Welcome New Runners 2009 Newsletter #1

Welcome New Runners 2009 Newsletter #2

RULES FOR THE SEASON


  • Once practice begins at 2:30, the classroom will be locked.  You backpacks need to be picked up and put on the desks so the custodians can clean the room.
  • Practice is over when it's over, usually between 4:30-5:00pm.  Please schedule your appointments for after 4:45pm.  Your grade is based on your daily attendance and participation.
  • Injuries need to be treated.  If they last longer than three days, you need to see a Doctor, Physical Therapist or Chiropractor.  When you are injured, it is up to you to ask us for alternate workouts, whether they are in the pool or on a stationary bike.  It's important we keep up your fitness as it is too easy to lose everything you've been building over the summer.  This is an  athletic P.E. class and if you are unable to run for an extended period of time, we will need to talk about transferring you to a regular PE class.  
  • In order to run in the meet, you must have been able to finish practice the entire week.
  • Mental Toughness - The first two weeks of school are difficult because we are adjusting to practice in the afternoon and it is hot.  Cross Country is a tough sport, and it's important to us that you can finish a workout or run every day.  If you are having trouble, talk with the coaching staff and we'll try and work with you in alleviating any problems.
  • Practice Etiquette - Many of you joined late into our practice season and missed a lot of key meetings in which we talked about what is expected at practice.  On workout days, it is important that you finish the workout, not race the first interval and be done.  Practice with the people of your ability.  Do not race the regular runs just to stay up with the varsity runners.  You need to be able to complete the entire week.  We are seeing more picking and choosing, for lack of a better term, of the workouts kids prefer to finish.  We also are noticing that when one person's ankle hurts, suddenly it becomes contagious.  We can't read your mind, but often it looks to us as if that's an easy way out of the practice session.  Don't become the boy/girl who cried wolf too many times, because we DO notice.  A true athlete wants to challenge themselves, and if they are injured, they are doing everything in their power to rehab it and get back out there.
  • Varsity spots are decided upon by many things.  We look at the top 7 finishers from the week before, practice attendance (not leaving early), completing all practices and finally injury status.  We have two very strong ranked teams this year.  It is important we put our best 7 on the line, 7 that we can depend upon and that can depend on each other.