To get peak performances from athletes, you should invest in quality track and field equipment. As a coach or athletic director, you should plan to invest in separate equipment for track and field athletes and events. Be sure to include in the plans an outlay for track and field clothing and shoes. Because there is lots of equipment used in track and field, consider discount track and field equipment or used track and field equipment, at least as an initial investment.

Equipment for track events includes hurdles, batons, starting blocks and timing devices. Among the field equipment you'll need are shot puts, poles for vaulting and other pieces depending on the throwing events you sponsor. Many of the field events also require specific in-ground modifications, such as take-off systems and pits for the high jump and long jump. Keep the following track and field equipment basics in mind as you outfit your team or facility:

1. Unlike track, field equipment requires specific modifications.

2. Track and field retailers offer equipment that enhances speed and endurance.

3. A track and field warehouse is a cost-effective source of shoes and uniforms.

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Buy track and field equipment and have it installed

Counted among the field events are the jumping and throwing contests. Each one has specialized equipment for the athlete as well as site-specific equipment for the facility. For example, high jumpers, long jumpers and pole vaulters land in a pit. Discus throwers and shot putters 'take off' from a special area on the ground. Your business will need specialists to install the in-ground features.

I recommend: Check out the high jump pits and standards at Richey Athletics. It also has equipment for the pole vault. Make your facility safe with discus cages from MF Athletic. Also find in-ground equipment for the shot put, hammer throw and javelin.

Invest in track and field training equipment

Track athletes are focused on running, fast or far. Your track equipment should facilitate their quest for the best time. Invest in top-quality equipment for all of the track events. And because they train incessantly, consider training equipment a great investment as well.

I recommend: Contact Track Outlet for supplies for track events. They have everything from hurdles to relay batons to stopwatches. Meet all your speed training needs with supplies from Speed. It offers videos, books and training equipment for sprinters.

Start with discount track and field uniforms

Many sports clothing outlets offer discount uniforms. Just remember that one style doesn't fit all. Runners in different events wear different types of shoes, and those shoes are different from the shoes worn by field contestants. Uniforms and clothing accessories for men and women differ too, so shop a track and field store that specializes.

I recommend: Looking for a particular brand of running shoe? Visit the online store at Kelly's Running Warehouse. It carries Nike, New Balance, Puma and many more. Don't forget supplies for female athletes. See Women's Sports Specialties for track clothing and shoes for women runners.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Devices for measurement is one of the most important categories of track and field equipment. Whether measuring time or distances, invest in quality devices and computer software to guarantee acceptance of the results recorded by your athletes or at your facility.

If you are looking to open a sporting or track-and-field store or equipping a track and field club or team, you should strive to provide all the high-performance track and field equipment athletes need. Not only will customers want top-of-the-line shoes and apparel, they will want durable gear and training equipment.

Coaches, trainers and athletes will patronize a business that offers a wide range of equipment used in track and field, such as plyometric training gear and throwing and jumping equipment. You will need to find manufacturers and distributors that will allow you to address your customer’s needs and help them find the best track and field gear for their specific sport and training level.

For your business to be successful, you will have to:

1. Be knowledgeable about brands, styles, new technology and applications of a wide variety of track and field equipment.
2. Offer a wide range of track and field gear for all the sports represented in track and field meets.
3. Update your inventory with the newest and most innovative products to generate long-term patronage from coaches, trainers, athletes and athletic facility managers.

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High performance track and field clothing is essential to maximize performance on the field

Athletes need durable and high-performance track and field clothing and shoes to perform at their best. Offering a great selection of top brands is vital to a successful track and field store or business.

I recommend: Nike has a variety of men’s and women’s track and field apparel and shoes. Adidas is another company known for their high quality shoes for track and field. They also have a line of apparel designed for running and field competition. Team Sportswear makes custom and discount track and field uniforms that you can design yourself online.

Provide a broad selection of track and field equipment

There is a wide variety of track-field equipment, including throwing equipment, sprinting and hurdling apparatus, and gear for jumping (long jump, high jump and pole vaulting). Make sure to carry a large range of the top brands for your customers to choose from.

I recommend: One of the leading track and field retailers, M-F Athletic, offers a wide selection of the top brands of throwing equipment, including hammers, kettle bells, shot puts, javelins and discuses. They also supply jumping equipment—including pole vaults, pads, crossbars and pits & shelters—sprinting and hurdling gear, and bleachers and judging stands. Turbojav makes a series of mini-javelins and discuses for training and Special Olympic competitions. UCS designs and manufactures track equipment, including hurdles, pole vaulting gear and plyo-boxes.

Offer a variety of track and field training equipment for local training facilities

Training is a significant part of becoming an elite and competitive athlete. Athletic facility managers and track and field coaches and trainers will want a selection of top brands of acceleration, agility & speed ladders, training hurdles, jump ropes, medicine balls, plyometric boxes, strength shoes and banana steps.

