Youth Outdoor Track and Field

Watch for 2025 Indoor Season registration details to post fall of 2024!

Overview:

Minnesota Flyers Track & Field hosts two competitive seasons of track and field each year: the Outdoor season below, and an Indoor Season January-March. We also offer spring and fall non-competitive training sessions for athletes interested in continuing their fitness and skills. The Flyers coaching staff provides coaching for all events in an age-appropriate and skill-based training format for youth of all ages, and as an ODP, we automatically offer comprehensive training for elite athletes. Additionally, because strength is critical in order to be a successful and injury-free athlete, our year-round Performance Strength training offers athletes grades 8+ the opportunity to perform at your best, reduce risk of injury, and maximize your potential for and during any sport. Visit our Performance Strength page for details!

Looking to advance your athletic career beyond high school? Numerous collegiate, professional, and even Olympic athletes began their careers with the Flyers and experienced much-recruiting success with us through the USATF Junior Olympics!

Summer track is a great way to set new goals, try new events and distances, and/or give multi-events such as the Pentathlon, Heptathlon, or Decathlon a try! Plus our captains organize many fun team-bonding events making all your hard work and effort a fun team experience for all ages and experience levels!

Current registrants looking for season information can find those details by logging into the Team Site.

Full team schedule is available to registered members.

Find information on our youth levels here: (details updated seasonally prior to registration opening)

IMPORTANT REMINDER: You must be registered AND AFFILIATED with our team prior to the Association level meet deadline to participate in the Junior Olympic series. Make sure to register early to avoid conflicts and to be eligible for Junior Olympic competition!

Competitive/Elite

Eligibility:

All athletes entering grades 7-12 plus current year high school graduates (generally ages 12- 18) May also be appropriate for highly competitive younger athletes.

Description:

Athletes are offered a focused training format to develop skill levels and enhance the competitive edge. Elite/ODP development is automatically included in our competitive structure and participation in meets is expected. For those interested in track beyond high school, MNF enjoys relationships with a nationwide network of college coaches and continues to produce numerous MSHSL, USATF** Junior Olympic, and NCAA champions and place winners, Olympians, professional athletes, and collegiate scholarships. You WILL progress in this sport through our competitive level.

2024 Season Information:

6:30-8 pm Mon, Tues, Thurs, & Fri, May 13 - Jul 30*
Armstrong High School
Meets found on our public calendar HERE
Practice attendance is highly encouraged due to the progressive nature of this sport and expected for those on relays.
An optional pre-season beginning in April will be offered this year!

Fee: 1st child - $535, additional child(ren) - $460 (see reason below)

Includes uniform, performance shirt, USATF membership, full facility/equip fees, local meet entry, and $75 REFUNDABLE required volunteer deposit (see vol policy for details).

Intermediate

Eligibility:

Athletes entering grades 4-5 this fall with prior experience, and all athletes entering 6th grade this fall (generally ages 9-11)

Description:

MNF provides a structured yet fun, age-appropriate "learning to train" format designed for young athletes entering grades 4-5 who have prior experience with us or greater experience in other competitive sports. This level is also designed for youth entering grade 6 who are new to track and field. Local meet participation is expected, and emerging elite development applied to the training format where appropriate. Movement from Developmental to Intermediate or Intermediate to Competitive is common during the season.

2024 Season Information:

6:30-8 pm Mondays & Thursdays, May 13 -Jul 30
Armstrong High School
Meets found on our public calendar HERE
Practice attendance is not mandatory but highly encouraged due to the progressive nature of this sport. There will be a practice expectation for those on relays.
An optional pre-season beginning in April will be offered this year!

Fee: 1st child - $460, additional child(ren) - $385 ($385, see reason below)

Includes uniform, performance shirt, USATF membership, addl facility/equip fees, local meet entry, and $75 REFUNDABLE required volunteer deposit (see vol policy for details).

Developmental

Eligibility:

Beginners entering grades K-5 this fall (generally ages 5-10). Beginners entering 6th grade must register for Intermediate.

Description:

MNF's knowledgeable and positive approach to youth athletic development offers children an engaging, fun, and dynamic way to learn about the sport of track and field. Practices are designed using a "learn by doing" format and meets are encouraged but not mandatory. To encourage development toward meets, we host 3-4 inter-club "mini-meets" throughout the season. (Athletes entering grades 4-5 who have previous experience with us are invited to consider our Intermediate level.) Our Developmental tends to fill fast so register early to ensure enrollment!

