How to launch a revolution: Start a masters track club

I had a masters track club once — the first virtual masters TC. Called it the Webmaster Track Club. I even found someone to register it within the Illinois Association of USATF. But after it didn’t pass muster with officials at the 1997 San Jose masters nationals (for relay purposes), I gave up. No more WTC. But that shouldn’t discourage you! A springtime query on the letsrun.com message board makes me wonder: How much is USATF doing to foster formation of masters track clubs? First, here’s the letsrun.com exchange:


One gent wrote:

I’m interested in starting a masters track club, focusing on track and field events. The only “track club” in my area is actually a road racing club from 5k up. There is a nice track in the area used by the high schools for meets. It’s owned by the city and is open for training. Any ideas?

The first reply was the best:

Register your club with the USATF. Find other local clubs. Get local support, businesses and sponsors. Get your name/idea out there (newspaper interviews, fliers, etc.). Schedule practice time with the track groundskeepeers. Start a website. Start a bank account/ club fund. Get interested people to help you organize, provide ideas. Put on a local track meet for masters at the track, invite other masters clubs in the region and any local people. Talk to the local road runners club and try and coordinate, maybe they would be willing to provide organization and cash, and start a track and/or masters section of their club.

So there you go. Now where does one get step-by-step help from USATF on such a venture? Seems as if that should be easy to prepare.
The best I can find on usatf.org is this general info page.
And here’s the form for registering a club.
In the same way that Becky Sisley et al built a “track meet in a box,” someone in USATF Masters T&F should produce a “masters track club in a box.”

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November 18, 2008

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