To empower today’s youths to believe in themselves and their own power to set AND achieve their own goals, not only in the sport of Track and Field, but in life as well. As per our motto “Your Focus Will Determine Your Reality” our priority is to either help our athletes become self-confident or re-enforce their existing levels of confidence by teaching them that success begins within. If they wan
t to be successful AND believe that they can be successful AND they are willing to work hard to achieve their success, ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE! We will teach them that they will sometimes encounter obstacles and/or bad days and that these days will not define them but instead provide “food for thought” that they will digest and learn a great deal from. This we couple with the knowledge that they should not measure their success by being the best or first but instead by consistently reaching goals (in spite of any obstacles and/or bad days) that they have set for themselves. Together these principles provide our athletes with a positive and winning attitude that they can utilize their entire lives. Also, we encourage unity and selflessness instead of greed and selfishness. As per our motto ”Each One, Teach One”, our athletes feel that they are not just part of a team but part of a family. They are extremely supportive of each other and are always willing to help each other learn what they do not know. Like any good family, they look after each other and guide and push each other thru any hard times that they encounter. The Jersey Heat Track Club practices and competes all year round in all 3 of the running seasons. Our running year begins with Cross Country Season, which usually runs from September thru to the beginning of December but may begin as early as the end of August. Cross Country Season is contested in the great outdoors. Runners are required to run multiple types of terrain in whatever weather Mother Nature has in store for them. Neither rain, nor sleet, nor cold or snow will prevent a truly dedicated cross country runner from competing. Those that do run cross country tend to go into the next season well conditioned and in very good shape. The multiple types of terrain play a huge part of this. Runners must not only conquer the elements but also, trails and woods full of grass, rocks, branches and cement which are usually located on some very intense up and down hills. It is for this reason that we practice at various sites throughout the season. Cross country is not a season for those who are not extremely dedicated and focused on their training. Because of all of the rigorous training that it involves, most teams, the Jersey Heat included, do not hold open tryout sessions for this season. Most teams fear that a newly recruited novice can be easily discouraged by the intensity demanded during this season. The next season, Indoor Season, is often when open tryouts will take place. Indoor Season is just what it sounds like. Competitions are contested inside of a facility usually with a 200m track. Indoor season is considered to be an easier transition for novice runners because they do not have to actively deal with the factors of weather and terrain during their actual training and/or competition sessions. Although, those 2 factors are eliminated, the athletes are still given quality hard workouts to get/keep them in shape for their competitions. This season will last from the end of December thru to March and is the 2nd part of the running year. The 3rd and final part is Outdoor Season. Competitions are contested outside on a 400m track. This season lasts from April thru to the beginning of August. Once again, runners will have to deal with Mother Nature in their quest to fulfill their goals. For many runners, Outdoor Season is what they train all year long for. Most of the major National competitions are contested from the middle to the end of this season. These competitions are held all over the United States and a few are held internationally. Many youth athletes get to travel to different to various college campuses when they play hosts to these nationally contested competitions. All in all, because of the various national competitions that take place, Outdoor Season becomes the season when you put all of your training dynamics together and kick it up a notch in an effort to have yourself best prepared to be a serious competitor that is participating in the national competitions.
