Colorado Association of Recreational Athletics (CARA) Youth Track and Field Rules
Track:
Various competitive athletic events (running, jumping and weight throwing) are performed on a running track and on the adjacent field.
Age Groups:
Determined by the age as of the day following the date of the state meet for the current year.
- 5-6
- 7-8
- 9-10
- 11-12
- 13-14
- 15-16
It is recommended that individuals compete in their own age bracket. Participants may move up in age classifications, but not down. For example, a child may participate in the 9-10 age group relay and can also run up in the 11-12 age group relay if it is skill appropriate. This is at the coach’s discretion.
Time:
- Mandatory check-in (coaches and volunteers only) is to be determined by the track meet director.
- The coach meeting is at 8 am and the volunteer meeting is at 8:15 am.
- Meet events begin promptly at the designated time.
- Note: The number of participants will determine the time it takes to complete a particular event. The meeting is on a rolling schedule and events will begin after the completion of the previous event. Coaches are responsible for checking with the announcer for changes in the times of individual events.
Events:
- Each participant is allowed to participate in a maximum of four events. This can be 4 running events, 4 field events or any combination of the two.
Eligibility:
- Participants must come from a CARA agency and must be wearing their agency’s shirt/jersey.
Awards:
- Heat/participation ribbons (places 1 through 8 when the track is equipped to do so). Otherwise, 6 participants will be awarded. Field events will give 1st-8th place ribbons, and we will have participant ribbons for heats with more than 8 participants.
General Guidelines:
- All agencies must send at least 1 representative and the coordinator to the pre-season coaches/coordinators meeting on May 31 at 6 pm. The location is to be determined.
- Failure to attend will result in a $50 administration fee charged to the agency.
- The entire coaching staff is welcome to come.
- It is highly encouraged that the person running your assigned field event be present.
- One coach from each agency must attend the coaches’ meeting prior to each meet. Changes to meet schedules and other information about the current and future meets will be given at this meeting. It is the responsibility of each agency to get this information. Please be sure to be present and on time.
- The approved meet schedule will be distributed to agencies at the pre-season meeting. If you are interested in hosting a meet, please contact Wes Dulin at WestonD@FHPRD.org.
- The meet director has the authority to cancel any event, with no event being substituted, if the proper equipment, facility, or staff is not available or is considered unsafe.
- All teams must have their runners check in at the staging tents to participate in the event. Failure to do so will result in those runners not being able to run in that event.
- Coaches and event staff must have on a shirt designating them as a coach/staff of your team. Otherwise, they will not be allowed on the track or in staging or event areas.
Weather Guidelines:
- The CARA TeamSideline Website will be updated if a meet needs to be cancelled.
- If we can make the determination on Friday before the meet, we will send email communication out to all coaches and coordinators. It is then each team’s responsibility to communicate that with the parents.
- If there is inclement weather overnight or during the meet, the meet directors will make the final decision. They will work with the coach’s chair and the coaches on site to make the call. If anything is postponed or cancelled, the coach of each team will be responsible for communicating with their team.
- Lightning Policy: We will default to the host agency’s policy and meet director’s discretion regarding lightning. If the host agency does not have a policy in place, we will defer to the CHSAA Guidelines.
- Any cancelled track meets will not be rescheduled.
Agency Responsibilities:
- Host agencies will provide an announcer, 2 clerks of the course, and a head judge, along with appropriate equipment. The host agency must provide a full-time coordinator at the meet.
- It is mandatory that all participating agencies cover an event at each meet, which includes providing staff and required equipment. Agency assignments will be made at the pre-season coaches/supervisors mandatory meeting (most events will require at least 3 staff/volunteers per meet.)
- All agencies will be required to provide 1 person (staff, coach, or trusted volunteer) for every meet. This person will be used to help distribute ribbons at the finish line, keep parents off the track, and any other needs that our meet director and coach’s chairperson see necessary. This will alleviate the host agency having to staff these positions.
- There will be a volunteer meeting at 8:15 am to check-in, hand out shirts, and give assignments for the day. These individuals will receive a volunteer shirt so gatekeepers know who they are so they can be on the track.
- There will be a finish line volunteer schedule given out at the coach/coordinator meeting.
- Agencies failing to send the required volunteers to any given meet will be charged $100 fine (per person) to cover the hosting agency’s paid employees running those events.
- Local meet directors will report any department's volunteer shortage to the agency’s supervisors and to the state chair following the track meet so that fines can be issued.
- A second offense will result in a $250 fine (per person).
- A third offense will result in a $500 fine (per person).
