Jefferson Strikers track program to return

OAK RIDGE — The Jefferson Township Recreation Department announced that its 11th spring recreation track season is being offered for 2018. The Jefferson Striders program is for children in Kindergarten through 8th grades; and it will again be part of the Lakeland Junior Track and Field League established in 1973 competing against the Denville, Rockaway, Mountain Lakes, Roxbury, and Hopatcong recreation leagues.
Boys and girls are invited to register for this program, which will provide a great opportunity for them, giving them the experience needed if they want to pursue track opportunities in the future on high school teams. Weather permitting, the Kindergarten thru 2nd grade program will start at 6 pm on Wednesday, March 28, at the Jefferson Township High School Media Center, 1010 Weldon Road in the Milton/Oak Ridge section of the township with a parent meeting and then moving outside to the track for practice. The 3rd thru 8th grade program will start at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27, at the JTHS Track beginning with a parent meeting and then practice. The participation fee will be $100 per student at all levels, and each participant will get a team T-shirt.
There has been a significant increase in the cost of maintaining the spring track program as reflected in this year’s registration fees. In the past, fees were based on a program utilizing volunteer coaches. For the last few years, the Recreation Department has had to compensate its coaches in order to maintain a quality track and field experience but did not raise the fees to accommodate those expenses. This year, the spring track and field registration fee will partially offset the cost of paid coaches.
Practices will be held on Wednesdays for the Kindergarten-2nd graders and Tuesdays and Thursdays for the 3rd-8th graders starting at 6 p.m. The events for the Instructional League for kindergarteners through second graders will include 50 meters, 200 meters, 800 meters, relay, and long jump with meets held on Fridays. Parental help is mandatory at this level and necessary to continue the program.
The events for the 3rd-8th graders will include 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters, mile, shot put, long jump, and 4x100 relays with meets held on Sundays, and parental volunteers are definitely needed to continue the program.
If you have any specific questions or would like to volunteer to assist with team activities (must be 18 years of age or older), you can contact Carol in the Recreation Department at 973-663-8404 or email cpunturieri@jeffersontownship.net Registration is strictly online through https://register.communitypass.net/reg/index.cfm
If you already have a Community Pass account, enter your log in and password, choose either “Jefferson Striders Spring Track Kindergarten to 2nd Grade” or “Jefferson Striders Spring Track 3rd to 8th Graders” under the season “Winter/Spring 2018” and register your child and pay the activity fee.
If you need to set up a Community Pass account, a parent can follow the prompts to set up a personal family account in his/her name as an adult; and then add the child to the account, register the child, and pay for this activity. You will automatically receive an email confirmation after you register and make your payment.
Registrations received after March 22 will incur a $20 late fee charge for a total fee of $120. As with any online shopping site, accounts must be paid immediately online with a credit card. If you don’t wish to use a credit card, payment must be made in person or by mail within 3 business days of registration.