RCHS XC Team Standards
From our inaugural season in 2003, we have set high standards for our XC Team. We believe because of these standards, year in and year out, our girls and boys teams are among the top in our state. This is true not only from a competitive standpoint, but also in regards to the exceptional sportsmanship that our athletes display when representing RCHS.
Regular Season Meets - are divided into 2 Divisions (sometimes 3 at league and a few select invites)
Varsity – Top 7 Runners (exceptions-Regional 9, and a few invites that allow 10).
Junior Varsity - Runners 8 and beyond (except as noted above).
Varsity Selection Each Week - Coaches will take into account performance at previous meet, time, attendance, completion of workouts, effort, and behavior when determining Varsity/JV for the upcoming meet.
Varsity Lettering – an athlete can earn a letter the following ways:
1 – Be a member of the State or Regional Team
2 – Be one of the Top 7 runners based on average place at seasons end
3 - Senior who's been with Team 4 all years
4- Meeting the minimum time requirement (Girls -21:30 or faster Boys 18:00 or faster).
5 – Finishing the season in good standing
Attendance - mandatory at all practices during the Official Season, August 8 - Oct 12, and Oct 13 through Oct 28 for Regional/State athletes. Varsity athletes are required to be at all practices including Saturdays. JV athletes must attend all M-F practices and all Saturday Meets. Injured athletes are still required to attend practice and will be sent to our RCHS Athletic Trainer for evaluation and rehab.
Attendance at Meets - Athletes are required to attend all meets and remain until being dismissed after the conclusion.
Because our XC season is only 2 months in length, it is required that ALL athletes/families make the commitment to complete the season through our League Championships October 12.
Absences – The following are examples of excused absences:
1 - Illness (students are not allowed to practice if sick from school) or have Doctors Appointment for physical injury
2 – Family Emergency
3 – ACT/SAT Tests (Senior Year only)
4 - Make up Test with teacher
4 – College Visits-Seniors Only Excused (Please do you best to schedule these before or after the season) These cannot be scheduled during the League, Regional or State Race Dates!
The following are examples of unexcused absences:
1 – Jobs (athletes are required to arrange their work schedule around practice and meet times.
2 – Practices or games for other sports
3 – Family Vacation
4 – School Clubs
It is the athlete’s responsibility to communicate with Coach Davies or Coach Grant any expected absence (except missing school due to illness).
Coach Davies is accessible by email – [email protected] or by text – 720-308-4123, or in the RCHS PE office an hour before practice.
1st Unexcused absence = Warning, 2nd = Suspended for a Meet, 3rd = Suspended from Team.
Injuries – Injured athletes are still required to attend practice and meets. Athletes will be sent to the RCHS trainer for examination. Once the athlete is cleared for participation (by our RCHS Trainer), the coaching staff will safely transition the athlete back into practices and races.
Academic Eligibility – done weekly at RCHS and our Cross Country Team follows CHSSA rules. Parents reserve the right to hold their student to a higher level than CHSSA if they wish. You are a student first and foremost! If XC is interfering with your academics, we will arrange that you spend time working with your teacher's after school instead of practicing until your grades are better. On days we leave early for meets, please be pro-active by letting your teachers know you will be absent. This shows them that you care about your education, and more importantly, their class!
Behavior – All athletes are to demonstrate appropriate sportsmanship at all meets and practices. Athletes are expected to show the utmost respect to coaches, parents, officials, teammates, and opponents while they represent RCHS XC and RCHS as a whole.
Equipment - All athletes should make sure they have the appropriate clothing and equipment for all practices. This includes shorts, t-shirts, running shoes, water bottles, and cold weather clothing such as sweatshirts, sweatpants, waterproof shells, gloves and hats. We will run in all sorts of weather/temperature, with the exception of lightning.
Uniforms - All athletes will be issued a RCHS XC uniform, Racing Top, and Warmups. Athletes will need to purchase their own solid BLACK running shorts. Athletes are required to wear the RCHS XC uniform at each meet.
Post Season NXR/NXN Standards:
Requirements for athletes to be eligible to join the team @ NXR Southwest Nov. 18:
From our inaugural season in 2003, we have set high standards for our XC Team. We believe because of these standards, year in and year out, our girls and boys teams are among the top in our state. This is true not only from a competitive standpoint, but also in regards to the exceptional sportsmanship that our athletes display when representing RCHS.
