How to Make a School Track Team

As kids grow into the teenage years, they often seek to find activities in school they enjoy and excel at. Track and field provides varying events for boys and girls to test their skills against others. Sprint races, distance, strength and jumping events offer a variety of forms of competition. To make a school track team, you should prepare yourself for hard work and be willing to try different events. Understand that making a team requires daily training involving a lot of stretching, running and strength-conditioning.

Instructions

    • 1

      Talk to the track coach. Let him know that you want to try out for the track team and ask what you can do to prepare. Let him know you will do whatever is asked asks of you in preparation for tryouts.

    • 2

      Purchase a stop watch. Measure your time in both sprint and distance runs. Practice each day to see if your time gets lower. Set goals for improvement--write these out on a sheet of paper and put the goals somewhere you visit frequently, such as the refrigerator or your room mirror.

    • 3

      Run on different terrains. Run up and down hills to build strength and endurance. Jog on winding trails to improve balance and stamina. Running in different terrains builds your leg muscles at different angles while keeping the training interesting.

    • 4

      Research the different events your school's track team offers. Ask the coach if you can borrow a shot put if that event interests you and practice throwing at school or another safe location. Ask a veteran track team member who competes in the event you are interested in to give you tips.

    • 5

      Practice healthy eating habits. Eliminate soda and sugary drinks from your diet and drink six to eight glasses of water a day. Eat healthy carbohydrates and proteins, and avoid eating too many sweets. A good diet gives you increased energy for running, while plenty of water keeps you hydrated.

    • 6

      Get plenty of rest. Train hard, but also allow your body to recharge by getting at least eight hours of sleep a night. Be sure to get a good night's sleep the night before the tryouts.

    • 7

      Relax when you compete. When you strain too hard to perform well, your body usually tenses up. Focus on running fast, jumping far or throwing hard, but also focus on doing it smoothly and fluidly. Take deep, slow breaths before the event to relax your mind and body.