When Does High School Track Season Start? A State-by-State Guide
Track and field is one of the most popular spring sports at the high school level. With various running, jumping, and throwing events, it showcases a wide range of athletic talents. If you‘re wondering when the upcoming track season starts, it varies across different states based on local climate and school schedules.
Overview of High School Track Season Timeline
The high school track and field season typically begins in late February or March and runs through May or early June, culminating in thrilling state championship meets.
Here is a general timeline across most states:
- January-February: Optional offseason training
- February-March: Preseason conditioning and tryouts
- March-April: Official practices begin
- April-May: Regular season meets and conference championships
- May-June: State qualifying meets and finals
The season provides an opportunity for athletes to compete in events like sprints, distance runs, relays, hurdles, high jump, long jump, pole vault, shot put and discus throw.
Regional Variations – Southern States Start Earlier
High school track seasons in southern states like Florida, Texas, Georgia and California often kick off earlier compared to northern regions – as early as January or February.
The warmer climate allows athletes to start training outdoors without weather delays. Meanwhile, winter conditions like snow and cold temperatures in the North push start dates later until March or April.
According to stats from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), some state athletic associations have enacted even earlier start times to allow more training before the first meets:
| State | 2023 First Practice Date | 2023 First Meet Allowed |
|————-|————-|
| California | January 23 | February 16 |
| Texas | January 9 | February 13 |
| Michigan | March 13 | April 1 |
| New York | March 20 | April 3 |
(Dates compiled from state athletic association 2023 handbooks)
While preseason conditioning may start 1-2 months prior to the first meets, the highlight dates of track season are the first official competitions along with conference championships and state tournament.
Key Track Season Dates and Meets
While curious fans focus on the on-track action during meets, the high school track season commences weeks earlier with preseason preparation.
Preseason Training
Many dedicated athletes train during the fall and winter months too with weight lifting, conditioning programs or playing other sports to stay in shape. Coaches organize required practice starting 4-6 weeks before the official start.
First Meets (March-April)
Early meets provide baseline benchmarks for teams and athletes to evaluate their conditioning and skills.
Conference Championships (April-May)
Athletes aim for top placings to become conference champions and qualify for the state tournament. The competition is intense!
State Tournament (May-June)
The fastest athletes from conference and regional meets make it to the state-level championships to compete for the podium. It‘s an exciting climax to the high school track calendar.
Role of Track and Field in College Recruiting
A vital aspect surrounding the high school track season is leveraging it for college opportunities. Securing an athletic scholarship can greatly influence admissions chances and make higher education more affordable.
According to the NCAA, over 180,000 student-athletes compete across college track and field/cross country programs in Divisions 1, 2 and 3. Many are first recruited based on their high school track success.
| Division | Track and Field/XC Athletes | Track Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Division 1 | 106,836 | 309 |
| Division 2 | 37,954 | 254 |
| Division 3 | 41,604 | 421 |
Unfortunately, critics argue this extended recruiting timeline from sophomore year pressures families and distracts student-athletes from academics:
"College coaches make offers to rising high school sophomores based on athletic potential rather than academic record. This misaligned timeline does not set up students or sport programs for success." – Education Reform Now
Reforming athletic calendars to have signing periods after junior year may facilitate stronger alignment of sports alongside college readiness benchmarks.
Analyzing Academics of High School Athletes
Given the vast participation and college prospects influencing track season timing, what does research show regarding student-athlete academic performance?
The Aspen Institute analyzed self-reported GPAs across various boys and girls high school sports in their State of Play report 2020.
Here were the academic achievement rates of track and field student-athletes:
| Sport | % Self-Reporting 3.0+ GPA |
|---|---|
| Girls Track and Field | 64% |
| Boys Track and Field | 55% |
| All HS Sports Average | 61% |
This places track and field athletes close to the average GPA rates reported across all high school athletics participation. Completing college is also vital – according to the NCAA, 9 out of 10 student-athletes ultimately earn their degrees across Divisions I, II and III.
Still, education reform advocates argue high school sports programs should do more to intentionally develop the whole student – both athletic and academic abilities – to promote success at the next level.
Quotes Calling for Better Integration of Academics and Athletics
“High school coaches and college recruiters must realign sports timelines to facilitate student focus on college readiness academics like SAT/ACT tests and classwork first.”
Ed Reform Now
"We have to courageously align athletics and academics rather than allowing them to exist in silos or even compete against each other in the messaging we send students."
Angie Huebel, Athletic Director
"Invest more in counselors with the context of college admissions and NCAA requirements instead of relying on coaches as quasi-guidance resources."
Andre Perry, Education Leadership Expert
These experts call for high school athletic programs to reinforce – not compete – with academic preparation and college readiness.
Examples of Integrating Athletics, Leadership and Scholarship
Many high schools are answering this call and getting creative in how track and field facilitates more well-rounded student-athlete development:
Brooklyn Track Club
This club embeds tutoring and college prep alongside training under track coach Sanford Montgomery. He states: "We integrate scholarship into the definition of what it means to be a student-athlete from day one."
Girls Leadership in Track (GirlT)
Beyond competing, members meet weekly to practice team-building, goal-setting and community service activities together under coach leadership.
LA84 Foundation
With the slogan “It’s Not How Fast You Go, It’s How Far You Go”, this nonprofit supports youth sports programs and coach training to develop important life skills through track and field.
These examples showcase how track and field can positively influence the next generation beyond pumping up athletic resumes or meet times when intentionally harnessed.
Conclusion: Leveraging Athletics for Holistic Growth
As you can see, high school track and field serves many purposes – showcasing athletic gifts, opening college opportunities, gaining life skills and personal growth.
While start dates vary from January through March based on southern vs northern states, the training and competitive schedule is demanding. Maintaining student-athlete balance between sports and academics is critical during the exhilarating track season.
Hopefully schools will continue reforming programming to fully leverage athletics for molding well-rounded student-athletes ready to contribute their gifts on campus and community.
What other innovative ideas do you have for better integrating high school sports and scholarship? Let me know in the comments!