Regular Season Meets - are divided into 2 Divisions (sometimes 3 at league and a few select invites)
Varsity – Top 7 Runners (exceptions-Regional 9, and a few invites that allow 10).
Junior Varsity - Runners 8 and beyond (except as noted above).
Varsity Selection Each Week - Coaches will take into account performance at previous meet, time, attendance, completion of workouts, effort, and behavior when determining Varsity/JV for the upcoming meet.
Varsity Lettering – an athlete can earn a letter the following ways:
1 – Be a member of the State or Regional Team
2 – Be one of the Top 7 runners based on average place at seasons end
3 - Senior who's been with Team 4 all years
4- Meeting the minimum time requirement (Girls -21:30 or faster Boys 18:00 or faster).
5 – Finishing the season in good standing
Attendance - mandatory at all practices during the Official Season, August 8 - Oct 12, and Oct 13 through Oct 28 for Regional/State athletes. Varsity athletes are required to be at all practices including Saturdays. JV athletes must attend all M-F practices and all Saturday Meets. Injured athletes are still required to attend practice and will be sent to our RCHS Athletic Trainer for evaluation and rehab.
Attendance at Meets - Athletes are required to attend all meets and remain until being dismissed after the conclusion.
Because our XC season is only 2 months in length, it is required that ALL athletes/families make the commitment to complete the season through our League Championships October 12.
Absences – The following are examples of excused absences:
1 - Illness (students are not allowed to practice if sick from school) or have Doctors Appointment for physical injury
2 – Family Emergency
3 – ACT/SAT Tests (Senior Year only)
4 - Make up Test with teacher
4 – College Visits-Seniors Only Excused (Please do you best to schedule these before or after the season) These cannot be scheduled during the League, Regional or State Race Dates!
The following are examples of unexcused absences:
1 – Jobs (athletes are required to arrange their work schedule around practice and meet times.
2 – Practices or games for other sports
3 – Family Vacation
4 – School Clubs
It is the athlete’s responsibility to communicate with Coach Davies or Coach Grant any expected absence (except missing school due to illness).
Coach Davies is accessible by email – [email protected] or by text – 720-308-4123, or in the RCHS PE office an hour before practice.
1st Unexcused absence = Warning, 2nd = Suspended for a Meet, 3rd = Suspended from Team.
Injuries – Injured athletes are still required to attend practice and meets. Athletes will be sent to the RCHS trainer for examination. Once the athlete is cleared for participation (by our RCHS Trainer), the coaching staff will safely transition the athlete back into practices and races.
Academic Eligibility – done weekly at RCHS and our Cross Country Team follows CHSSA rules. Parents reserve the right to hold their student to a higher level than CHSSA if they wish. You are a student first and foremost! If XC is interfering with your academics, we will arrange that you spend time working with your teacher's after school instead of practicing until your grades are better. On days we leave early for meets, please be pro-active by letting your teachers know you will be absent. This shows them that you care about your education, and more importantly, their class!
Behavior – All athletes are to demonstrate appropriate sportsmanship at all meets and practices. Athletes are expected to show the utmost respect to coaches, parents, officials, teammates, and opponents while they represent RCHS XC and RCHS as a whole.
Equipment - All athletes should make sure they have the appropriate clothing and equipment for all practices. This includes shorts, t-shirts, running shoes, water bottles, and cold weather clothing such as sweatshirts, sweatpants, waterproof shells, gloves and hats. We will run in all sorts of weather/temperature, with the exception of lightning.
Uniforms - All athletes will be issued a RCHS XC uniform, Racing Top, and Warmups. Athletes will need to purchase their own solid BLACK running shorts. Athletes are required to wear the RCHS XC uniform at each meet.
Post Season NXR/NXN Standards:
Requirements for athletes to be eligible to join the team @ NXR Southwest Nov. 18:
- Always represent RCXC in a positive manner.
- Attend all practices and meets throughout the season.
- Attend all Saturday practices.
- During Fall Break, athletes must attend all practices, (October 14th-21).
- Speak with the coaching staff before making travel arrangements. Only athletes that meet the requirements above will be invited on the NXRSW trip, and added to the roster on November 18th.
- Lastly, if we are able to qualify a team to the national meet on the weekend of December 2nd, those seven runners are expected to be at all practices during the week of Thanksgiving break.