Indoor FAQ
Q. How do I find directions to non-FCIAC meets?
A.
There are several options:
Use the CIAC website.
You will also find
that many meets have a website associated with them(ie. Yale
Invite). The link is provided on our homepage.
Or go to MySportsResults.
Q. How do I find out when my runner is competing?
A. See the
Order of Events
page on this website.
The timing of the meet varies from week to week depending on how
many teams attend and how many athletes they have on their team.
Every Staples morning meet begins at 10 am. The meet usually ends
between 3 pm and 4 pm.
Q. How can I help at the meets?
A. There are many ways. Here are a
few:
-Ask your coach
- Help set up equipment at 8 am on Saturday morning each
week or just come for one week.
-
Support the team by working a shift at the concession stand. It is
a great experience to hear how wonderful our children are. They
are polite, funny, and spending time participating in a healthy
activity.
- Donate food to the concession stand.
- Make a contribution to the concession stand.
Q. Is my runner allowed to wear spikes on the
Staples indoor track?
A. No.
Q.
Where is the starting line?
A. The answer varies -
For Dash and Hurdles - At the beginning of the straight part of
the track on the far side of the track.
For 300 and 600 - Under the Trinity banner.
For 1000 - Near the beginning of the straight part of the track on
the far side of the track.
For the 1600 and 3200 - Near the finish line.
Q.
What does FCIAC stand for?
A. A sports conference in our county,
FAIRFIELD
COUNTY INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC CONFERENCE.
There are three divisions: west, central and east. Staples belongs
to the central division. See
www.fciac.net
Q.
Where can I find results for the meets?
A. Check the following links on the home page:
Northeast Timing,
Club CT,
My Sports Results...These links are on the left side of the page. Or ask your runner ...they will get results
from their coach.
Q. Where can I buy running
gear?
A. Locally, there are a few retailers
ASF Sports & Outdoors in Westport
Runners Roost in Darien
Online retailers
www.roadrunnersports.com
www.eastbay.com/
www.dickpondathletics.com/
Q.
Do I really need to go to the parent meeting/event trials?
A.
Yes. If you've been there and heard it all
before, go help out with the newer parents. They'll appreciate your
friendship and knowledge. If you're new to the program or perhaps your
athlete never told you about the parent meeting before, go see what your
athlete doesn't talk about and see what a meet will be like. It would
also help if you brought along your check book or cash(to pay for pasta
dinners) and your calendar(to volunteer to assist the team).
Q.
Is my athlete competing at Staples or going to the invitational
meet at another location?
A. While most athletes compete weekly at the Staples meets,
some who have met specific qualifying standards may attend another
meet such as the Yale Invitational. Ask your son or daughter
for details. Also see the question on qualifying standards.
Q. How do you know if you qualified for the team?
A.
Each year after the event trials,
some athletes and parents think that they have not qualified to
be on the team. This is not the case! Everyone who
participates in practice regularly is on the team! Read below
about qualifying standards.
Q.
What are qualifying standards?
A.
All invitational and championship meets have
requirements/standards for participation in running(based on time) and
field(based on height or distance) events. These standards vary
depending on the meet.
There
are opportunities to qualify for these meets each Saturday at
Staples. Even if your athlete does not qualify for these post
season meets, they should continue to attend practice. It will pay
off for them eventually. For example, technical events and
distance events take many, many hours (weeks, days, years) of
practice before results are seen.
Q.
Are all indoor tracks the same size?
A.
No.
Q.
What is the distance around the Staples indoor track?
A. 160 meters
Q.
How many laps in the 300?
A. a little more than 1.75
Q.
How many laps in the 600?
A. 3.75
Q.
How many laps in the 1000?
A. 6.25
Q.
How many laps in the 1600?
A. 10
Q.
How many laps in the 3200?
A. 20
Q. Are
spikes allowed at other tracks?
A. There are rules for each
track based on its surface. Check their site.
A. There are two ways to support the team at the concession stand. First you can offer to bring food. Second, you can offer to work a shift at the stand. Links to both of these opportunities can be found on our homepage.
Q.
What is a shift at the Concession Stand like?
A. Most shifts include a lot of fun and humor! Depending on
the time of day and number of teams at a meet, your job at the
stand will vary. Early morning shifts are geared toward
setting up for the day and receiving purchased or donated items.
The middle of the day shifts include restocking, coffee making,
hot dog sales and chili serving. The end of the day tasks include
packing up for the next weekend and cleaning up the equipment used
at the stand. On every shift, you have an opportunity to see how
wonderful our teenage athletes are. These are kids who have chosen
a healthy lifestyle and to spend most of their Saturday at a track
meet! They are interesting, polite, and funny young adults.