Moscow High School Track Programs: How to Get Involved and What You Need to Know to Start

More than 12,000 Moscow high school students are set to join track and field squads this autumn as district registration opens on July 15.

Summer break gives families a narrow window to secure spots before the September season begins, when citywide meets at Luzhniki resume. Parents who miss the deadline often face waiting lists that stretch into October at popular schools.

Where to register and what documents matter

Sign-ups take place at the Luzhniki Olympic Complex in the Khamovniki district and at the Sokolniki Youth Sports School on Stromynka Street. Both sites accept applications from students aged 14 to 18 who attend any Moscow secondary school. Required papers include a current medical certificate from the local polyclinic, a copy of the student’s passport and a signed consent form from a parent. The fee for the full season stands at 4,800 rubles and covers coaching, basic insurance and use of the track.

Coaches at both venues run introductory assessments on the first Saturday after registration. Students who clear a simple 800-metre time trial are placed in training groups that meet three times a week after school. Those who need extra conditioning start with two sessions focused on strength work in the indoor hall at Sokolniki.

Equipment, schedules and first-week expectations

New runners need only a pair of training flats and a tracksuit; spikes are supplied by the school for competition days. Schedules list Monday and Wednesday evening sessions from 17:30 to 19:00 at Luzhniki’s outer track, with Friday speed work moved indoors if rain threatens. Sokolniki groups follow the same pattern but start at 18:00 to accommodate students who travel from the north-east districts.

Students should arrive with a water bottle and a small towel. The first week includes a team photo and a short rules briefing on lane etiquette and warm-up routines. Parents receive a printed calendar that lists the first inter-school meet on September 12 at the same Luzhniki facility.

Families who complete registration by July 22 receive a confirmation text with their assigned coach’s phone number and the exact meeting point inside the complex gates. Late applicants are directed to a secondary list that fills remaining spaces at smaller neighbourhood tracks in the coming weeks.