They could be swimming, eating ice cream, getting a tan or taking advantage of summer vacation. But members of summer track clubs would rather be running, jumping or throwing.

"To watch the growth of young people as athletes is exciting," said David Douthett, head coach of the South Butler Flyers.

Based in Saxonburg, the club encourages boys and girls ages 7 to 18 to train for and compete in track and field events during the summer.

Participants are honing their craft, not giving up precious vacation time, says Douthett, a former track and field athlete, coach of 25 years and a sometime official.

"I don't have to motivate these young people. Track is something you do because you enjoy it," he said.

More casual than school-affiliated teams, summer track clubs encourage personal accomplishment more than medals.

Practices and meets are optional for the Flyers as well as for the Butler Stealth Track Club, based in Butler.

"It's very relaxed," said Jeff Renwick, who has coached Butler Stealth for the past eight years. "We're just trying to get kids introduced to the sport, build some interest in it."

For the casual athlete or beginner, the various events can combat summer boredom, he said.

"It seems in that fifth- and sixth-grade age group, they're doing it in gym class and want to try competition," Renwick said.

Older students who participate in track and field events at school join summer clubs to continue training in the off-season, he said. Runners will use the club to try field events like high jumping or discus throwing, or vice versa, he added.

"We encourage kids to try all sports involved in track so they get the feel for their skills."

Both the South Butler Flyers and the Butler Stealth Track Club are affiliated with USA Track and Field and the Amateur Athletic Union, national organizations.

Runner and rower William B. Curtis founded what became the Amateur Athletic Union in New York City on Jan. 30, 1878. The name was formally adopted in 1887.

The AAU governed the sport until 1979, when the Athletics Congress/USA took over. In 1992, the name was changed to USA Track and Field to increase recognition for the organization and the sport in the United States.

The season runs from May to July — August if a student advances to regional or national competition. Both local clubs practice twice a week beginning in April. Meets are held on Saturdays.

Participants are broken into sex and age groups for competition. Events include distance runs, sprints, hurdles, relays, racewalk, jumps, throws and pole vault.

Renwick encourages students to go to one or two competitions each year, though he maintains they are optional.

"It's not an intimidating sport in any way; it's something the kids can enjoy," he said.

It's not unusual for a student to attend every practice but forgo competition for family or for work obligations, Douthett said.

"The whole objective here is to get these kids to a level where they love track and field and want to continue it through college and as adults."

"Quite a few" students in the program are successful in interscholastic competition, Renwick said, with some going on to national meets and the Junior Olympic program. Others are simply looking for something to do on summer vacation.

"The thing I like about track is that everyone gets to participate," he said.

Individual ability does not dictate playing time, he said, and each student keeps track of personal accomplishments.

"There's not a lot of pressure … as opposed to some of the "stress to win" sports out there," he said.

Douthett agrees: "A lot of kids don't like working with a team because they have to rely on someone else to perform correctly so they can succeed."

"In track, you put everyone on the line and fire the gun and the fastest person wins. There's no politics, there's no nepotism — the first one across the line wins."