Hello, All-
One more Fantastic meet in the books… almost.
Our athletes were IMPRESSIVE, the support was AMAZING, and the hosts were TOP NOTCH. BUT…

There are a few reported instances of potential timing issues. Specifically, times may have been mis-assigned to the incorrect runner/jumper in the same heat or event.
If you are aware of any such mis-assigned times, please let me know ASAP! Our athletes work hard to earn their times – they deserve to get recorded properly.

Also- an upset athlete is missing a fleece Patagonia jacket- likely taken home mistakenly by another in our group. Please check your bags and let me know if you have it! Contact me at youth@venturatigres.org

Already looking forward to our first HOME meet!

-Spencer

Hello, Tigres-
We had very exciting and successful night meet at T.O. last week. A fun time was had by all the athletes and many, many Personal Records were set! We move on to our first daylight meet at Moorpark tomorrow, officially beginning at 8:30.

***3200 Runners, Hurdlers, and Shotputters– please arrive no later than 8 to get checked in and warm up properly.
***4×100 teams run next- no later than 8:30AM arrival, please.
***All other athletes should arrive shortly thereafter to root on their teammates and get ready for their events.

Please remind your athlete to get their bib sticker from the coaches first thing after arrival.
Bring/use Sunblock and Water.

Looking Forward to another Great Meet!
-Spencer

p.s. The times of athlete arrival will remain the same for all normal, daytime conference meets. I will let you know of any changes.

For the first time in nearly 3 years, our Tigres get to compete in an OFFICIAL MEET! Nearly half of our athletes last truly competed as 10u Bantams! I can’t wait to see what they can do out there…

A few words before I get into details. We have no idea on how the meet will run. Individual events have no starting time after the official 4 PM start – they are run in order and the start times will depend on the completion of the prior event. Be ready for hours and hours of cheering and fun! Temps are anticipated to drop into the low 50s as the night progresses. Bring blankets and jackets for those of you in the stands. Sweats and maybe jackets for the athletes on the field. The meet clashes with dinnertime, but only water on the field – have your athlete eat lightly (off the field) until after their events. YuckBuckets are usually provided at the finish line, but…

www.venturatigres.org splash page has pertinent details but here is some additional info:

****The 3200 is the first track event, starting promptly at 4. SHOTPUT, LONG JUMP, and HIGH JUMP could start at 4, too. Those athletes need to arrive @3:15 to get their bibs, warm up etc.

****HURDLES and 4×100, must arrive @ 4:00

****I strongly recommend all other athletes to arrive no later than 4:30 to help cheer on their teammates! As a veteran Tigres parent, I know that 90% of this experience for the gang is being on the field, wearing the uniform, cheering, and being cheered for!

****Relay teams are not guaranteed 🙁     I will do my best to get everyone that signed up onto the track, but we need multiples of 4 for that to happen- the assistant coaches and I will scrape and scramble. That said, if your athlete signed up, please be sure to get to the track on time!

First of at 7+ starts tomorrow! Our TIGRES will ROAR!

-(Coach) Spencer

Hello, All-
An athlete likely has taken home the wrong bag from practice today in an honest mistake.

Missing – Orange and Black Tigres bag with “Nicely” written at the opening. Contents includes a pair of yellow and white Brooks spikes, a yellow water bottle, and a blue down jacket.

I have the ‘other’ gym bag – Orange and black Tigres bag with no name on any of the contents. Contents are 1 pair Day-Glo fluorescent yellow Asics Spikes, 1 pair black adidas shoes, 1 black tigres headband, and 1 spike tool.

If you have the incorrect bag, please contact me soon at youth@venturatigres.org so I can help arrange the swap.


Thank you – More info to come on the meet tomorrow or Friday,
Spencer

Hello, Tigres Families!

The 1st Annual Austin Gambill Memorial Track Meet (formerly known as the practice meet) is >36 hours away! Hopefully your young athlete has signed up for a full array of events!

Please talk to your athletes and find out what events they signed up for. Hurdlers, High Jumpers, and Shot Putters – are all up first for this meet! They should arrive by 8 at the very latest to prepare. Everyone else should show up by 8:30 to help kick it off and cheer on their teammates. It is a fast-paced event, twice as fast as an official meet. For the order of events, the call sheet can be found on the Tigres Website on the splash page.

A few things to remember:
     **I recommend a unique small gym or duffel bag for your athlete to hold sun block, water, and eventually warmup, sweatclothes, jackets, hats, etc with the instruction to use it for storage while on the field! Items thrown in a pile on the field are often left… in pile on the field.
     **Water only inside the fence – food or other beverages must be left in the stands for consumption.
     **Only Coaches, Active Volunteers, and Athletes are permitted inside the fence!
     **Get comfortable, make/meet some friends, and settle in to cheer on our Tigres! Full track meets are non-stop action… that will take most of the day.

