FAQs

Helena Novas cross country and track and field accepts athletes ages 7-18. The athlete will participate in the age group determined by the athlete’s age as of 12/31 of the current year at USATF Junior Olympic events. Other meets will possibly have different age divisions.

Track Events

• 100 Meter
• 200 Meter
• 400 Meter
• 1500 Meter
• 3000 Meter (9 and older)
• 2000 Meter Steeple Chase (11 and older)
• Hurdles (11 and older, distances vary between 80 and 400 meters)
• 4X100 Relay
• 4×400 Relay

 Field Events

• Long Jump
• Triple Jump (13 and older)
• High Jump (9 and older)
• Mini- Javelin (10 and younger)
• Aero-javelin, Finn Flyer (11-12)
• Javelin (13 and older)
• Shot Put

* Steeplechase may not be contested at most meets.

As the Novas track and field program has grown, we’ve found that we need to make some difficult changes to ensure we are meeting our mission.

CLUB MISSION: “Our mission is to develop individual athletic skills, foster personal growth, improve health and wellness, and pursue competitive cross country and track and field in an optimal training environment.”

1. Our commitment to competing in the USATF Montana Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships is part of that effort, signaling a shared focus and aligning our team around meaningful goals for all athletes. To that end, we are standing firm on the requirement to compete in USATF Montana Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships as part of the program.
   • We are increasingly managing a variety of levels of focus – particularly within the younger age groups (10 and younger). 
   • For some athletes, this lack of focus and investment in development impacts their own participation and, in turn, affects the experience of other team members, making coaching more challenging for our volunteer staff.
   • Healthy competition is a natural and valuable part of sports – it is part of the learning process and an opportunity for athletes to be curious and realize growth. 
   • We are also committed to communicating USATF Montana Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships dates as early as possible each season so families can plan accordingly. For general planning purposes, the meet has historically been held the weekend after the third Saturday in June.  Official dates and location are historically announced by the USATF Montana Association in December or January.
2. Additionally, our lower caps for the 7-8 and 9-10 age groups were established for the same purpose. Maintaining an appropriate coach-to-athlete ratio is essential to ensuring quality instruction, safety, meaningful engagement, and overall team development. 

Moving forward, our goal is to foster an environment where athletes are engaged, committed to improvement, and fully invested in their development – reflecting a commitment to the mission of the club and to the sport.

We recognize that this represents a change to the program and may impact plans that some families have already made. We sincerely appreciate your understanding. We hope that in the future your athlete can return to participate, as we will continue to offer track and field opportunities at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. 

• Coaching at up to 3 practice sessions per week during season
• State Junior Olympic Meet Registration
• Regional Junior Olympic Meet Registration
• National Junior Olympic Meet Registration (qualification required)
• Big Sky State Games Registration
• Use of Vigilante Stadium track during designated practice times
• T-Shirt and Team Spirit Item

All coaches are registered USATF coaches. They are required to have a background check completed through USATF and complete the SafeSport course. Some have completed coaches training through USATF or through the National Federation of High Schools, and some have also attended other coaching clinics. You can learn more about our coaches here.

If the Helena Novas host a track meet or XC meet, we will need parent volunteers to take shifts to support events/races. The more volunteers available will ensure that the meet remains on time and runs smoothly.

Most communication is handled using BAND, and after registering, parents and athletes will be sent an invite to join the season group.

Emails can also be send to novasxctf@gmail.com.

• All participants will be required to obtain an annual USATF membership (about $35) by visiting www.usatf.org.
  
• The athletes/parents are responsible for transportation to and from competitions.
• The athletes/parents are responsible for the cost of food during trips and meets.
• Athletes are strongly encouraged to purchase a pair of dark navy blue shorts they are comfortable competing in.
• Additional club apparel will be sold through our club store, which is open 24-7. Use STORE CODE: helena; click on “More Designs” when viewing items to change the color way where needed.
• A good pair of running shoes should be purchased for the athlete. Spikes are advised for athletes 11 and older. If you have questions about shoes, please talk to a coach or email novasxctf@gmail.com.

Your child will need to have a pair of athletic running shoes for practice and meets. Appropriate running attire should include; warm ups/sweats, running shorts, long and short sleeve shirts. Running spikes are optional, but strongly encouraged for athletes 11 and older. You can find most of these items at any of the sports stores in Helena, but we strongly recommend purchasing shoes where they have a knowledgeable staff, such as Universal Athletic, Runner’s Edge (Missoula), Bozeman Running Company (Bozeman). Please feel free to ask a coach if you have any questions about shoes or spikes, or simply email novasxctf@gmail.com.

It is required that all athletes bring water and/or sports drinks to practices and meets.

Tip: Put your child’s name on everything they bring to the track.