TC Thunder New Member Guide

 Tri-City Thunder is a USA Track and Field Club focused on providing opportunities for athletes of all ages to experience the sport of track and field while creating lasting friendships and developing leadership skills.

Tri-City Thunder promotes the development of good work ethic through structured team practices. Athletes are encouraged to focus on their development and strive to achieve personal bests. 

We offer three primary programs designed for different age groups and seasons:

• Little Thunder: For athletes ages 4–7.
• Thunder Track & Field: For athletes ages 8–18.
• Thunder Cross Country (XC): For athletes ages 8–18.

Important Note on Age: Per USATF rules, an athlete’s "competition age" is determined by their age on December 31st of the current year, rather than their age on the day they register.

For full details on seasons and schedules, please visit our Programs Page.

• Little Thunder is a one day a week program which runs for 6 weeks staring on April 20, 2026. Practices are every Monday from 5:30-6:30. The final week of Little Thunder typically falls on Memorial Day; the last practice is moved to the Tuesday after Memorial Day in order for families to honor the holiday.
• Thunder T&F begins on April 20, 2026 and extends through the end of July for athletes who qualify for USATF JO Nationals. Athletes practice as long as they are still qualified to compete, i.e. qualifying for and competing in postseason track meets.
• Thunder XC begins in September and runs through November. Much like Thunder T&F, how long you practice depends on qualification to compete.

Registration requirements and fees depend on the specific program:

• Little Thunder: Requires only the Thunder registration fee.
• Thunder T&F / XC: Athletes must complete three steps:
  1. Obtain a USATF Membership (affiliated with Tri-City Thunder) and complete the USATF age verification.
  2. Register and pay the Thunder Club membership fee.
  3. Purchase a uniform top for competitions.

For a full breakdown of current seasonal rates, please visit our Programs Page.

There are several reasons why a USATF membership is required to join Tri-City Thunder T&F: 

1. Mandatory insurance coverage

This is the most practical reason for the requirement. Most youth track clubs like Tri-City Thunder operate under a "Club Membership" with USATF, which provides the team with liability insurance.

• The "All-In" Requirement: For this insurance to be valid during practices and sanctioned meets, every athlete on the roster must be a registered USATF member.
• Protection: This covers the athlete in case of accidental injury and protects the coaches and the club from liability. Without a current membership, an athlete is legally "uninsured" in the eyes of the governing body.

2. The Junior Olympic Pathway

USATF runs the most prestigious youth track circuit in the country. If your athlete plans to compete in the Junior Olympic series, they cannot even enter the first round (the Association/Preliminary meet) without a valid membership number.

• The system is automated; when we try to add athletes to a meet roster, the software will reject the entry if a USATF ID is expired or non-existent. 

3. Certified Age Verification

USATF requires a one-time birth certificate upload to "verify" an athlete.

• Fair Play: This ensures that every athlete is competing in the correct age division (e.g., 11/12, 13/14).
• Permanent Record: Once the birth certificate is verified by the national office, athletes are cleared for their entire youth career. This prevents "age-hopping" and keeps the competition fair across all events.

4. Results Tracking and Rankings

USATF maintains a national database of results. By having a membership, an athlete's official times and marks are recorded in a way that is recognized by high schools and, eventually, college recruiters. It serves as an official "athletic resume" within the sport.

The short answer is yes, you can certainly join us! However, because the state of Oregon falls under a different USATF association, there are a few extra steps to get you officially on the roster.

Since Tri-City Thunder is part of the Inland NW association, we won’t automatically appear as an option in your current portal. To bridge that gap, please follow these steps:

• Request a Waiver: You must contact the USATF National Office to request a formal waiver. 
• Transfer Associations: Once approved, this waiver moves your membership from USATF Oregon to USATF Inland NW.
• Affiliate: After the transfer is complete, you will be able to select Tri-City Thunder as your official club.

*IMPORTANT* Timeline: This process typically takes 10–14 days.
Deadlines: Please start this immediately. If the transfer isn't finalized in time, you will be ineligible to compete for our team during qualifying track meets.

No, school grade has no bearing on competition divisions. USATF determines age groups based on the calendar year.

An athlete’s "competition age" is whatever age they will be on December 31, 2026. For example, a 12-year-old who turns 13 in October is considered 13 for the entire season and will compete in the 13-14 division. This ensures that all athletes born in the same year compete together, regardless of when their birthday falls or what grade they are in.

2026 Age Division Chart

Age Division: 8 & Under Birth Year: 2018 or later*

Age Division: 9/10 Birth Year: 2016-2017

Age Division: 11/12 Birth Year: 2014-2015

Age Division: 13/14 Birth Year: 2012-2013

Age Division: 15/16 Birth Year: 2010-2011

Age Division: 17/18 Birth Year: 2008-2009**

*Per USATF Rule 300.1(c): Athletes must be at least 7 years old by December 31, 2026, to compete in the Junior Olympic National Championships.

**Athletes born in 2007 may be eligible if they remain 18 through the final day of the National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships (typically late July).

At Tri-City Thunder, we view track and field as a dedicated team pursuit. Just as you wouldn't "jump into" a team practice for football or basketball to test the waters, we maintain a structured environment where only registered athletes participate in training.

While we do not offer "trial" practices, we warmly invite interested families to see what we’re all about from the sidelines.

Yes, there are a few different avenues to receive financial assistance:

• Apply for an Every Kid Sports scholarship. Every Kids Sports is a nationwide organization that provides funds for team registration fees for those who qualify. It is as simple as visiting their website and applying for assistance. All of our programs qualify for EKS funding.
• Thunder scholarships. If you are unable to secure an EKS scholarship, please contact us before registration to go over your options.
• USATF Memberships, track meet fees, and uniforms are NOT covered by financial assistance.

