Providing a Safe Environment for Kids to Run & Have Fun
In many schools in the Memphis area, cross country and track are not funded school sports at the elementary and middle school levels. That’s why Memphis Youth Athletics serves to help fund, foster, and expand a sport that provides positive health benefits to its participants.
If you’re a coach or parent who has middle school students interested in running cross country, read below or register today for more information.
How the Middle School Program Works
Eligibility
The MYA Fall Middle School Cross Country Program is open to all private school, public school, and home school students in grades 6 – 8 in Memphis and the surrounding areas.
Home-schooled students or students who don’t have schools participating may compete as:
- Unattached
- Part of a school team closest to their public school zone
- Part of a recognized home school cooperative
If your school doesn’t have a program and you’d like to start one, contact us at info@memphisyouthathletics.org. We’d love to help you out!
Cross Country Season
Our Fall Cross Country Program runs from September to October. The season consists of regular season meets and a regional championship meet that allows athletes from all over West Tennessee the opportunity to qualify for the Tennessee State Elementary and Middle School Cross Country Championships in October.
Practices
In the middle school program, runners will need to complete a 2-mile race.
While MYA doesn’t hold practices or directly train athletes, we do recommend that you practice with your team a minimum of two to three times a week to fully prepare the kids to complete their 2-mile course comfortably.
At the beginning of the season, your initial goal should be to promote positive fitness goals and let performance issues take a back seat to participation.
Program Fees & Costs
We’ll be running on the ES/MS Cross Country Course at Shelby Farms Park.
To help offset the facility costs — as well as fees implemented by Shelby Farms Conservancy — cross country registration fees are $50 per athlete for the entire season. This registration fee will be the same whether the student runs one meet or all meets.
Here are some of the operational costs that the registration fee helps cover:
- Facility rental, usage, and clean up
- Course preparation (marking the course, etc.)
- Event insurance and liability insurance for coaches
- Practice insurance for athletes
- Individual accident medical coverage for the athlete
- Security for all meets
- Bib or hip numbers (pins for bibs)
- Bib chip timing and results
- Awards
- Fluids and cups at meets
- Timing equipment and supplies
- Officials, including clerk of course and a timer
- Track Supplies – marking/flagging/finish line
- PA system at all meets
- Park fees
- Portable toilets
Any athletes who aren’t able to afford the program costs may be granted a fee waiver.
General Info
Curious what the course looks like, how meet day works, or how to get premium parking? Check out the links below:
Need More Information?
Follow the links below to learn more about registration, program details, meet schedule, and policies. You can email info@memphisyouthathletics.org with any questions.