Practice Info

2025: Locations and Times TBD until Saddle Brook High School is available to us.  We are at the mercy of whatever times and locations our rec department can provide us with.  

Right now the only thing we can confirm is that 1st & 2nd grade will practice most Mondays and Fridays and 3rd-8th practices most Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  Time slots will take place anywhere between 5:30pm-7:30pm.  We are currently focusing most of our practice time at Garfield High School since their facilities allow for our kids to get the best possible practice.

The dates and times listed below are subject to change.

Our practice schedule is based on availability of the track after the high school uses it.  If the high school needs access to the field, they have priority and our schedule will change that day. 

Times To Be Set based on location we're placed at on any given day. 

Ages 10u: Monday and Friday, sometime between 5:30-7:15; Ages 11+:sometime between 5:30-7:15

Ages 9+: Wednesday sometime 5:30-7:30pm (depending on available daylight)

No Monday practices after Sunday meets.

All practices and meets will be listed in the Game Changer app.  You can download it here .  Once this is set up, you'll be asked to create an account.  This will be essential for your ability to communicate with us. 

Practice dates and times are subject to change. Any major changes are communicated as soon as possible.

7-10 year olds, M/F: 10 minute group warm ups, 35 minutes with coaches, 5 minute cooldown - Parents must stay for 8 and under. 

11-14 year olds, M/F: 10 minute group warmups, 50 with coaches, 10 minute cooldown.

9+, W: 15 min warm ups, 60 min (30/30) rotating practice, 15 min cool down

Mondays and Wednesdays are structured differently from Friday. On Mon/Wed, we arrange for the children to explore both track and field events by dividing them into two groups and rotating them.  This approach encourages them to engage with activities they might not usually choose. Fridays, however, are designed for the children to concentrate on practicing the events they intend to participate in during that week's meet, offering a sort of free-choice practice. Please note that the flexible schedule for Friday will likely be introduced closer to the meets, once the children have had a chance to experience all the events. We will adjust this plan as needed and our practice plan is always subject to change.

Due to the large group we have in 2025, we might structure practice a little different but still with the goal of exploring multiple skills and events. 

Practice Notes

• 8u practices up to twice a week, 10u practices up to three times a week.  8u ends earlier than the rest.
• All ages warm up together.  
• Please arrive on time and have your child begin two warm up laps.
• For safety purposes, only athletes and coaches are permitted within the fenced track area.  Everyone else please stay outside the fenced in area.   
• If your child is in the 7/8 age group, please keep a close eye on practice in case your assistance is needed with them.  This will be especially important at the beginning of the season while we set expectations.

March/April weather can be all over the place and it can be especially windy and cold at the start of the season.  Please dress accordingly.  We suggest layering up.  

• Running shorts and a T-shirt, with sweats on top if layering.
• Sneakers - Laces only, no velcro - we suggest not buying running shoes at the beginning of the practice season and instead letting them use their current gym sneakers until they're sure they want to run at the meets too 
• Hat and gloves at the beginning of the season

Bring water, Gatorade, or any other similar type of drink to each practice.  

*Sneaker guideline is a suggestion based on information we gathered from other programs.  You are always free to select options that work best for your child. 

Please instruct your child to take home or dispose of, everything you came in with, including garbage. 

Remind your children that horseplay (before, during, and after practice/meets) may result in their dismissal from practice/meets or if it is habitual, removal from the team as it could cause injury to the other athletes.

Bullying, whether verbal or physical, will not be tolerated.

Listening to coaches instruction is mandatory for safety and participation in our program.

We encourage all families to stay for practice but understand that is not always possible.  Please keep the following in mind if you plan to drop off and pick up.  

• It is your responsibility to be on time for pickups after practice.  Please plan accordingly.  In case of emergency, contact us right away using the GameChanger app.
• Please instruct your child to see a coach if practice is over and you have not arrived to pick them up. Make sure they know your phone number.  
• Even though we will practice in rain, practice can end at any time due to weather, especially our lightening alerts.  If we have a lightning alert, we do not have anywhere to stay and so practice will be immediately cancelled.  If you are not staying at practice, make sure you can get there quickly for emergency pickups.
• If you need to pick up your child early from practice, please let us know and have your child speak directly with a coach before leaving.  

Remember that for the 7/8 age group, a parent/guardian must stay at all practices for a child to participate in our track program.