Cross Country
Coaching Staff
Program Description
Cross Country is open to boys and girls in grades seven through twelve. We are a Co-Ed team, but boys and girls run separate 5k (3.1 miles) races at meets. No cuts are made as everyone on the team gets to run in the meets. Running in the Varsity, JV, or grade level race is determined by the coaching staff; and based on time, attendance, character, and what’s best for the team. Cross Country is mistakenly known as an individual sport. Our program focuses on the team concept. Every athlete entered in a meet scores points, and therefore is vital to the overall success of our team. The experience of shared success is always better than that of individual success.
Runner Expectations
- Runners will control what they can, being their attitude and effort.
- Runner will be an upstanding representative of SCPA and the cross country team; at school, meets, and in the community.
- Runners will keep consistent practice attendance.
- Always notify a coach in advance if you cannot attend a Practice/Meet.
- Runners will know the importance of a properly trained athlete.
- Understand the State High School League Rules.
Academic Expectations
- Runners should live up to the student first approach of being a student-athlete.
- Runners should be responsible and honest in communicating academic trouble to the coaching staff.
- Runners are to have good time management skills in order to maintain good academic standing and attendance at practices and meets.
- Runners are expected to attend class on a regular basis.
- Follow the classroom policies set by the teacher.
- It is St. Croix Prep Athletic Department policy that if at the mid-term grade check during the cross country season a middle school runner has a D grade in any core class, or an upper school runner has an F grade in any core class; than that runner shall not compete in any forthcoming meets until that D or F grade is raised up at least one letter grade. Attendance at practice is still expected.
Lettering Requirements
- Runner MUST attend 90% of Practices / Meets from their start date
- Runner MUST compete in majority of Varsity Races OR
- Runner MUST be on St. Croix Prep Cross Country Team for 3 or more years, including current season
- Runner MUST be on St. Croix Prep Cross Country Team for 3 or more years, including current season
- **Lettering is at coach’s discretion.
Policies
Runners are excused from practices or meets with advance communication and reasons of: illness, injury, or family emergency. Efforts should be made to schedule appointments around practice/meets. Excused absences will still effect attendance for lettering.
Sportsmanship
Runners are expected to conduct themselves in a courteous, respectful manner to all opposing team members, coaches, officials, and parents. This behavior is expected individually and as a team.