Refunds will ONLY be considered PRIOR to the start of ANY regular sessions, practices, or track meets. Refunds will only be considered for Tri-City Thunder Membership fees, and will not be considered for uniforms, event fees, Volunteer Fees, USATF Membership, or other fees that an athlete may incur. Refunds MUST not EXCEED the total amount paid to date by the athlete and/or his family. NO REFUNDS WILL BE GIVEN TO FAMILIES WITH OUTSTANDING BALANCES OR MEET FEES. Refund requests received PRIOR to the start of any regular sessions, practices, meets will be granted minus a $35.00 administrative fee. 

Thunder T&F practices at Southridge HS Stadium and Chinook MS Monday through Thursday from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. To ensure we maximize our training time, athletes are expected to arrive at least 5 minutes early so they are ready to begin promptly at 6:30 PM.

Because of our club's size and the need to manage coaching staff and facility space safely, we utilize a rotating schedule. While every discipline cannot be practiced every day, we prioritize consistent development for all athletes.

Weekly Breakdown:

The schedule is organized by age group to ensure everyone gets specialized attention:

• Sprints: Most age groups can expect to practice sprints 3 days a week.
• Field Events: We strive to provide at least 2 days a week of practice for each age group.
• Distance: Training is available most days, though this is subject to specific coach availability.

Note: A detailed monthly calendar—specific to your athlete’s age group—will be provided to help you plan your week.

Little Thunder practices at Southridge HS Stadium from 5:30-6:30 PM Athletes are expected to arrive at least 5 minutes early so we are ready to begin promptly at 5:30 PM. Little Thunder runs for six weeks and will be on the following days:

• Monday, April 20
• Monday, April 27
• Monday, May 4
• Monday, May 11
• Monday, May 18
• Tuesday, May 26 (Due to the Memorial Day holiday)

We understand that today’s athletes often juggle multiple commitments—from other sports to music lessons and academics. Because track and field focuses on both individual improvement and team goals, our attendance policy is flexible:

• No Minimum Requirement: There is no mandatory minimum number of practices required to remain on the team.
• The "Input vs. Output" Rule: We believe that you get out of this sport what you put into it. Consistent attendance is the best way to see personal growth, improve times, and prevent injury.
• Relay Consideration: While daily attendance isn't required for general participation, it is a factor for relay teams. Coaches generally select athletes for relays based on performance, chemistry, and regular attendance.

There are certain track meets we aim to have a club presence at, meaning we will have coaches that will attend the meet and help coach athletes. The official 2026 TCT track meet schedule can be found here. You can also visit our athletic.net page to see the complete list of track meets on our outdoor schedule.

High School Athletes: Per WIAA regulations, high school athletes cannot practice with a club team while they are still eligible to compete for their school. Your eligibility ends once you have completed your final post-season meet.

Depending on qualification, you may join Thunder practices at the following times:

• No Post-Season Qualification: Athletes who do not qualify for post-season meets may begin practice the week following the end of the regular season.
• MCC Championships: Athletes who compete at MCCs but do not advance may join the following week.
• Districts: Athletes who compete at Districts but do not advance to State may join the following week.
• State Meet: Athletes who qualify for the State meet are eligible to join Thunder practices once the State competition has officially concluded.

Middle School Athletes: To prevent overtraining and reduce the risk of injury, we require middle school athletes to fully complete their school season before attending Thunder practices. Joining two programs simultaneously creates a high risk for overuse injuries, and we prioritize the long-term health of our athletes.

Athletes should dress in comfortable, weather-appropriate athletic clothing. While shorts and a t-shirt are standard, the Tri-Cities weather is notoriously unpredictable. Early in the season, we require athletes to bring a sweatshirt or extra layers. Keeping muscles warm is essential for preventing injuries and ensuring a productive practice.

All athletes (both Little Thunder and Thunder T&F) must wear supportive athletic sneakers.

• Prohibited Footwear: For safety reasons, flip-flops, slides, and Crocs are not allowed. 
• Important: If an athlete arrives in non-athletic footwear, they will not be permitted to practice that day.

While track spikes are beneficial for all age groups, they are not required for every practice.

• Bring Both: Athletes should always arrive in regular running shoes. Spikes should stay in the gym bag unless a coach specifically instructs the team to put them on.
• Safety Note: Please do not show up wearing only spikes, as they are not appropriate for our full warm-up and drill sequences. Athletes who arrive only in spikes will not be permitted to practice that day.

 For the most up-to-date information regarding practices, track meets, and urgent weather updates, we use the Band app. It is our primary hub for all club communication, allowing you to direct message coaches, connect with other families, and share photos or videos from our events.

To maintain a secure and organized environment for our athletes, we require all members to follow these profile guidelines when joining:

How to Join & Profile Requirements

When you request to join the Thunder Band, please ensure your profile meets the following criteria:

• Legal Name: Your profile must display your first and last name (no nicknames or aliases).
• Identify Your Role: In the "Bio" section, clearly state if you are a parent, athlete, or coach.
• Membership Questions: You will be prompted to answer a few brief questions regarding your relationship to the club.
• Profile Photo: While not strictly required, a clear profile photo is strongly encouraged to help our coaches and staff identify you.

[NOTE] Our leadership team reviews all requests manually. We will approve your access as soon as we verify that these prerequisites have been met.

Please reach out to us at support@tricitythundertc.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.