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THE MORRIS COUNTY TRACK CLUB PHILOSPHY

Our Mission is to enable youth athletes (girls and boys) to develop and compete to the best of their ability with the goal of qualifying to compete in the AAU Junior Olympic Championships and the USATF Junior Olympic Championships – commonly referred to as “The J.O.s” In addition to focusing on athleticism we emphasize good citizenship, respect for others and good sportsmanship.

“We Focus on Your Preparation Not Team Points.” MCTC does not enter meets with the goal of scorning team points or winning competitions as a team. We focus on the individual athlete to help him or her achieve to the best of their ability in their chosen event(s) (Our coaches also make event recommendations based on an athlete’s abilities and goals). However we train as a team which gives every athlete the opportunity to train with other talented athletes – a process that serves to foster continued progress and improvement. We compete as a team for the comradery, the beneficial aspects of being surrounded by talented athletes and the shared enjoyment of top-tier competition.

The Try Out Process. MCTC does not have minimum requirements with respect to times and distances for prospective team members. However, as MCTC is a competitive, travel track club, it is important to determine whether a prospective athlete has the ability and the desire to train and compete with a travel track team. The Try Out Process typically involves attending three training sessions alongside current MCTC team members. During these sessions coaches and trainers determine whether a prospective athlete is currently ready to train with MCTC. At the same time athletes and parents have the ability to determine whether MCTC is right for them without making the financial commitment to join the team. We understand that not every prospective athlete can make it to the J.O.s in a given year. The goal is to work with each athlete to help them continue to progress – season after season.

Travel Track. Our season typically runs from November through July (we compete in the Indoor and Outdoor Seasons). We are a travel track club and our regular season meets are held throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. As the season progresses and we begin to enter the Junior Olympic qualifying phase, meets can extend over a two or three day period and often require hotel stays.

The actual Junior Olympic national meets are held in July/August alternating between the East and West Coasts. In 2015 the summer games will be held in Virginia and Florida. (2014 games were held in Iowa and Texas)

Statement of Non-Discrimination. The Morris County Track Club does not discriminate against any person or any group on the basis of political affiliation, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or religious belief.
 

The Morris County Track Club is an AAU & USATF-registered competitive club member in the New Jersey Association. The Morris County Track Club is an unincorporated association formed for youth athletes who want to compete in track meets  sanctioned by national organizations like the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union), USATF (United States Track & Field, the governing body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States).

As an AAU affiliated organization, the Morris County Track Club is recognized as tax exempt (501c3) under the Amateur Athletic Union of the U.S. Inc.'s group determination ruling through the time period ending August 31, 2015.

 

 The New Jersey Association sanctions the Preliminary Meets that enable runners to qualify to compete in the Junior Olympics. There is a great deal of paperwork involved in competing with the AAU & USATF and we are handling/coordinating everything so that you and your athlete can focus on the events.

 

We are based in Morris County, New Jersey and are a AAU & USATF-registered competitive club member in the New Jersey Association. USATF's largest youth program is the Junior Olympics, where nearly 70,000 youth athletes compete each year in the Track & Field and Cross Country championships.

Youth competitions 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 forcompetition year 2015 are as follows:

Age Division Year of Birth
8 & Under (previously Sub-bantam) 2007+*
9 - 10 (previously Bantam) 2005-2006
11 - 12 (previously Midget) 2003-2004
13 - 14 (previously Youth) 2001-2002
15 - 16 (previously Intermediate) 1999-2000
17 - 18 (previously Young) 1997-1998**

* Per USATF Rule 300.1 (c) “Athletes must be at least seven (7) years of age on December 31 of the current year to compete at the Youth Athletics or Junior Olympic National Championships.”

** Athletes who are still 18 through the final day of the USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships are eligible to compete in the 17-18 age division through that meet. This extended eligibility does not apply to cross country events.

 

Morris County Track Club is a registered team with the The United Age Group Track Coaches Association, Inc. (UAGTCA).

The United Age Group Track Coaches Association (UAGTCA) is a coalition of Delaware Valley track clubs and coaches organized to promote the development of young athletes through the sport of track & field. Each year, the UAGTCA sponsors several Indoor & Outdoor Track and Field Meets.

 

Morris County Track Club is a registered team with the The Amateur Athletic Union of the U.S., Inc ("AAU").

 The Amateur Athletic Union of the U.S., Inc ("AAU").  track clubs and coaches organized to promote the development of young athletes through the sport of track & field. Each year, the AAU sponsors several Indoor & Outdoor Track and Field Meets. 

 

Morris County Track Club is a registered team with the The USA Track & Field  (USATF).

USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF  encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States. Led by President Stephanie Hightower and CEO Max Siegel, USATF is a volunteer-driven, not-for-profit organization with a staff of professional program administrators at the National Office in Indianapolis.