Nikon d3000 sports mode?

I just got a d3000 nikon camera. I can't get the flash to work in sports mode. Any advice on how to change settings, i went to options but the only one is off?

Added (1). Sounds like i just need to study more, have a track meet tomorrow and was just trying to figure out what would suit me best as the manual sucks on info.

Sports photographers rarely use flash.

When they do use flash, they shoot in the manual mode with the shutter speed usually set at the highest flash sync speed of 1/200th second.

Get out of the "pre-programed modes". You now have a fully adjustable camera, so you can forget using it as a glorified P&S camera

Sports mode and flash don't play nicely together. In Sports mode, you're shooting rapidly, and often at at continuous shooting mode. That doesn't give the flash enough time to recycle fully.

As a sportsphotographer, I never use flash, except for the after-game celebrations. I never use it during play as it's either frowned upon or simply not allowed. Imagine trying to return serve in tennis, looking for that teammate's pass, or trying to make a freethrow with flash going off in your face.

Among other things, you'll find that flash changes your shutterspeed to 1/60th of a second or so. That's not the best speed for capturing action. Since your trackmeet will be outdoors (I'm making an assumption here), flash really isn't needed.

Sports mode uses a shutter speed faster than the allowed flash sync speed. They do not go together. You can set camera to shutter-priority (S), choose 1/125 as your shutter speed then turn flash on. If you want a faster shutter speed, turn off flash, use a higher ISO value then increase shutter speed. Take note of the aperture size. If it flashes, the shutter speed you chose is not possible under the given lighting conditions. You'll have to go slower. Beware on the ISO setting. The higher it goes, the more grainy the picture becomes.

Track? Common sense dictates you shouldn't use flash. It will blind the athletes. The manual only sucks if you don't understand it. Nothing will suit you if you don't get to know the basic principles of photography. There are other ways to get by shooting track and field but is too long to discuss in this small text box.

Yes those modes are like the line of books "… For dummies" - don't use them. Learn more about your camera. If you're using full auto it's nothing more than a point and shoot camera.