school can't afford starting blocks... Any ideas?

Contact other schools to see if they have any they're willing to give you

We used to dig small holes in the track back in the day. You could try that.

Create a GoFundMe fundraiser. Put up a picture of your team and tell your story.

I'll donate, and I'm sure others would too.

I went to an inner city high school with no track, no blocks, etc. It didn't stop me from becoming a state champion and a state qualifier in the 200, 400, 800 and 1600. Blocks are not that hard to use. I'm sure you can plan in some practice when you are at a meet, or they can just push off against their teammates feet. You could have a bake sale and buy a couple pair (you can get them off epic sports for $50 a set).

Shop around online and find some you think will work. Come up with a reasonable quantity you think you need. Post back here with an athletic director's email. We have to make sure we aren't breaking any rules.

Then, if you would be so kind, let me know how you are doing on training shoes and spikes. Find out the sizes of your athletes by using one of these:

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/715uv8a4TgL._AC_SX522_.jpg

Measure from back of heel to the space between the tips of their big toe and second biggest toe (measure both feet). Watch for widths. Take notes in centimeters.

Please post that information here as well as their respective events.

Thank you

From the standpoint of whether or not you "need" starting blocks, you mostly need them to keep the kids from feeling like idiots when they go to a meet and see a set of blocks for the first time. To prevent that, even a single set of blocks would be sufficient, they could then all have a chance in practice to set them up and come out of the blocks a few times.

For learning correct starting technique, 3 point is a good introduction, and 4 point is a decent approximation of a block start. A teammate's feet are really not far off from the feel of pushing off of a starting block, so can be sufficient in practice (doesnt really work with spikes, obviously, for the sake of not spiking your teammate).

See if you can borrow a single set from another school or nearby club, or find an old junky pair somewhere for really cheap.

As far as building a set, I wouldn't bother, having a teammate stand behind them to use their feet as blocks is just as good as anything you can make. And anything you build wont prep them for the apprehension of using a real set for the first time and feeling silly when all the rich kids from other schools know how to use them. It sounds silly, but high school kids sometimes really are intimidated by how to set up blocks for the first time.

Sometimes as a coach you have to put your own money in to get started. Fundraise is your best bet. I coached at a bigger school and everything i got was from the booster club.

Network with other coaches. Some schools have good budgets and can update equipment frequently. They might be happy to give you some hand me down blocks.

Sell two football helmets and buy 5 blocks.

On the athletics board for our local high school. We run into funding problems all the time.

Best shot is ask a D1 university if they have old or practice blocks. Start with the biggest program and work your way down asking for whatever you can get.

Good luck.

Thanks for the tip, but we don't have a track either, just a soccer field. I'm gonna have them practice by standing on other's feet for now, I have some old basketball shoes I can hold under them.

Duke Hanson wrote:

We used to dig small holes in the track back in the day. You could try that.

Thanks for the tip! I'm going to have them practice by having them stand on another's feet for now, since we don't have a track.

joedirt wrote:

I went to an inner city high school with no track, no blocks, etc. It didn't stop me from becoming a state champion and a state qualifier in the 200, 400, 800 and 1600. Blocks are not that hard to use. I'm sure you can plan in some practice when you are at a meet, or they can just push off against their teammates feet. You could have a bake sale and buy a couple pair (you can get them off epic sports for $50 a set).

Thanks for the ideas! Much appreciated.

This is great feedback, using another's feet is what I was thinking. I have some old basketball shoes I was thinking of using, and having them practice pushing off my feet. Thanks

This is great feedback, using another's feet is what I was thinking. I have some old basketball shoes I was thinking of using, and having them practice pushing off my feet. Thanks

Ask parents and alumni for donations. When my school's track needed to be resurfaced, one of the parents just wrote a check to pay for the whole thing no questions asked. Starting blocks should be an easier sell than a track resurfacing.

AIR PEGASUS wrote:

Shop around online and find some you think will work. Come up with a reasonable quantity you think you need. Post back here with an athletic director's email. We have to make sure we aren't breaking any rules.

Then, if you would be so kind, let me know how you are doing on training shoes and spikes. Find out the sizes of your athletes by using one of these:

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/715uv8a4TgL._AC_SX522_.jpg

Measure from back of heel to the space between the tips of their big toe and second biggest toe (measure both feet). Watch for widths. Take notes in centimeters.

Please post that information here as well as their respective events.

Thank you

Thank you for such the kind help sir, our athletic director's email is:

I already sent this list to her, and unfortunately she can't help out with no athletic funding. Here is a list of the bare minimum that would so-so much appreciated for these kids.

Starting blocks ($55)

Girls shot put ($20)

Boys shot put ($22)

Boys discus ($10)

Girls Discus ($12)

As for shoe sizes, I will get those at practice next week. If I may ask, where are you going with the shoe sizes?