I recommend: Vertimax is one of the most popular and top rated plyometric training systems, which helps to develop an athlete’s vertical jump and first step quickness. JUMPUSA.com carries plyometric boxes of all sizes, medicine balls and resistance bands. Sports Speed, Etc. has a number of agility and speed training equipment, such as acceleration, agility, and speed ladders, training hurdles and training manuals for coaches and trainers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you are are planning to buy track and field equipment for a facility or meet, be sure to purchase timing and measuring equipment. Measuring tape and wheels, stopwatches, marking tools and display clocks are valuable gear to gauge an athlete's performance and make your meets run smoothly.
• •  Athletic facility equipment is also essential to track and field meets. To make a bare track into one that is ready for competition, facilitators will need bleachers, judging stands, measuring and timing equipment, communication gear, displays, lane markers and competitor numbers.

From track and field clothing to track and field equipment, navigating what is available in this sport can be tricky. Track equipment comes in all shapes and sizes from the javelin to the shot put to hurdles and more, and each put has its own safety and/or assembly instructions.

You can learn about track equipment by attending dealer trade shows, by watching online clips or by brushing up on articles from wholesale locations or trusted writers. Whatever your source, though, becoming knowledgeable on the subject will help you become better acquainted with the equipment as well as help you become more at ease sharing that information with others.

To find out more about track and field equipment education and training:

1. Keep current on track equipment information.

2. Expand your knowledge on track field equipment.

3. Take your track and field equipment education and training one step further.

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Stay up on the latest track equipment information

Keep current on the most up-to-date track equipment information. Learn about rules and regulations regarding equipment and keep current on techniques surrounding gear.

I recommend: Check out the Track & Field Training Zone from M-F Athletic. There you can learn about the most current information in techniques, rules and equipment. Find out about standards for track & field equipment from the USA Track & Field Competition Rules. Read helpful equipment articles from TrackNField Gear.

Do more than just read about track and field equipment

Go one step further than just reading about track and field equipment, watch video clips or learn from the experts how to properly take advantage of gear. Whether you do it in the track and field store, at a tradeshow or by watching a video, go that one step further for a better understanding.

I recommend: Take advantage of the Expert Village video clip on preparing for a track and field meet and what equipment is necessary for track and field events. Learn hands-on from the experts by visiting vendors such as Jaypro Sports at one of their tradeshow events.

Discover even more about track and field equipment education and training

Find out even more resources when it comes to track equipment. Learn about new versus used track and field equipment for sale. Find out about track and field training equipment and more.

I recommend: Order track field equipment and coaching training videos from Sports Nation. Order full video sets, or order videos that cover certain pieces of equipment such as hurdles, javelins, shot puts, discus, pole vaults, the hammer or more. Fitness-Info-Resources.com offers helpful tips and information on how to organize a kid or teen event requiring track field equipment. The article focuses on finding savings through used track and field equipment and locating best value for your budget.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Equipment used in track and field varies greatly due the large number of events held in the sport, so organizing your business with a track equipment spreadsheet or list will help you check off purchases and with your budget.

Track and field equipment encompasses a variety of items because of the numerous events in this sport. Because of this fact, planning your budget to include all of the track and field equipment pricing and costs may prove difficult. For this reason, making a list of equipment for each event may help make the process easier.

Consider the following suggestions to help you accurately plan your budget so you can purchase a full selection of track and field equipment.

1. Consider the cost of track and field equipment for training.

2. Factor in the cost of track and field apparel and shoes.

3. Add in the cost of track and field supplies.

Action Steps
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Factor in the cost of track and field training equipment

Training equipment for track and field includes foam hurdles, speed trainers and agility trainers. In order to effectively plan your budget, you must include funds to purchase these items.

I recommend: Track Outlet sells track and field training equipment. Foam hurdles start around $15, while agility trainers start around $75. You buy track and field equipment at Everything Track & Field. This company offers an easy to navigate website with wholesale prices. Power chutes start around $75 and resistance equipment starts at $40.

Add in the cost of track and field clothing

Track and field clothing, including shoes, uniforms and warm-ups can break the bank if you don't gauge the cost of these items properly. While it isn't a good idea to let players share shoes, uniforms and warm-ups can be washed and reused season after season as long as they still look presentable. To save money, use old uniforms as practice gear until it must be thrown away.

I recommend: Modell's offers track and field equipment for sale, including shoes. Men's shoes start around $50 and women's shoes start around $45. Track Game Gear offers track and field clothing starting at around $25 for uniforms and $90 for warm-ups.

Budget for field and track equipment and supplies

Batons, distance measuring devices and hurdles are some of the equipment that is necessary if you plan to host a track and field event. Some track and field equipment and supplies are inexpensive, while others, such as laser measuring machines are more costly.

I recommend: Dick's Sporting Goods is a track and field store that offers a full selection of equipment used in track and field. Prices vary depending on the product. For example, batons range from $10 to $30, while a distance measuring wheel is over $150. You can find various track field equipment at UCS. Implement certification devices or laser measuring devices cost around $3,000 to $4,000. Counters start at $500.