the following links to download the meet information or go directly to the online meet registration.
  
  

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