YIM News - Week 1 - June 7, 2011

Programs - YIM News 2011

YIM_Kids_News_Header_Graphic

Welcome to YIM 2011!

We hope this will be an enjoyable experience for all of our participants!

WHAT DO I DO THE FIRST DAY?

Please try to arrive early! The first session is always a little hectic getting about 400 participants and parents organized! The session will start promptly at 6:30pm.

You can park either at the lot above the stadium or the lot that is located between South Lakes High School (11400 South Lakes Drive, Reston, VA 20191) and Langston Hughes MS. Proceed to the track area – you will see our registration tables near the small buildings located on the track.

Check in at the registration table. (You do not need to check in after this; this first check in is to verify your registration and receive your program gift. This year’s program gift is a technical shirt (these shirts were ordered based on the size given on your registration form). If you are unable to make the first session, do not worry – we will hold your shirts for your child/ren.

Proceed to the nametag table to make your child/ren’s nametag. Place the nametag on the front of your child’s shirt.

Walk or run a warm up lap around the track.

At 6:25-6:30pm, near the registration tables, the age group leaders and volunteer coaches will help assemble participants in their proper age groups. You will see color coded signs for each group. Age group leaders and coaches will lead participants to their training area. Parents are encouraged to join in (especially those parents of 5-6 year olds as they will be located on the fields next to Langston Hughes).

At 6:30pm, each age group will conduct their own stretching and activities (coaches will have water breaks so please ensure your child has their water bottle). During this first session, we will also have age groups process quickly through our "Footsteps Of Reston" shoe check area so that they can be evaluated for shoes*. THIS IS TOTALLY OPTIONAL.

At 7:30pm, the session ends. All particpants will proceed back to the registration table area for icy pops. Please make sure your child has his/her water bottle and picks up any trash they may have left before leaving the training area.

*We will have staff available from Footsteps of Reston to help find the right size & type of shoe for your child. Footsteps’ staff will watch them walk and run in a neutral shoe and will help determine how much support they need in their shoe (if any). The process is quick and will help avoid injuries related to improper support in the shoes. The staff will complete the evaluation and put the shoe size/type on a card with your name. If you would like to purchase shoes, you may place an order & Footsteps should have them by the second session. If you wish to have the shoe prior to the start of the first session, you are more than welcome to visit Footsteps of Reston - All those participating in YIM will receive a discount of 15% (parents receive a discount of 10%).

DIAGRAM OF TRAINING AREA:

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3-4yrs will be located on either outside end of the goal posts (on the grassy area between the goal posts and inside the track)
5-6yrs will be located on the fields located beyond the track and tennis courts -next to Langston Hughes MS
7-8yrs will be located either on the sprint area of the track, the stadium area, or the field area next to Langston Hughes MS
9-10yrs & 11-14yrs will be located on the track, the stadium area, or on the paths surrounding South Lakes High School area

INFO & REMINDERS

WHEN & WHERE: The program is on Tuesdays, June 7 - August 9 from 6:30-7:30pm at the South Lakes High School track and surrounding field area.

PARENTS:

Please do not drop off your child/ren and leave – please stay at the track/field area during the session.
Please remember that we are not allowed to use the field area between the goal posts inside the track; so make sure your child/ren stay off that area.
Our wonderful volunteer coaches come to the track early to set up equipment for each session. There is a lot of thought and manual labor that goes into getting everything ready for our participants. We would appreciate it if you would make sure your child does not play with or rearrange the equipment (cones, hurdles, tennis balls, hoops, and other items used in relays and obstacle courses). Unfortunately, coaches will then have to reset everything and this takes time away from the activity. If you would like to help our coaches, please let the age group leader/coaches know – they will be happy to have your help!
Make sure your child eats a healthy snack and hydrates before (anywhere from half an hour to a couple of hours) coming to YIM so that they have plenty of energy for the activities.

WHAT TO WEAR: It’s going to be hot during most of our sessions! Make sure participants wear athletic running shoes (no flip-flops, crocs, sandals, or other non-athletic shoes – these are a recipe for disaster both on the track and the field area) and clothes suitable for running in warm weather (preferably lightweight, breathable, and quick drying).

HYDRATION: We will provide two cooler dispensers (one Gatorade and one water) at the track. There are also 2 water fountains on either side of the track. However, we strongly recommend that you ensure your child/ren have their own water bottle to carry around so that they have access to good hydration during their activities!

BATHROOMS: There will be at least one (there are currently 3) porta johns located in the track area.

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY: Track sessions will be held rain or shine. However, we will not meet if there is lightning or if the temperature is over 100 degrees at 6:30 p.m. We have seen every combination of weather event happen on a YIM Tuesday; but, we never take for granted the session will be canceled. More often than not, we are able to hold at least a partial session. Parents of the participants make their own judgment call when the weather is questionable. However, we do make every attempt to meet. If lightning occurs in the middle of the session, we will cancel the program for that evening. A cancellation during a session will be signaled using our sport horn. This is why it is essential that parents DO NOT DROP OFF AND LEAVE their children. Parents are more than welcome to either help with our coaches or relax in the stadium seating area. When a session is canceled due to lightning, EVERYONE must leave the area immediately. We will not update the website unless it is clear early on that conditions make it impossible to hold a session; however, we will send out an email notification as soon as possible to notify participants that a session has been canceled.

CANCELLATIONS/REFUND POLICY: Unfortunately, we are not able to make up for canceled Tuesdays and cannot add a week onto the end because our reservation/permit with Lake Fairfax Park for the party is set.

TIME TRIALS: Time trials will be held in Week 5 (July 12) and Week 9 (August 2). Participants will be timed while running 50 meters to 800 meters (depending on age) and all will receive ribbons.

REMINDER: HAVE FUN! YIM is program designed to give our youth a chance to run in a noncompetitive atmosphere for fun, learning, and good health!

Last Updated (Monday, 06 June 2011 05:59)

Willard Fraize (6)
Brian Kent (6)
Tim Cohn (5)
Chris Dettmar (5)
Selemon Getachew (4)
Jenny Trojan (2)
Donna Rostant (3)
Jennifer Trojan (2)
Beth (2)
Jon Norris (2)

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