CYO Track Program – Program Modifications & Safety Policies

The CYO Intramural Track Program serves participants in grades 1–8 and is designed to provide a safe, structured, and positive athletic experience.

Track practices take place on a large, outdoor, non-enclosed venue with multiple events running at the same time, including sprints, relays, and field events. Due to the size, layout, and movement required during Track, specific safety policies are necessary.

Due to occasional loss of venue availability, practices for grades 1–8 may be combined into a single hour. While older runners generally manage this environment well, additional structure is required for younger participants.

Policies Specific to the CYO Track Program – Grades 1–3

  • Requirement 1: The Grades 1–3 Track Program is not a drop-off program.
    •  One parent or guardian must be on site and reachable during each Track practice session in which their child is participating.
  • Requirement 2: The Grades 1–3 Track Program requires mandatory parent participation.
    •  Each family must provide one parent or guardian to volunteer on the track for a minimum of one practice session during the season.
    •  Parents will sign up to volunteer using a scheduling app (such as SignUpGenius).
    •  Volunteers will be notified which practice dates they are assigned to assist.
    •  A limited number of parent assistants are scheduled on the track at each practice.
    •  Parents who are assisting help with:
      •  Ensuring runners sit and wait safely after completing events
      •  Managing relay waiting areas and baton exchanges
      •  Helping prevent unsafe behavior near event areas
      •  Supporting transitions between activities
      •  Supporting supervision and safety, not coaching or instruction.
  • Failure to meet parent participation requirements may result in the child not being eligible to return in future seasons.

Policies That Apply to the CYO Track Program – All Grades 1–8

Behavior Expectations

  • All Track participants are expected to follow instructions and demonstrate respectful behavior.
  • Unsafe or inappropriate behaviors include (but are not limited to) the following, as well as behaviors that have disrupted Track in prior years:
    •  Pushing or physical contact
    •  Throwing sand or equipment
    •  Inappropriate or offensive language
    •  Disruptive behavior that impacts safety or instruction

Cell Phone Policy

  • Grades 1–3: No phones on the Track
  • Grades 4–8: Phones must remain in backpacks or sling bags during practice
  • There is no reason to have a phone while actively participating in Track.
  • If communication with a parent is needed, the participant may ask a coach for assistance.

Disciplinary Process (All Grades 1–8):

  • First incident – Parent is notified and a warning is issued
  • Second incident – Child is removed from the Track Program, as they are not ready for this environment at this time
  • This process focuses on safety, readiness, and accountability and is necessary to maintain a safe and respectful Track environment for all runners.

Final Statement

The first priority of all CYO programs—especially Track, due to its size, movement, and multiple event areas—is safety.