Our Indoor Track and Field Session is open for athletes in 4th-8th grades and will run for 6 weeks. We will meet at Highland Park High school on their indoor track at 6:30 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting February 3rd and ending Thursday, March 12th. The intent of this session is to teach fundamentals, increase conditioning, and prepare athletes for the spring season with their middle school teams. The focus will be on fitness and technique rather while also having some opportunities to compete.

To register for the winter indoor season, CLICK HERE

Price

• $300 - New Athletes

• $250 - Returning Athletes

• No athlete will be denied participation due to inability to pay. Please contact Jeff Beaumont at northshore@thepacktfcc.com with inquiries regarding reduced rates.

Location

• Highland Park High School. We have access to a 160-meter indoor track and will be able to hold event-specific practices.

Practice Dates and Times

• Practice begins Tuesday, Feb 3. Our last practice will be Thursday, March 12th.

• Practices are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 - 8:00 for ALL event groups

• Sprints, jumps, and throws will practice inside. If weather permits, we may go outside some days.

• Distance will meet inside with the team every day, but will complete workouts outside. Dress accordingly for the cold weather.

Registration Includes

• Team flannel pants

• Team race jersey (for new athletes)

• Equipment and rental fees

• Coaching and practice plans

• Liability insurance

• Meet entry fees

Competition Schedule (Subject to change and will be finalized by the middle of January)

All competitions are optional and located in the Chicago metro area.

• Sunday, February 15- Palatine Pack Youth Indoor Invite @ Rolling Meadows HS Fieldhouse (8:00 AM)

• Sunday, March 1- March Madness Youth Indoor Invite @ Huntley HS Fieldhouse (9:00 AM)

• Sunday, March 8 - Illinois Meet of Champions @ Chicago Gately Indoor Track (9:00 am)

• Sunday, March 15 - The Pack TFCC Club Championship @ Plainfield South HS Fieldhouse (9:00 am)

Event Grouping

Parents should indicate their athlete’s event interests during registration. Precise workout schedules will be communicated each week, but in general, athletes will be grouped according to the plan below:

• Sprint/jump/throw athletes will be inside two days per week.

• Distance athletes should expect to be outside 3 days a week. They may be inside on certain days depending on outdoor temperatures.

Event Coaching this Session

• Sprints

  • 60 meter dash

  • 200 meter dash

  • 400 meter dash

  • Hurdles

  • Relay exchanges

• Distance

  • 800 meter run

  • 1500/1600 meter run

  • 3000/3200 meter run

  • Relay exchanges

• Field Events

  • Long jump

  • High jump

• Throws

  • Shot Put

Equipment

Athletes should be prepared for all weather during the winter months. Depending on the weather, we may be outside on any given day. Athletes should bring the following items to each practice in their gear bag:

• Training shoes (Distance runners will run anywhere from 2 or 3 miles for beginners to 4-7 miles for advanced runners so a good pair of training shoes is essential. Please speak to the coaches if you need guidance on proper footwear.)

• Running pants/shorts

• Gloves/hats

• Long sleeve/sweatshirt (wear layers on colder days, starting with lighter layers and moving to heavier layers on top)

• Running tights/warm sweat pants

• Water bottle

Safety

Practices conducted outside often end in the twilight or darkness. For distance runners especially, we recommend a reflective vest and/or a head lamp/body light.

Runner safety on the roads is ensured by coaches and athletes following these basic protocols:

• Athletes cross streets only at stop lights, stop signs, or cross walks

• Athletes wait for a coach to cross streets

• Athletes and coaches wear reflective gear and head lamps/body lights to increase visibility to cars

• Athletes run in groups to avoid getting lost and to increase visibility to cars

Communication

Any practice changes or cancelations will be communicated through e-mail. The primary mode for communication between coaches, athletes, and parents is email.

Our Mission

We offer track and field training and racing for any 4th-8th grader. While we are a club by definition, we do not operate as a traditional club. We welcome kids of all abilities in hopes of fostering a love for track and field. Our goals are to build community, teach the fundamentals of the sport, and have fun while doing it. Every member of our club gets an equal opportunity to improve and compete. 

Our training is tailored to the needs of the individual. We teach basic fitness activities and the fundamentals of track and field to our newest runners while also providing elite training programs for our more experienced athletes. All athletes will be challenged to get better each day while having fun through gameplay and teamwork.