Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
From the President's Desk
Valaree Langley-Foss – USATF-Maine President
As of January 2014 to present date (2015) there have been changes with the national USATF Office.
First: with all new and renewable USATF membership registrations, USATF now requires (mandatory) that all members have valid e-mail addresses on membership applications; either online with USATF or on a paper application form received by the association’s office. Please remember if you elect to register as a member directly online with USATF, (new or renewal) Youth Membership must pay the amount of $20.00 (neither USATF nor USATF-Maine gives refunds). This association – Maine, does give a discount to all Youth Membership if membership is received via snail mail. Adults, Volunteers, Coaches – over the age of 19, USATF membership is $30/calendar year. All renewable membership ID numbers will be the same USATFnumber assigned to you back in 2014. For new members, in 2015, you’ll be issued a new permanent membership number and the ID number won’t change from year to year as in past years.Online Membership: http://www.usatf.org/Products---Services/Individual-Memberships.aspx
Second: USATF has now “gone green
(paperless). For all Event Sanctions, all must nowbe done directly on line with USATF. A major Credit Card is required. Web address is: http://www.usatf.org/Products---Services/Event-Sanctions.aspx .
Third: all USATF-Maine Clubs must renew online with USATF. Please remember that a major Credit Card is required. Web site address: http://www.usatf.org/Products---Services/Club-Memberships.aspx
Paper club applications will not be accepted or sent out to current USATF-Maine Clubs. All NewClubs must go directly on line with USATF. The USATF web site area is: https://www.usatf.org/mgmt/clubs/NET/apply.aspx
Organizational/Club Membership – Club Practice Insurance Information & Formshttps://www.usatf.org/clubs/application/forms/USATFClubPracticeInsurance.pdfIf you have questions, USATF-Maine’s Club Registrar is; Wendy Serbent 5 Sunset Terrace St. Waterville, ME 04901 e-mail is; [email protected]
All USATF-Maine Club Coaches and Volunteers Background Check Policy:
USATF-Maine Club Coaches and Volunteers all must have a background check done through TC Logic. NO background checks conducted by any of the following will be accepted: local police
Page 1
Winter/Spring 2015Newsletter
departments, Maine State Police, municipalities, or the Maine Principals' Association.
Background Checks have been implemented by USATF to:
1. Promote a safe, nurturing, and supportive athletic environment in which youth athletes can pursue their athletic goals;
2. Provide an environment where parents can feel good about allowing their child to participate in the sport of track and field.
3. Maintain the sport of track and field as a hostile environment for those who would seek to harm youth athletes.
Please note that this screening is not intended to serve as a pre-employment background-screeningprogram, nor can screening guarantee that incidents of abuse by coaches/volunteers will not occur. Background screening is designed as a preventative risk management tool, but does not ensure inappropriate behavior will not occur.
Cost per background check is $8.00/ coach/volunteer and must be paid with a major credit card at the time of screening. The background screening process web site is: http://www.usatf.org/About/Programs/Background.aspx All screening must be done through the web address listed above. All coaches and volunteers must be current year USATF members. Adults, Volunteers, Coaches – over the age of 19, USATF membership is $30./calendar year.
USATF SAFESPORT PROGRAM:Recently, at the 2014 USATF National Convention, USATF introduced the SafeSport Program. Here is some important information about that program.
Why is USATF instituting a SafeSport Program?
For the safety of our athletes, particularly our youth athletes, USA Track & Field has committed to providing a safe environment in which our athletes compete and train. We believe this is paramount to the success of all ourprograms. The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) has recommended USATF implement the program in 2014 and it will be required of all Olympic national governing bodies (NGB’s) by 2015. Coupled with our Coaches Registry, our goal is to gain awareness and protect the participants in our sport at all levels, but particularly those athletes who are 18-and-under.).
(Please note that this is only a brief explanation of the program). For further information regarding the USATF SAFESPORT , go to http://www.usatf.org/About/SafeSport.aspx
USATF-Maine Membership:All USATF-Maine membership forms being submitted to the Association must be send only tothe address on the form itself. No Personal checks will be accepted, only money orders, town-city or organized club checks and “PO’s” will be accepted.
Please remember if you elect to register as a member (new or renewal) directly on ine with USATF, Youth Membership must pay the amountof $20.00 (neither USATF nor USATF-Maine gives refunds). This association, Maine, does give a discount on all Youth Memberships if membership is received via snail mail.USATF-Maine Membership Registrar is: Brenda Brenda’s e-mail is; [email protected]
Page 2
DOB Verification: In order for an athlete's ageto be verified, a copy of the athlete's birth certificate must accompany each form. “Verification” indicated by clubs will not be accepted. We MUST have copies of athletess birthcertificates and e-mail addresses. If your club's athletes DOBs were verified during the 2013-2014 season or before, there is no need to attach acopy of the athletes birth certificate, or passport. Once the athlete's age has been verified once there is no need to re-submit documents to the association.
