2024 Region 6 Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships

See Technical Package for complete info

Entry Process Club
Administrators and Unattached Athletes should register online at: www.athletic.net/edit/track/meet/register/5673188/overview by July 3, 2024 at 10 PM. Late entries will not be allowed. Online registration opens June 26, 2024. Fees must be paid online by the close of registration. Accuracy of data entered is the responsibility of each club and/or athlete. Please validate data within Athletic.net for accuracy prior to submitting entry. Valid 2024 USATF Membership and Proof of Birth are required for participation USATF National Championships require that event registrants shall be date-of-birth verified. Members are required to upload/submit their birthdate verification documents while completing their membership profile on the USATF Connect system. There may be other competitions that require birthdate verification. Check event eligibility requirements carefully when registering for an event.

DOCUMENT SUBMISSION DEADLINE
Documents submitted for birthdate verification will be processed within five (5) business days of submission (excluding holidays). It is the responsibility of the registrant to assure submission in a timely manner to meet entry deadlines.

HOW TO SUBMIT DOCUMENTS
Birthdate verification documents must be uploaded through USATF Connect. If you are experiencing trouble uploading these documents, please contact the USATF National Office for assistance. Be advised that birthdate verification documents will not be accepted or uploaded by the National Office. Procedures for uploading these documents in the USATF Connect system must be adhered to and there will be no exceptions. Documents sent to the National Office will be returned and the verification will not be processed. If a document is illegible it will be invalidated and will not be processed. Invalidated documents will not result in an extension of the submission deadline. No extension will be granted for invalidated documents that require re submission. The processing period will remain in effect. Birthdate verification documents will remain a permanent part of the member profile and will not require re-submission.

ACCEPTED DOCUMENTS
Accepted verification documents include copy of Birth Certificate, Passport, Certified Baptismal Record, Driver's License, or U.S. Government Issued Identification.
Entry Fee:
• Individual Events – $12.00
• Relays – $36..00
• Decathlon/Heptathlon – $22.00
• Triathlon/Pentathlon – $18.00
Qualifying from Regionals Championship to National Championship: The top five (5) finishers in the track & field and relay events shall advance from the regional meet into the national championships in each event. The combined events shall advance the top two (2) finishers plus any other athletes that meet the published qualifying standards. All entries into the JO National Championship must be completed online at athletic.net. The National Junior Olympic Championship will be held from Sunday, July 21st through Sunday, July 28th in College Station TX. Youth | USA Track & Field (usatf.org) Packet Pick-Up Information Coaches and unattached athletes will be able to pick up their competition numbers and related materials at the Packet Pick-up area located at Hughes Field.

NOTE: If your event is early in the morning, we strongly recommend that you pick up your competition number at least one day in advance of your competition. Meet management will not be held accountable for individuals missing an event due to late packet pick-up or any other reason. There will be a 10.00 charge for replacement of lost competition bibs.
Packet Pick-up Hours Wednesday July 3rd 2:00pm – 7:00pm Thursday July 4th Friday 9:00am – 2:00pm July 5th 7:00am – 2:00pm Saturday July 6th Competition Information 6:30am – 12:00pm

Athlete Entry Information
Athletes are required to enter online beginning at the Association level of competition. Advancement is based upon performance (i.e., an athlete cannot directly submit an entry form for the Association competition; they must have competed and advanced). In some events, athletes are required to meet certain eligibility requirements to compete. Eligibility Requirements: Only U.S. citizens, aliens, and foreign exchange students living in the United States are eligible to compete in these championships. Refer to the USATF Rules of Competition for further information by visiting Rule Books | USA Track & Field (usatf.org).
The competition will be conducted in six (6) age divisions as follows:
• 8-Under born in 2016
• 9-10 born in 2014-2015
• 11-12 born in 2012-2013
• 13-14 born in 2010-2011
• 15-16 born in 2008-2009
• 17-18 born in 2006-2007

Per USATF Rule 306(g) from page 179 in the 2024 USATF Competition Rule Book:
• Once an athlete begins participation in the Junior Olympics Program, throughout the entire Junior Olympics series:
o Athletes who are unattached must remain unattached.
o Athletes who represent a club shall not switch from one club to another.
o An athlete may withdraw their club affiliation and compete unattached. A competitor must compete in their correct age division only. There will be no “moving up” allowed in any events, including relays. Competitors in the 8-under, 9-10 and 11-12 age divisions may compete in a maximum of three (3) events. Competitors in the 13-14, 15-16 and 17-18 age divisions may compete in a maximum of four (4) events. Combined events are not included in the event count.
All athletes must be 2024 members of USATF in good standing. USATF memberships may be purchased online at https://www.usatf.org/home/top-utility-nav-content/membership. All clubs must have a valid 2024 USATF membership. All relay team members must be members of the same 2024 registered USATF club and athletes must wear jerseys and shorts of the same color.