2024 Season Information:

6-7 pm Mondays & Thursdays, May 13 - Jul 30
Armstrong High School
Meets found on our public calendar HERE
Practice attendance is not mandatory but highly encouraged due to the progressive nature of this sport. There will be a practice expectation for those on relays.
An optional pre-season beginning in April will be offered this year!

Fee: 1st child - $285, additional child(ren) - $210 (see reason below)

Includes performance shirt, USATF membership, facility/equip fees, and $75 REFUNDABLE required volunteer deposit (see vol policy for details).

"Incomparable, next level results. The Flyers prepared me for college and beyond. I'm grateful and humbled. I would not have realized my dreams in this sport without them!" ~JF

"We have a young athlete who was new to track & field and the Flyers coaches and athletes welcomed her with open arms! From the importance of warm ups and cool downs, to setting up starting blocks, to teaching baton handoffs and high jump form, coaches and athletes alike provided support and encouragement all the way to nationals and an all-American finish. Through it all, we watched our athlete step out of her comfort zone, develop confidence and make great friends. We are so excited to have found this program!" ~Melissa A.

"Amazing. The mix of ages and having the team captains helping with the kids warm ups means Leif feels connected to the larger team. He has goals I would never have dreamed of based on conversations with the "kid coaches." His confidence has grown tremendously. The coaches have also been so helpful and caring. My kid is not the most focused or gifted, but he loves being there and is so thrilled to be a part of this group. It's a super supportive group. As a parent that knew nothing about track and field I have had so much support. My kid has grown in so many ways and feels at home." ~April G.

FEE REDUCTION FOR ADDITIONAL CHILDREN: To remove the confusion surrounding securing volunteer hours via a separate volunteer deposit, our fees now include a $75 deposit that is refunded upon completion of the volunteer requirement. The requirement is PER FAMILY so there is no additional charge for families who register multiple children. To understand more about this requirement, please visit our Policies page. Thank you for supporting our events and giving our team the chance to participate in USATF MN meets!

(Please also be aware that meet fees have increased this year which is reflected in our Intermediate and Competitive level registration fees.)

Registration now closed - please click here to be added to our indoor notification list!

Limited financial aid is available. If you are in need of assistance affording any of our season fees, instructions and application link can be found in each season's registration form as well as on our Policies page.

Quick FAQ's:

Comprehensive season details and team site access are provided to registered members.
Practice schedule excludes holidays, severe weather cancellations, and unexpected facility closures.
Junior Olympic meet interest? MNF has team accommodations in place at the host cities and will provide details to registered members. Qualifiers are encouraged to consider the USATF** Region and National level meets to broaden experience, perspectives, and collegiate opportunities. We are proud to hold the highest advancement rate in our association's Junior Olympic series!! (Chaperoned athlete travel options are available for JH/HS ages.)
Attendance questions? Practices are not mandatory, but attending as many as possible is encouraged since this is such a progressive sport. There is an attendance expectation for relay members. The same applies to meet attendance.
Looking for team-specific information? To protect the privacy and safety of our youth athletes, complete details regarding our season are accessible to registered members on the team app or team site.
Parent orientation is now conducted via presentation with follow-up question/answer sessions in early May and early June. Attendance by one parent/guardian is mandatory as there is much information to cover regarding the outdoor season. (Orientation materials include privacy-protected information so are only available to registered members.)
Existing USATF membership that you need to affiliate with our program? Please Log in to your USATF profile and request an affiliation change in your profile details. We can no longer process affiliation changes at the club level so we recommend you submit your request in a timely manner as all change requests go through an approval process that can take anywhere from a couple of days to weeks (which can also affect Junior Olympic eligibility).

*4 day/week practices begin the first week of June - complete details are on the team calendar.

**USATF is America's premiere track and field organization and the governing body of our sport.

Questions are welcome at admin@minnesotaflyers.com. (Current registrants can receive faster responses by messaging through the app.) Please be aware we can only share in-depth season information with registered members. Thank you!

SEE YOU AT THE TRACK!!!

Important note for anyone planning to participate in USATF JO's: The USATF MN Association Junior Olympic Championship is held annually on the weekend following the MSHSL Boys & Girls State High School Meet. Please plan vacations and participation in other events accordingly. You must compete in the Association JO meet to qualify to advance to Regions and Nationals unless you meet one of the Rule 300 waiver requirements.