Help Keep Youth Track and XC Rolling!

What is the Goal?

Help keep Youth Track and Cross Country programs rolling by donating towards a cargo van!

Coach Cliff Marr, who coaches both Track & Field and Cross Country in southern Indiana needs a better way to transport team supplies and equipment between meets and practices.

After much consideration and research, the most beneficial solution is a team cargo van, where the team supplies can permanently stay throughout their respective seasons.

We're asking for $27,000 to cover the costs for a small cargo van that isn’t too worn out and has basic safety features. Any funds left over after everything is paid (taxes, fees, registration, etc.) will go towards regular maintenance costs, fuel, and insurance.

Donations raised through this GoFundMe will go directly to Coach Marr who will assume responsibility and stewardship of the cargo van. He will keep it regularly maintained and insured.

Why do we Need a Van?

Track Specifics

Last season we had about 135 athletes on the track roster with 5 coaches.

To optimize opportunities for athletes, practices are held in two different locations, depending on the day and time. Being able to more easily and consistently transport items like starting blocks, cones, tapes, shots, discs, and more between the two locations would save the coaches and athletes considerable time and effort.

Home meets are even more involved. Almost everything that is required to run a meet, other than the facilities themselves, is transported between the two schools. Meet days last year would have the two head coaches each loading up their vehicles to the max, and rushing over to the meet location to snag a good parking spot to then solicit volunteers to help carry things out to the track and field locations.

With a cargo van, all of the meet and practice supplies could have their own custom, labeled location, where they would stay for the whole season. The one to two hours of prep every meet day (and half to one hour on South practice days) would be eliminated. This is time the coaches could use to better plan those meets and practices. It would also allow helpful athletes and parents who volunteer to independently pack up the supplies and put them away in their proper place. Having proper storage would also mean replacing supplies less often.

Cross Country Specifics

Last season we had about 80 athletes with 4 coaches.

Though all of our practices are at the same place, we still transport items to all away meets. We take our team cart, a water jug, canopies, and more. Though it isn’t as involved as a track meet, having a vehicle where the cross country supplies can stay for the season will save time and prevent unnecessary wear on the equipment. Having a consistent and reliable storage location is much better than equipment sliding around various truck beds or bus cargo bays. Although we usually are able to get a bus with a storage bay, the bays are not all the same size and sometimes supplies do not fit as well as we would hope.

What Was Done Before?

Track

The previous head coach owned his own reliable truck. It essentially became the track vehicle every spring, and we would continually load and unload it for practices and meets. Though this process worked, it was inefficient and the current coaches do not have a vehicle that will fit everything in a single trip.

Cross Country

The previous head coach asked for parent volunteers at the beginning of the season. Parents would choose meet slots to sign up for and transport the team equipment that didn’t easily fit onto the buses. This system mostly worked, but it had a reliability issue and put even more pressure on our (already extremely helpful) families. And again, none of the current coaches have a vehicle that will carry everything. This past season, Coach Marr was able to borrow a pickup truck from a family member on away meet days. Unfortunately, this system is not sustainable.

What are the Alternatives?

Trailer

A trailer would solve most of the problems, but not as many as a van. Everything could certainly stay in the trailer each season, but not every coach has a way to transport a trailer. A van would allow us to have multiple keys and allow multiple coaches to easily take over. If a coach is absent, any other coach can easily drive a cargo van to the meet or practice in question. A small cargo van can also fit into places where a trailer and hauling vehicle cannot. Additionally, it would be difficult to park a vehicle and trailer safely at our evening location, when after school athletic traffic is at its highest.

Shed

A shed at each location with duplicates of much of our track equipment would make practices easier, but it would not solve our away meet day transportation issues.

What is the Cost Breakdown?

[Updated as prices have comedown, last update 12/4]

Prices for a locally-sourced, smaller cargo van with about 100,000 or fewer miles and basic safety features are currently around $10k to $18k depending on age and condition. Choosing something in the middle, and then accounting for other fees, insurance, and taxes, would mean asking for $14k + $2k = $16k. (Most fundraising platforms (including GoFundMe) charge fees).

There will also be regular maintenance costs, fuel, and insurance. These can vary greatly, depending on multiple factors.

Why isn't the Team Name Listed?

State law (and school board policy) prohibit anyone from benefiting off a school corporation's name or likeness, even if it is used for school business. State law and board policy does not distinguish between use cases.

The cargo van title will be in Coach Marr's name and as such, no school will accept it as a gift because then they must also supply the insurance, on going maintenance, and liability. There could also be issues of equity between other schools.

This is a private fundraiser for Cliff Marr to raise funds for a cargo van. Regardless of the fact that he (and his collogues) will use it for school programs, he cannot attach the prospective school’s name or likeness to the GoFundMe.

Thank you for your consideration and support of youth programs!