SPIKES
A maximum of ¼ inch spike length may be used for all events except for the high jump and javelin. Participants in the high jump and javelin may use spikes up to 3/8 inch in length. PYRAMID SPIKES ONLY. NO NEEDLE OR CHRISTMAS TREE SPIKES ARE PERMITTED. ATHLETES WILL HAVE TO CONDUCT A SPIKE CHECK BEFORE COMPETITION. However, it is strongly encourgead that athletes get their spikes checked upon arrival at the stadium.

IMPLEMENTS
Personal implements in the throwing events are allowed. Athletes competing in the hammer will be allowed to bring and check-in up to two implements for their competition. Implements will be checked at both facilities. All implements must be weight in on the day of the event when they are to be used. Please have it weighed 1 hour before the start of the event. Implement weight-in will be found at the event site/event area. Pole Vault Refer to USATF Rule 302.5(n). All competitors must provide their own vaulting poles. Participants in the Pole Vault competition will be weighed on the morning of their vaulting pole competition at the Vaulting Pole Check-In area. At this time, all poles will be inspected for manufacturers’ pole ratings and the maximum top hand hold position as determined by the manufacturer. The competitors’ weights must be at or below the manufacturers’ pole ratings.
NO EXCEPTIONS
It is the responsibility of the coach or parent to verify the competitor will use a legal pole rated at or above his/her weight. Competition Schedule.
he 2024 USATF Region 6 Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships schedule is subject to modification until the close of registration on July 3, 2024.

Event Check-In
Running event athletes must check in at the Clerk of Course area 45 minutes prior to the event’s scheduled starting time. All athletes will be required to remain in the Clerk of Course area after check-in.
Field Event athletes must check in by flight according to the schedule posted on Athletic.net.
All athletes will be required to remain in the Clerk of Course area after checkin. Do not bring items of value to the Clerk of Course area. Items like clothing, watches, phones, headphones, etc. are prohibited. We will not be responsible for any lost items. Warm-up Area: The warm-up track is located across the street near the track. There are no warm-up facilities for field events. Coaches’ Boxes: Coaches’ Boxes (where applicable for the Pole Vault, High Jump, Shot Put, Discus, and Javelin) are accessible with Coaches credentials. Only coaches with approved background checks that have been issued coaches credentials will be allowed in the designated coaches box. All Coaches’ Boxes will be outside the field of play located in designated areas. Athletes will not be allowed to cross the track to talk to coaches.

Protests
Protests relating to matters that develop during the conduct of the competition must be made to the Protest Referee at once and not later than 30 minutes after a result has been announced. This time period will be strictly enforced. There will be a $50 cash submission fee required to file a protest. This fee will be refunded only if the protest is upheld. Only violations of the 2024 USATF Rules of Competition may be protested. Judgment calls made by meet officials cannot be protested. Protests that do not meet the above criteria will not be accepted. Please note USATF Rule 119. 4 when considering the use of video/photo footage for protests.

Awards
USATF medals will be awarded to the top three (3) individuals and the top three (3) relay teams in each event of each age division. The awards area is located on the South end of the track. Athletes should check-in to the awards area no later than 30 minutes after the conclusion of the event to be staged for the award ceremony. Parents and coaches will not be allowed in the award staging area. There will be designated areas for photo opportunities. Parents/guests are requested to not enter the awards area unless accompanying an athlete when their event is called for the awards.

Waiver
All athletes who participate in the USATF Junior Olympic Program must complete the Junior Olympic Participant Waiver and Release form. This form is already integrated in the online entry system and can be completed electronically; it can also be obtained via your association. All forms must be submitted at the first round of the Junior Olympic series.

Medical Services
Medical services will be on-site at all times for participants. The medical facility will be limited to medical treatment of injuries and medical emergencies ONLY. Medical services provided by UMMC Sports Medicine

Electronic Devices
Not approved by the Games committee shall not be used by any individual in competition or designated warm-ups. No athletes or coaches shall be in the competition. Referee may warn or DQ about using the device.

TRANSPORTATION
Friday July 5th Shuttle service will be available from Hughes Field to Millsaps College for coaches and participating athletes ONLY.

RULES – CONDUCT & FACILITY
Coolers are allowed, BUT will be subject to search by security 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM personnel. Prohibited items include glass bottles, alcohol, grills or portable cooking units, pets/animals and weapons. Hughes Field and Millsaps College is a NON-Smoking facility. Team tents are allowed in the top of the stadium ONLY, no umbrellas regardless of size will be allowed in the bleachers.