This is gonna be fun!!!
-Spencer

Hello, Tigres!
This week is different and will be the model for all weeks to come from here on out… IT’S MEET WEEK!

OK. It’s a practice meet, but we will treat it with all the excitement of the real deal. I will have event sign-up sheets on Mondays and Wednesdays post practice, but have limited events this week (Hurdles, 1600M, 400M, 200, High Jump*, & Shot Put).  Athletes are limited to 2 Running and 1 Specialty – I would like to see everyone try the maximum 3 events.

There will be more meet info to come later this week,

-Spencer


*Pre-clearance required from Specialty Coach

Pickup Duty

Hello, All-
We need 2 more volunteers to stay with athletes until all have been picked up from practice- 1 for Monday, 1 for Wednesday, beginning @6PM

It might be the easiest duty I’ve seen – you’ll already be there to pick up your own child and it relieves you from Meet Day Volunteer Duty!
Already a Meet Day Volunteer? We’ll arrange Pickup Duty to replace it!

First 2 replies get the positions!!!

Thank you,
Spencer

“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.” Beverly Sills – Singer

Hello, Tigres Families!
We are off to a Fantastic Start! We have tomorrow’s Specialty practices to round out the week, which brings me to my first and second points:

1. 1. We have fantastic Specialties on Tuesdays and Thursdays! Make plans for your athlete to attend! Two 45 minute sessions starting at 4:30, and your athlete can choose from Relays, Long Jump, High Jump, Hurdles, and Shot Put (Thurdays only). Additionally, there are speed development plus strength & plyos stations to emphasize the core track events. I encourage the athletes to try everything to determine what they like. Some events require pre-clearance from the specialty coach before competition.
2. 2. There is no team practice on Monday due to the school closure. Why not make it up by attending the specialty practices?!  Also recommended are the following workouts over the weekend – on their own.

• Sprint 10 Minutes (Easy pace)) cross country run on your own
  4 x 100m strides
  Purpose – Aerobic capacity
• Distance 5 Miles (Easy pace) on your own
  Purpose – Aerobic capacity

Lastly, I want to acknowledge that the first few weeks have some tough practices. Your athletes might be sore and they might get frustrated. General soreness is to be expected but will eventually fade… and the body will be stronger. The sprint group will eventually do less reps at higher intensity as the season progresses, but they need the base that we are currently building. Distance Runners… well… they know that they must endure to build endurance- the distance will increase slightly and so will the intensity.

I see that all the Tigres are doing amazing things out there so far and I can’t wait to see how it translates once meets begin!  

-Coach Spencer

**We will run practices the full length – until 6:00, starting next week

Hello, All Youth/Intermediate Tigres Families-
At long last, Tigres officially begin Practice tomorrow! I hope you and your athletes are as excited about the season as the Assistant Coaches and I are!

Some info:

• Once the gate opens promptly at 4:30, our age group meets at the far 30-yard line on the near sideline. We will have the tallest overall group. The only adults permitted inside the track fence are coaches.
• Please bring a water bottle. Water is the only beverage item permitted on the field + no food. We are guests at Buena, and they are rightfully particular about that requirement.
• Write you athlete’s names with sharpie on lose-able items! I have no want for 27 more water bottles and 43 sweatshirts/pants of various size, style and color.
• Until Sunlight allows, practice will end @5:45. Please be courteous by being on-time for pick-up.
  
  This Coach can’t wait to get started!  See you tomorrow!

-Spencer

Hello all you Tigres! 
I am really looking forward to getting the kids back on the track for the first time in nearly two years!

Let’s get a few announcements out of the way:
1.  Parent’s meeting (virtual) has been announced for Monday, Feb 7 @ 6:30.  Please register using the link on one of the Tigres Website splash pages.

2.  Practices begin Wednesday Feb 9 @ 4:30 on the Buena HS track.  They will end @sundown until there is enough daylight to get us to the standard 6:00 end time.  Full practice schedule is posted on a website splash page.

3.  Fun Runs will be held for the next 3 Sundays @2-3 PM at Camino Real Park – starting on Jan 23! VERY unofficial, VERY informal, VERY voluntary.  The next part is important-  You must be in attendance the entire time if you choose to bring your child.  And your assistance will be most welcome.

4.  ASSISTANT COACHES NEEDED!  We have over 90 athletes in our Youth- Intermediate age group and are in need of Assistant Coaches to help keep practices and meets running smoothly.  No experience required.  Email me soon at youth@venturatigres.org to be a Giant help. A HUGE Thank You to those who have already responded.  

I know your young athletes have been chomping at the bit to get started.  It’s really soon, now!  I can’t wait to meet them, some again and some for the first time, and to see their enthusiastic faces flying around that track!

-Coach Spencer Taylor
Email: youth@venturatigres.org 
Tigres Website: www.venturatigres.org

Expect more communication as the first week approaches…