As we begin the New Year of 2015, the associationwill be involved with many track and field meets in the coming months as well as other aspects of the sport. I sincerely hope that within the comingmonths of 2015 we see the USATF-Maine's competitor numbers increase in the Open and Master’s age divisions.
Buster Byrnes at the Maine Games, UMO, 2011
On a sad note, I must report the passing of
Buster Byrnes. He was an athlete, coach, and mentor to many youth, open, and master athletes.He was a thrower, pole vaulter, and high jumper. If there is track and field in heaven, you know that he'll be there competing and helping others! Thank-you Buster for all the gentlemanly graciousness that you showed to all athletes. You were loved and will always be remembered.
2015 USATF-Maine Programs:
2015 USATF-Maine Indoor Championship Meet: On February 22, 2015 the association hosted the USATF-Maine Indoor Championship Meet at the University of Maine – Orono campus for all age divisions – Youth to Masters. The meet was held at the New Balance Field House. Attendance this year did see an increase in participation for all age divisions.
2015 Youth Summer Preliminary Meet entry Fee: Preliminary meets entry fee will remain the same. ($2.00/ preliminary meet entryfee per youth athlete).
2014 Youth Sumer Program Club Awards In 2011 the association began using “Club Size Categories” based on the number of individual team USATF registered youth members. During the 2012 season, the Club size categories was re-vamped to add the “Extra Small” Club Category –1-20 registrations; Small Club registrations: 21-30; Medium Club registrations; 31-60 and Large Club registrations; 61+ athletes. The change was made to enable the smallest of our clubs to win a club award.
The 2014 Club Awards were presented to: Extra Small – Wells Track & Field ; Small Club - Waterville Track & Field Club; Medium Club - Portland Track & Field Club, and Large Club - Panthers Track & Field Club.
Page 3
2015 USATFME OFFICIALS REPORT
I returned on December 5th from the USATF annual Meeting in Anaheim. I was the recipient of the John Davis Finalist Award for humanitarian efforts by leadership, fellowship and the developmental welfare of others and the James Gray Finalist Award for leadership in providing for the development of others in the USATF Officials organization. I am indeed honored to represent our Maine association on the executive board of the NOC as its parliamentarian.
There are a couple of things that need to be pointed out to Maine officials:1) Your $30 membership fee is due as soon as possible. 2) As officials, we are are/going to be required to complete the SafeSport program, which is available at SafeSport Training: http://safesport.org/take-the-training/. This program takes 1.5 hours to complete. The completed certification form should be returned to me.
Housekeeping: I will again this year be assigning at a minimum the head officials for the State track meets on June 6th. Class A – Mt. Ararat, Class B – Morse (Bath), and Class C – Yarmouth. The other major meet this spring is the New England High School Championship at Thornton Academy in Saco on June 13th. I am the assigner of officials for this meet also. If you have a preference and can work any of these meets please indicate it to me. Due to the rebuilding of the Bowdoin track facility, we are not able to host the Region1 track meet in July.That meet is scheduled to return to Fitchburg State in Fitchburg, MA. Several of our officials worked at that meet last year.
With the help of other Master officials, I have again generated the exam for high school coaches and it has been interesting to see the replies/answers. I will have/had copies of the exam with me at the clinics. This is being done at the request of the MPA Indoor and OutdoorTrack Committees.
I will have all the rulebooks with me at the Clinics, in Augusta on March 22nd, at the Buker School/Rec Center, Gorham Rec Center on March 29th and in Orono on April 19th, 12:00 at theOrono Town Council Chambers. There is a possibility of another clinic at Mt. Blue in late Aprilor May. Lastly, it was a great year for me personally being selected as one of the eleven umpires at the two major track meets in this Country. Those being the USATF Youth Qualifying meet and theIAAF World Youth Championship both held in Eugene, OR. This was the first time the IAAF Youth meet was held here in the United States. It was such a great experience and I would hope that some of you some day would have that honor.
Respectfully,Donald Berry,Maine Certification Chair
Page 4
Racewalking Jan through March 2015: Dartmouth Relays, 1/11/2015:
Women’s one mile racewalk: 01. Sydney Sirois, LA Racewalkers 7:37.68 02. Kayla Allen, LA Racewalkers 7:38.51 14. Moira Burgess, LA Racewalkers 10:53.71
Men’s one mile racewalk: 2. Spencer Dunn, unattached 7:25.98 3. Sam Brenner, unattached 7:48.58
National Scholastic Indoor Track and Field Championship(videos available at http://usa.milesplit.com/videos/77723) March 14, 2915:
Women’s one mile racewalk (All-American Award to top 6 places): 08. Kayla Allen, Lewiston, Maine 7:22.43 16. Sydney Sirois, Auburn, Maine 8:13.67
Men’s one mile racewalk (All-American Award to top 6 places): 3. Spencer Dunn, Auburn, Maine 7:11 5. Sam Brenner, Livermore, Maine 7:24
As seen above Maine is off to an excellent start with excellent performance at the Dartmouth Relays and the New Balance Indoor (National Scholastic) Championships.
