Does your child run like the wind?  If so, consider putting their quick speeds to use on the track and see how well they stack up against other children.  Track is a great sport for helping increase speed, as well as increase stamina.  One of the best things about track is this is a sport that can be practiced everywhere.  You do not need to go somewhere in particular to run, you can practice running at a park, or down your street if you live in a good neighborhood and your child is old enough to run on their own. 

Track and field as well as running are both great sports for building strength, endurance, and cardiovascular fitness levels.  Many people jog to help stay in shape, which just builds into track.  Running is a great sport, it can be done alone, or with friends at almost any pace, your child prefers.  Running has also been shown to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and diabetes, which is a major benefit. 

Children who tend to do well in track typically are lean, and usually have a lot of mental toughness, as well as endurance.  Self-discipline and commitment are also key success factors.  Children can start running as young as 2 years can start learning track, or whenever they gain the physical skills necessary to run.  While running is possible at almost any age, there should be limits on how long and how far you allow your child to run. 

A general rule of thumb is that children under 14 should not run more than 3 miles at a time, and children should not be doing marathons until they are 18 years of age.  Most middle school track programs limit races to ½ to ¾ of a mile to avoid wearing the children out.  There are several field events that are also used during track and field competitions, which include throwing events and jumping events. 

The risk of injuries is greatly reduced if the appropriate warm up and cool down exercises are done before and after running.  In addition, a good set of running shoes are an absolute must, and your child should never run without them.  Also never, allow your child to run when it is extremely hot outside due to risk of heat stroke or dehydration. 

There are few costs associated with track; the biggest expense is going to be good shoes that provide good support.  These will need to be replaced periodically depending upon how often and the type of terrain your child runs.  Other than that, there are expense for clothing that is comfortable to run in, as well as if your child is on a track team, there will be track fees.