- If you are not attending the meet, please call the meet director at least 2 days prior to the meet.
- Failure to call will result in paying the $100 (per person) penalty, whereas teams who do call will have a $50 (per person) penalty assessed.
- Teams that need to call are those responsible for workers. Departments may have another agency cover their event. If the agency that is covering the event doesn’t show, the original department must pay the fine.
- The track chair will bill departments not holding to their obligation. Checks are payable to hosting agencies. If there continues to be a problem with a department, it will be brought up to the ethics committee and reported to the CARA body.
- If issues arise during the meet, the following chain of command should occur. If issues can be handled after the meet, then it should wait until after the meet. Parent and athlete issues should only be directed to their team’s head coach.
- Parent/athlete goes to the team’s head coach.
- If the issue happened during the meet, the team’s head coach goes to the agency coordinator or meet director.
- The agency coordinator or meet director goes to the division chair.
- The division chair goes to the track chair.
Team Fees and Registration:
- 0-25 Participants: $250
- 26-50 Participants: $375
- 51-75 Participants: $500
- 76-100 Participants: $625
- 100+ Participants: $750
- Host agencies will receive a credit for 100% discount on the team fee to offset meet expenses. Co-hosting agencies will receive a 50% discount.
- Agencies must register with Colorado Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA) through their website between April 3-May 26.
- Agencies must submit team roster to the CARA Track chairperson by June 12 at 10 am for invoicing of the team fee by CPRA. Rosters needs to be sent to Wes Dulin at WestonD@FHPRD.org.
- Invoices will be sent out by June 16 from CPRA. Fees must be paid to CPRA prior to the July 15 Late fees will be charged to agencies that have not paid the fee on the following scale:
- July 22: $50
- July 29: $100
- August 5: $150
- August 12: $200
- After August 12: $250 before registration can occur for the following year.
Running Event Rules:
- Running events will not be timed.
- False starts:
- Ages 13+: The first false start is to the field; the second false start is a disqualification.
- Ages 12 and under: No disqualifications (starters decision).
- Starting blocks will not be allowed.
- Heat ribbons shall be given at all events. There will be no guaranteed ribbons for the relay events.
- For starts in 800-1600-meter races, the starter will give 2 commands and 3 commands for all other events.
- Distance events should be run in larger heats when possible, depending on the number of participants in that event, with ages and gender combined if needed, to help keep the meet moving at an acceptable pace.
- On distance runs, 3 or more steps inside the lane will result in a disqualification.
- Athletes should only compete in events that are appropriate for their skill and ability level at meets. For example, if a child cannot not complete 4 laps running, they should not participate in the 1600 meter at the meet. They can practice it at their team’s practice.
Hurdles and Relays Rules:
- Hurdles: 100 meters at 30”; 13 meters from the start, 8.5 meters between 10 hurdles, 10.5 meters to finish.
- The 15-16-year-old boys will compete in 110-meter hurdles at 36”; 13.72 meters (45 ft) from the starting line, 9.14 meters (30 ft) between 10 hurdles, 14.02 meters (46 ft) to the finish.
- Relays: 6 x 50 shuttle relay (2 lanes per team). 4 x 100 relay will include coed teams to compete as a boys’ team in the 4 x 100 relay.
- Agencies may combine to form teams.
- Relay teams must be formed prior to the first call for relay event.
Field Events:
- Field events will be 2 jumps, puts or throws for all age groups.
- Runners participating in the 1600 meter and hurdles will be given priority during field events to complete their event and prepare for their running event.
Shot Put:
- 11-12-year-old boys and girls: 6-pound shot
- 13-14-year-old boys and girls: 4 kilos/8-pound shot
- 15-16-year-old girls: 4 kilos/8-pound shot
- 15-16-year-old boys: 12-pound shot
- 2 attempts and a scratch will be allowed 1 do-over
- Participants must use the event staff’s shot put for attempts.
Softball/Baseball Throw:
- 12” ball will be used for softball throw and an official Major League Baseball for baseball throw.
- The boundaries will be 30 feet wide. Any throws outside the boundary will be considered a fault.
- The throw may be from either a standing position or on the run.
- Each legal throw will be measured to the spot where the ball first lands.
Running Long Jump:
- 8-8:25 am will be the only time athletes can do practice jumps.
- Jumpers will have 2 attempts at their jump. There will be no practice jumps once the event begins.
- All jumpers must jump from the line. Stepping over the line will be marked a foul.
- The distance or the “jump” is measured from the front edge of the foul line to the first landing point of the athlete.
