For Memphis athletics, spring signals the return of track meets, training days, and afternoons spent cheering from the sidelines—because the 2025 track and field season is almost here. Youth track and field Memphis programs continue to bring families together from across the city, offering kids a space to move, compete, and grow by finding their stride on and off the track. Countdown to the 2025 track season with Memphis Youth Athletics by helping your child get ready for the starting line today.
How To Get The Body Ready For The Track Season
Preparing for any track season starts with making sure the mind and body are primed for action. Youth track and field for 2025 will be here before you know it, so go ahead and start encouraging your child to incorporate these tips into their routine so they can perform at their best and have fun.
- Fix Sleep Schedules: It’s tough for anyone to give their all if they’re feeling groggy. Try to aim for 8-10 hours of sleep each night to ensure your child and teen are fully recharged. Getting in the habit of going to bed at a reasonable time now can make it easier to adjust to the track season when proper rest is crucial for muscle recovery.
- Drinking Enough Water: Memphis can heat up quickly in spring, so hydration is crucial. A sturdy reusable water bottle—maybe a trendy one or one they’ve decorated with stickers—helps your child remember to sip water at school, during practice, or on the ride home. By the time the first meet of the track season rolls around, they’ll already be in the habit of staying hydrated, reducing the risk of fatigue and cramps.
- Gentle Pre-Season Conditioning: Your child doesn’t need to dive into intense training right away. Light exercises like walking, short jogs, or playful backyard games help them ease back into physical activity. A couple of easy weekly runs can help prepare them for the sprints and laps ahead. Fun stretches—like toe touches or arm circles—are great for increasing flexibility and preventing injuries leading up to and during the track and field season.
Set Goals For The New Track And Field Season
Help your child set goals for the 2025 track and field season so they feel motivated and excited from day one. Goals give kids something to work toward and help them stay focused, especially during tough practices or meets. These can be performance-based—like running a specific distance without stopping, beating a personal best, or learning a new event—or effort-based, like sticking to a practice schedule, staying positive, or supporting teammates. Some goals can even extend beyond the track, like managing time better or building confidence.
Writing goals down or using a simple goal tracker app or chart makes progress easier to see, and celebrating those small wins keeps your child feeling encouraged. The most effective goals are specific, realistic, and tied to effort rather than just results. With an upbeat, goal-oriented perspective, your child can turn this track season into a personal journey full of development, accomplishment, and fun along the way.
Replace Or Upgrade Your Running Gear
Before your child kicks off the 2025 track season, take time to make sure their gear is in good shape, especially their shoes. For Memphis Youth Athletics participants, track spikes aren’t required for developmental meets, but comfortable, supportive high-performance running shoes are a must. Shoes that are too small or worn down can lead to sore feet, poor performance, or even injury. Since kids grow quickly, it’s worth checking the fit, even if the shoes look fine.
If you’re unsure where to start, visit a local running specialty shop in the Memphis area. Staff at these shops are trained to analyze runners’ gaits and recommend the best running shoes for each individual. These stores also carry running-specific apparel and accessories tailored to your activities.
While you’re at it, double-check that your child has a refillable water bottle, breathable athletic clothes, and a small bag for meet days. These simple items can make a big difference in how prepared and excited your child feels each time they step on the track. Getting the right gear sets the tone—and mindset—for a fun, successful track season.
Make A Healthy Pre-Meet & Post-Meet Ritual
Creating a consistent pre-meet routine helps your child feel calm, focused, and physically ready before every meet during the track season. It sets the tone for the day, reduces anxiety, and builds confidence, especially for kids who might feel nervous stepping onto the starting line. Pre-meet habits also help their body warm up properly, so they’re less likely to get injured and more likely to perform at their best. When kids know what to expect before each meet, they can settle into a rhythm that carries them through the entire track and field season with less stress and more success.
Pre-Meet Rituals to Try This Track & Field Season:
- Get to bed early the night before to ensure they’re rested and ready.
- Eat a light, familiar breakfast like toast with nut butter, fruit, or eggs—nothing too heavy or new on race day.
- Pack gear the night before so there’s no last-minute scrambling.
- Arrive early to warm up with light jogging and dynamic stretches.
- Use calming habits like listening to music or reviewing personal goals to boost confidence and reduce anxiety.
Post-meet routines are just as important as pre-meet ones. After giving it their all, your child’s body and mind need time to recover. A thoughtful post-meet routine helps with muscle repair, reduces soreness, and prevents injury, especially during a busy track and field season. It also gives your child a chance to mentally process their performance, celebrate progress, and identify areas to improve.
Post-Meet Rituals To Try This Track & Field Season:
- Cool down with a walk or light jog, followed by stretching to prevent stiffness.
- Hydrate and have a snack like fruit, crackers, or a protein bar to replenish energy.
- Celebrate effort—whether or not they won, highlight their hard work and progress.
- Talk through the meet in a low-pressure way to help them learn and grow.
Tips For New Coaches
Coaching youth track and field with Memphis Youth Athletics (MYA) in Memphis, TN, offers a rewarding chance to instill a lifelong passion for running, jumping, and throwing. For beginner coaches stepping into this role, the focus should be on fostering a love for the sport while building foundational skills in a fun, supportive environment. Your primary goal is to prioritize participation and fitness over performance, ensuring every athlete feels included, whether they’re from public, private, or homeschool backgrounds.
- Start by keeping things simple and engaging. Elementary (grades 3-5) and middle school (grades 6-8) athletes are at different developmental stages, so tailor your approach accordingly. For younger kids, focus on basic motor skills—running form, jumping technique, and light throwing drills—using games like relay races or “chase the coach” to keep them excited. Middle schoolers can handle slightly more structure, such as practicing starts for the 100m or learning the rhythm of the long jump approach, but still need variety to stay motivated. MYA doesn’t hold practices, so if you’re coaching a school-based Memphis track team, plan two to three sessions a week at your school or a local park, keeping them short (45-60 minutes) and dynamic to match their attention spans.
- You’re not in this alone! Being a new track coach can be challenging, but building relationships with parents and other volunteer coaches can give you a strong support system, help you stay connected to your team, and expose you to new coaching ideas that can improve the experience for everyone involved. MYA offers helpful resources, including a message board, a pace calculator, blogs, and online training materials that can guide you throughout the season.
- Lean on the MYA meet structure itself. The first meet uses random heat assignments, which gives you a chance to observe your athletes’ natural abilities in a relaxed environment. As the season progresses, meet seeding is based on recorded times and distances, giving you the perfect opportunity to teach goal-setting, like shaving a few seconds off a 400m or adding distance to a shot put throw.
At the end of the day, your goal is to create an encouraging, team-oriented environment. Celebrate effort, cheer on every athlete, and focus on making each meet a positive experience. When Memphis track and field kids feel supported and motivated, they’ll not only improve—they’ll love coming back week after week, ready to chase their own finish lines.
Join Memphis Youth Athletics Today!
The track and field season moves fast once it starts, but there’s still time to get ready. Memphis Youth Athletics continues to bring structure, energy, and community to youth sports across the city. If your child is eager to get moving or you’re considering stepping in as a volunteer track coach, now’s the moment to take that first step. Registration is open, and spots fill quickly. Get plugged in, meet other families, and see what’s possible this track season.