In 2007, The Bronx Flash helped P.S. 87 secure a $1 million grant from the Trust for Public Land and the City of New York to renovate the barren, dysfunctional blacktop schoolyard into a safe, vibrant, functional community park, including a scaled-down synthetic track and field.  Community members and students from P.S. 87 and the Bronx Flash assisted architects in planning and designing the park.  Construction is scheduled to be complete in Fall 2009.

Athlete Development Philosophy

*May vary for individual athletes, depending on performance levels and training age vs. biological age.

Bantam (Ages 9-10 ) & Midget (Ages 11-12)

Athletes will learn about the sport of track and field.  They will develop good habits of proper running technique and good habits of being active, accepting challenges with awareness and optimism, and making lifelong, holistic healthy choices.  They will understand the format of practice and track meets.  They will learn a basic routine of warm-ups, stretches, drills, and cooling-down.  They will learn the difference between visual and blind baton exchanges, but will only use visual exchanges in all relays.  They will attend friendly, less competitive track meets and events.  Practice and the overall season will focus on muscular motor development, coordination, fun and games in a committed learning environment.  Challenges are primarily student-driven.  Athletes will learn about and set personal improvement goals, though the only mandatory competition is with their self.  Athletes will shake all competitors hands at the end of every race.

Youth (Ages 13-14)

Athletes that join the Club at the Youth division ages will be connected with a fellow Team Member Mentor who will assist him/her in learning the Athlete Development Vision aspects focused on at the Bantam and Midget levels. 

Additionally, Youth athletes will become well-rounded students of their bodies.  The major foci of Youth athlete development will be:  general fitness, flexibility, and conditioning, including light and body-weight strength training; agility and all-around “physical wisdom,” in which team members gain an understanding that they don’t have to be “athletic” but should strive to be able to move their body when and how they want it.  Athletes will not begin to specialize in track and field events.  They will focus on running a solid 400m, which will provide them with a balance of sprint and endurance so they may choose their event specialization when they are older.  Athletes will learn more advanced drills, including multiple warm-up routines, as well as down and block starts, and timing-specific blind baton exchanges.  Challenges remain student-driven, but bodies and minds will be challenged by coaches at a greater level than at the Bantam & Midget division.  Athletes will attend more competitive USATF and AAU events, including the eligibility to travel to out-of-town events.  Athletes will learn about and set personal improvement goals, though the only mandatory competition is with their self.  Athletes will shake all competitors hands at the end of every race.

Select Youth, with a more advanced training age, may begin more advanced training at an earlier age in collaboration with the Bronx Tigers Track Club. 

Intermediate (Ages 15-16) & Young Men/Women (Ages 17-18)

Team members may apply to be a part of a High Performance Group (HPG), working in collaboration with the Bronx Tigers; otherwise, the default for all team members will be to continue down the developmental path.  High Performance Group applicants will need to meet performance and effort benchmarks.  HPG athletes will focus on event specialties with the goal to improve their performance measurements and compete at a high level within USATF and AAU events through an athlete-specific periodization training cycle.  Event-specific weight training will increase. 

Coaches will assist athletes in setting individual performance and competition goals.

Developmental Group (DG) athletes will continue a general fitness and conditioning program, with the option of specializing in events and training.  Athletes will set personal goals, either fitness or performance-focused.