Standing Long Jump:
- Standing long jump will be on a flat surface. A long jump pit may be used.
- A competitor may rock forward and backward, lifting heels and toes alternately on the surface, but may not lift either foot completely off the ground or slide it along in any direction on the ground.
- Both feet must be parallel to each other and equal distance from the scratch line before jumping.
- Both feet must leave the ground at the same time.
- Measurements will be taken from front of cone to back of heal.
High Jump:
- All jumps must be off 1 foot. The referee has the final decision if the bar was cleared.
- Minimum heights:
- 9-10-year-olds: 3’2”
- 11-12-year-olds and 13-14-year-old girls: 3’6”
- 13-14-year-old boys and 15-16-year-old girls: 4’0”
- 15-16-year-old boys: 4’4”
- Starting heights may be adjusted as the season progresses if it is determined that heights are not suitable for that year’s participants.
- Participants will have 3 attempts to clear the bar. If successful, bar will be raised 2” each successful clear.
Discus:
- 1 kilo weight discus for all ages except 15-16-year-old boys will use the 1.6 kilo.
- Will run oldest to youngest with boys first, then girls.
- 2 attempts, must throw forward hand.
- Walk out back half when done.
- Sector or Foot on or over ring will result in scratch.
Final (State) Meet:
- The final meet of the season will be the CARA state meet. The host agency with assistance of the coaches committee and track committee will run this meet.
- In the case of inclement weather, every attempt shall be made to safely hold the meet. In the case of lightning, the 30/30 rule will be utilized. If lightning and thunder are within 30 seconds of each other, the meet will be stopped, and participants will be asked to seek shelter. The meet shall be resumed 30 minutes after the lightning and thunder are no longer within 30 seconds of the facility.
- If cancellation is necessary, the meet will not be rescheduled.
- Note: Most tracks that are used to host a state meet are not scheduled by recreation agencies. In many cases the track would not be available on the following day or week. In addition, many agencies do not have the budget to pay for coaches for an extra week.
- Only CARA agency participants are allowed to compete in this event. The coach will be responsible for clearing all participants from their team.
- Heat ribbons shall be given at all events. There will be no guaranteed ribbons for relays.
- The coaches’ meeting will be held 30 minutes prior to starting.
- The track committee will be responsible for assistance with the state meet.
- The state meet is still a recreational meet, just combining all 3 divisions. There will be no timing. If coaches want times, they will have to time from the stands. If poor sportsmanship is displayed, the person(s) must be removed from the site. If the meet director, the CARA track chair and members of the committee decide that the meet is losing its recreational focus, changes to the schedule or format may be made at the meet.
Event List:
- Ages 5-6
- 50 Meter Dash
- 100 Meter Dash
- 200 Meter Dash
- 6 x 50 Meter Relay
- Baseball Throw
- Standing Long Jump
- Ages 7-8
- 50 Meter Dash
- 100 Meter Dash
- 200 Meter Dash
- 400 Meter Dash
- 6 x 50 Meter Relay
- Baseball Throw
- Standing Long Jump
- Ages 9-10
- 100 Meter Dash
- 200 Meter Dash
- 400 Meter Dash
- 800 Meter Dash
- 1600 Meter Run
- 4 x 100 Meter Relay Softball Throw Long Jump
- High Jump (not be available for southern division meets)
- Ages 11-12
- 100 Meter Hurdles (not be available for southern division meets)
- 100 Meter Dash
- 200 Meter Dash
- 400 Meter Dash
- 800 Meter Dash
- 1600 Meter Run
- 4 x 100 Meter Relay Softball Throw
- Shot Put
- Discus (not be available for southern division meets)
- Long Jump
- High Jump (not be available for southern division meets)
- Ages 13-14
- 100 Meter Hurdles (not be available for southern division meets)
- 100 Meter Dash
- 200 Meter Dash
- 400 Meter Dash
- 800 Meter Dash
- 1600 Meter Run
- 4 x 100 Meter Relay
- Shot Put
- Discus (not be available for southern division meets)
- Long Jump
- High Jump (not be available for southern division meets)
- Ages 15-16
- 100 Meter Hurdles (Girls) (not be available for southern division meets)
- 110 Meter Hurdles (Boys) (not be available for southern division meets)
- 100 Meter Dash
- 200 Meter Dash
- 400 Meter Dash
- 800 Meter Dash
- 1600 Meter Dash
- 4 x 100 Meter Relay
- Shot Put
- Discus (not be available for southern division meets)
- Long Jump
- High Jump (not be available for southern division meets)
*Revised 6/25/2024