Athletes must be at least 7 years old to compete in SJTFA meets. The youngest division is the 7–8 age group. SJTFA serves youth athletes through age 18. Age is determined as of the first day of the outdoor season each year.
Use the SJTFA Club Registry to browse member clubs organized by county. You can filter by county or search by city name to find clubs near you, then contact coaches directly via email to ask about practices and tryouts.
Absolutely. SJTFA clubs welcome athletes of all experience levels. Most clubs run beginner-friendly practices designed to teach fundamentals. Contact a club near you and let the coach know your child is new to the sport — they'll guide you from there.
Costs vary by club and typically cover coaching, practice facilities, and meet entry fees. In addition, all athletes must hold a current USATF membership (USA Track and Field), which has an annual fee. Contact your specific club for their full fee schedule.
Yes. All athletes competing in SJTFA sanctioned meets must hold a current USATF membership. USATF (USA Track & Field) is the national governing body for the sport. Annual youth memberships are available at usatf.org.
Visit usatf.org and create a free account. From there you can purchase an annual youth membership. Your club's coach can also walk you through the process — it's the same for every athlete in the league.
Yes. All coaches, officials, and volunteers working with youth athletes at SJTFA events must hold current USATF membership and comply with USATF's SafeSport requirements. Visit the Volunteer page to learn more about volunteering at meets.
The SJTFA outdoor season typically runs April through June. The schedule is:
- April — Recreational meets (lower key, hand-timed)
- May — FAT meets (Fully Automatic Timing, official records)
- June — Championship meet (season finale, all age groups)
See the full schedule on the Meet Schedule page.
Recreational (Rec) meets are hand-timed, relaxed, and ideal for newer athletes. Times do not count for official records.
FAT (Fully Automatic Timing) meets use electronic timing accurate to 1/1000th of a second. These are official meets where times count toward SJTFA and USATF records.
SJTFA meets are held at various tracks across South Jersey including high school and university facilities. Specific venue information (address, parking) is listed on each meet's detail page. Check the Meet Schedule for locations.
Meet entries are managed through your club's coach — you do not register directly with SJTFA. Contact your club coach before each meet to confirm your child's participation and which events they will compete in. Entries typically close a few days before the meet.
SJTFA offers a wide range of track and field events depending on age group:
- Sprints: 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m
- Middle Distance: 800m, 1500m
- Hurdles: 60m hurdles, 80m hurdles (age-dependent heights)
- Relays: 4×100m, 4×400m, Sprint Medley
- Field Events: Long jump, high jump, shot put, turbo javelin
Not all events are offered at every meet or age group. Your club coach will advise which events are appropriate for your athlete.
SJTFA follows standard USATF youth age divisions based on the athlete's age on the first day of the season:
- 7–8 years old
- 9–10 years old
- 11–12 years old
- 13–14 years old
- 15–16 years old
- 17–18 years old
Yes. Athletes can typically enter multiple individual events plus relays at each meet, subject to the meet's event limit rules. Your coach will help determine the best event combination for your child based on their age group and ability level.
Still Have Questions?
Can't find what you're looking for? Reach out to the SJTFA directly — we're happy to help.