1. Sprints: Athletes run short distances such as 100 meters, 200 meters, or 400 meters. Speed and acceleration are crucial for these events.
2. Long-Distance Runs: Athletes participate in longer races, such as 800 meters, 1600 meters, or 3200 meters. Endurance and pacing are key factors in these events.
3. Hurdle Races: Athletes run while clearing a series of hurdles placed at specific intervals on the track. Hurdles come in different heights and require proper form and technique.
4. Jumping Events: These include events like the long jump, triple jump, and high jump. Athletes aim to jump as far or as high as possible, demonstrating their power, coordination, and technique.
5. Throwing Events: These include events like the shot put, discus throw, and javelin throw. Athletes utilize strength and technique to propel various implements as far as possible.
6. Relays: Relay races involve teams of athletes passing a baton to each other while running. Typically, 4x100 meter and 4x400 meter relays are common in middle school track and field.
During tryouts, athletes may be asked to perform drills, warm-up exercises, and practice starts to assess their form and potential. Coaches and evaluators observe participants' performance, athleticism, and coachability. The selection process for forming track and field teams may vary from school to school, and not everyone who tries out may be selected for the team.