Chautauqua Striders Youth Track & Field Development Program

CHAUTAUQUA STRIDERS 2026 YOUTH TRACK & FIELD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM The program will run on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM for 6 weeks over the summer. The first session will be Tuesday, July 7th and the last session is on Thursday, August 13th. All practices and meets will be held at Strider Field located at Thomas Jefferson Middle School,195 Martin Road, Jamestown, NY . The Youth Track & Field Development Program (YTFDP) is a summer program designed to introduce kids ages 5-13 to the basics of track and field in a fun and supportive environment. The program runs 2x a week for 6 weeks during July and August, with participants grouped by age and guided by our dedicated coaching staff. By keeping our coach to student ratio low, the program ensures personal attention, skill development, and mentorship. Through participation, athletes can learn basic athletic skills which can be applied to further athletic development. There are also educational objectives pertaining to health and wellness topics that are implemented into the structure of the program. PROGRAM STRUCTURE: Tuesdays are "practice" days, and Thursdays are "meet" days. In the first session of the week, kids learn and practice 3-4 different track and field events/skills, helping them build skills and confidence in the sport. The second session of the week is a "meet day", where participants get to compete the events that they learned, and get real times and measurements. Instead of only recognizing top finishers, we celebrate effort, recognize character, and growth through unique, handmade “Paper Plate Awards,” reinforcing confidence, resilience, and a love for physical activity. Some additional highlights of the program include themed days to add extra fun, a parent race to involve families in the excitement, and an end-of-year pizza party and award ceremony to celebrate the kids' hard work and accomplishments. SCHEDULE: All practices and meets are from 5:30