Qualifications: There are no qualifications except for age -membership is open only to boys and girls from 6 to 18. Previous track and field or running experience is not necessary. Although Junior Olympics is structured to providing high level competition for advanced athletes it is also known as the premier track and field program in America for beginners. Practices are geared to the age level and ability of the athletes, with some coaches working with advanced groups and others with beginning athletes. Competition is only against athletes in the same age group and advancement from one meet to the next is based on performance. In Association (State) Meet, the top five finishers in any age group event advance  to the next level. In the Regional Meet, only the top three finishers advance to the National Championships. Most Asheville Lightning team members come from the Buncombe County area but anyone from Western North Carolina is welcome to join the team. Teams in recent years have had over125 members.

Preseason Registration Day: Every year, prior to the beginning of practices, we have a preseason registration day to give prospective team members a chance to meet some of the coaches and to ask questions. Check the calendar for time and place.  This will not be a practice but will be a great opportunity to sign up for the team, meet the coaches, and get your  team T-shirt, uniform and important team information.

Practices: Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings 6:15 to 8:00  rain or shine at A.C. Reynolds High School track. Bring water bottles (sport drink and water only) and an inhaler if you use one. Athletes are expected to be on time for practice. Practices will be interrupted only if thunderstorms are present.  

Full Membership: $125 Full membership includes both practice and participation in meets, USATF membership (including default insurance that comes with that membership) and any fees to enter meets. Family Discount (1st & 2nd athletes -$125, additional family members -$100). Team members receive a free team T-shirt. The Asheville Lightning coaching staff is 100% volunteer and no stipends or monetary reimbursements are paid.

Full membership is recommended since participation in the meets is a necessary part of development for an athlete. Experience has shown also that participation in the meets, irregardless of performance, is a highly positive experience for young athletes. Lots of fun! Membership is for the full summer season and athletes are encouraged to continue to practice with the team even if they no longer are  competing. No athlete/ family will be denied participation for financial reasons. If fee waivers/reductions are needed please contact Coach Agrella (828 251-9900 Work or 299-4663 Home or Coach Pantas 779-1569).
 

Practice Only Membership: $100 Practice membership is just that, practice only with no meet participation. This |membership option is a good one for the advanced athlete who wishes to continue to work on their events but feels they need a break from competition. Practice only membership does not extend to the Pole Vault. Those athletes wishing to participate in the Pole Vault must join as full team members.

Cross Country Membership: $125. If you were a member of the summer T&F team that year, then membership for the fall Cross Country team is $100. At the present time, the Asheville Lightning does not have a cross country team.

Registration Form: To print out registration form: Registration Form

Birth Certificates: Five (5) copies of the athletes birth certificate are necessary for Full Membership. These should be included along with payment check made out to Asheville Lightning when the membership registration form is turned in. These copies are required by USATF at meets to verify the age of the athletes so that older athletes do not compete against younger ones. Practice Only Members do not need to provide birth certificate copies.

Age Divisions: Junior Olympics is divided into six divisions.  The athlete's year of birth shall determine the  division in which the athlete shall compete. With each succeeding year each division shall be  adjusted as shown below. * Athletes who turn 19 in any competition year can compete in Junior Olympics in the Young Men/Young Women Division providing they turn 19 after the final day of the National Championship Meet. If their birthday is before the last day of the National Meet, they may compete in the YM/YW division.
 

Current Year

USATF Team Number & Region: The Asheville Lightning USA Track & Field Team Number is 13-637. Our Association (State) is North Carolina and our Region is Region 3, which includes North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Georgia and the District of Columbia.

Events Contested In Junior Olympics:  See our webpage USATF Junior Olympics

Meet Notes: To advance from the State Meet to the Regional Meet an athlete must finish in the top five places in his or her event.. To qualify for the National Championship they must finish in the top 3 in their event at the Regional Meet. Athletes can compete only in their Age Divisions and only in the maximum number of events their division allows (4 for Youth and above and 3 for Midget and below). Participation on a relay counts for one event. Ribbons and medals will be awarded for top finishers in each level.

Team Qualifying Procedure At Meets:  If an Asheville Lightning athlete qualifies to advance to the next level in any meet, he or she should immediately find Coach Agrella (or one of the other coaches if he is not available) and tell him that they have done so (parents, this is your responsibility if your child is in the Midget, Bantam or Sub-Bantam divisions). Necessary paperwork then has to be filled out at the Registration Tent in order for the athlete to compete in the next meet.

If An Athlete Does Not Advance: If a team member fails to advance to the next level of competition, they are invited and encouraged to continue to practice with the team until the end of the season (after the National Championship). One of the goals of the summer program is to help athletes develop for their next year of competition in Junior Olympics and in Middle and High School. Continuing to practice during the rest of the summer will allow this to happen.

Team Fund Raisers: The Asheville Lightning is a non-profit organization and relies on a number of ways of raising funds to purchase equipment, pay for practice venue expenses  and to provide travel and meet expenses for the team. These include sponsorships from individuals and businesses Team Sponsors .

Competition Uniforms: Athletes who wish to compete in the State Meet must purchase a competition singlet (tank top with team logo) and gold running shorts.  These will be provided by the Asheville Lightning staff. Cost is $15 for the singlet and $10 for the shorts.  Sports bras, spandex shorts and all garments worn under the official team uniform must be white in color. Really little Asheville Lightning athletes -Sub Bantam, and Bantam divisions may wear the team T-shirt rather than the singlet if size is an issue.

Running Shoes: Team members must provide their own running shoes and spikes. Everyone must have proper running shoes in which to train, irregardless of age and ability -basketball shoes, tennis shoes and the like are not acceptable. Jus Running at 523 Merrimon Avenue is a  team sponsor and sells running shoes and spikes at a 10% discount to Asheville Lightning team members. Be sure and tell them you are a member of the team and would like to take advantage of the discount. Check out also Eastbay.

Competition Spikes: "Spikes" (common name for lightweight running shoes with metal spikes in the front part of the shoe) are highly recommended if you wish to participate in the following events: all sprint races (100-200-400 meter dashes), all hurdles races, 800 & 1500 meter runs, long jump and high jump. If you are a beginning runner, wait until you know what events you will be competing in before purchasing  spikes. Ask your coach to advise you. Really little kids: Sub-Bantams and Bantams generally do not need spikes. If you think your child does, see either Coach Agrella or Coach Pantas. You will run faster in spikes but it is necessary to have the right kind to perform best. There are different types of spikes depending upon events -sprint spikes, distance spikes, etc. 

Length of Spike: Get only 1/4" pyramid spikes. NO Pin or Needle spikes.

Shoe Sizes: The following chart will be helpful in converting shoes sizes from men's to women's, especially if you order online and only men's sizes are offered.