Sam Brenner, new to the All-American Award club was notified of his acceptance to the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs during the weekend where he and Spencer Dunn bothearned All-American status at the indoor Championship.
Tom Eastler Mar 29, 2015
Start of the 13-14 boys race, Region 1 Cross-country 2014
Page 5
2015 USATF-Maine Elected and Appointed Committee Chairs and Co-Chairs Appointments:
Elected 2015 Officers:President: Valaree Langley-Foss - [email protected] President: Martin Kahler - [email protected]: Mark Dennett - [email protected]: Dennis Kunces - [email protected]
Appointed 2015 Chairs & Co-Chairs:Men’s Track & Field: Rolland Ranson - [email protected]’s Track & Field: Stefanie Worster – [email protected] Walking (Co-Chairs): Thomas Eastler - [email protected] Tom Menendez - [email protected] LDR: Allan Geiser – [email protected]’s LDR: Martin Kahler - [email protected]’s LDR: Darcy Murphy - [email protected] Country (Co-Chairs): Mike Toomey - [email protected] Allan Geiser – [email protected] Track & Field (Co-Chairs) - Rolland Ranson - [email protected] Christine Lipsky – [email protected] Athletics (Co-Chairs): Ronald Kelly - [email protected] and or Becky O’Brien - [email protected]: Donald Berry - [email protected] Registrations: Wendy Serbent - [email protected] Membership Registrar: Brenda Oldfield - [email protected] Sanctions: Valaree Langley-Foss - [email protected] (Co-Chairs): Dustin Williamson - [email protected] Athletics: Ronald Oldfield – [email protected]: Marty Thornton - [email protected]
General Information and Inquires: [email protected]
Web Site & Facebook: On the association’s web site; www.meusatf.org , you’ll find a listing of sanctioned meets for all ages. Official’s news, Maine USATF Executive Board Minutes and Agendas, New & Renewing USATF Membership, Forming a USATF Registered Club, Archived information and much more. If you have suggestions and or comments regarding improvement of the web site please contact the Webmaster by clicking on at the bottom of the web site page or and send your suggestions to [email protected] If you have news pertaining to any Maine USATF athlete of any age group it can be posted on our web site, please forward the information to: [email protected]
or [email protected] USATF-Maine also has an active Facebook web site:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/361448066411/
Page 6
2014 USATF-Maine Awards
USATF-Maine Officials: Thomas (Tom) Menendez – Master Level – Lewiston. The second USATF-Maine Officials award hasn’t been awarded as of this time. The Presidential Award was presented to Andy Sibley for his numerous years of dedication and support to the sport of track and field.
I personal want to thank EVERYONE – and I mean everyone - Athletes, Club Directors, Parents, Officials, Coaches, and Volunteers. Without the support from all, each and every one of you and your involvement with in USATF-Maine, we wouldn’t receive and able to promote all aspects of the sport for all age divisions. THANK-YOU. Sincerely,Valaree J Langley-Foss – USATF-Maine Association 2014-2015 President
Page 7
Mountain/Ultra/Trail Running
The USATF Maine Trail Championships were heldfor the first time in 2014 at the Bond Brook trails. Our many thanks to the folks at the TreadFest for allowing us to join their festival. It was a very successful race with four athletes competing for the USATF Maine Trail Championships in the 5-mile race. Congratulations to Tony Dallisio, Jeff Walker, Rick Chalmers, Gus Stringos, and Alicia MacLeay who were all crowned USATF Maine Trail State Champions. We look forward to havinga greater turnout for the 2015 trail championshipsin October.
Maine has many beautiful trails and mountains for running. Be safe and see you out on the trails!
Dustin Williamson, co-chair MUT
USATF East Region 2013 & 2014 VolunteerRecognition Awards
Starting in 2013, USATF Regional Zone Reps contacted each association’s president to nominate one person within each association to receive the prestigious award. Apologizies for not including the award recipient for 2013 in the newsletter.
For the USATF-Maine Association Ron Kelly- Scarborough, Me. (USATF-Maine Co-Youth Chair) was the USATF East Region 2013 Volunteer Recognition Award. The USATF East Region 2014 Volunteer Recognition Award Recipient was Don Berry – Belmont, Me. Don Berry is USATF-Maine’s OfficialsChairperson.
USATF Association Gold Award In August 2014, our association (USATF-Maine)once again received the 2013 USATFAssociation Gold Award in Recognition ofOutstanding Associations from USATF (there are57 associations within USATF organization). Thisis the tenth time the USATF-Maine Association has been awarded such prestigious award formeeting the stringent criteria set forth byUSATF. Buster Byrnes and Val Foss, 2009. Association Awards Ceremony.
