The following is a summary of the key elements of the cross country program. Additional details can be found in the tab "Frequently Asked Questions." Mission The purpose of the PMS cross country team is to provide students the opportunity to develop their running ability in a fun,
but directed environment where both the individual and team accomplishments are
important and are recognized. Cross Country Definition Cross country running is a sport in which runners race on courses over natural terrain. The course is about a mile in length, may include surfaces of grass, dirt, and asphalt, and incorporate both hills and level ground. It is both an individual and a team sport, as runners can score as an individual and accumulate points for their team. Since it is an endurance sport, training emphasizes distance running and changes in terrain. Schedule During the 2011 season, practices will be held four days a week, Mondays through Thursdays, and will start 10 minutes after the last bell. Practices last 90 minutes, and except for those days designated as minimum days, practices will be from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m. Location of Practices Team members are to meet at Witter Field for every practice. We start and end each practice here. During the course of a practice session, we may run into the surrounding neighborhood, but we always finish at Witter. Attendance at Practice Team members are required to attend a minimum of one practice a week. If you can attend more practices, that's fine, but you select the days to practice that best meet your schedule. Practice Session Format Every practice will be supervised by several coaches. Practices start with a warm-up jog as a team. Often we will split into smaller groups and do stretching, core strengthening exercises, form drills, an endurance run, and a faster paced run on the track. Water breaks will be taken and we end with a healthy snack for every runner. The total distance run at each practice is about 2 to 3 miles, but this is done in increments. The coaching staff has received basic first aid and CPR training, and a first aid kit will be brought to every practice. Our coaching philosophy emphasizes the fact that Cross Country should be FUN. We strive to make practices and meets enjoyable, that will both develop running skill and result in a positive experience. Meets PMS is part of a league with other middle schools and there will be both regular season meets and a league championship meet. Each meet will consist of competition by grade and gender, i.e., 6th grade girls, 6th grade boys, 7&8th grade girls, and 7&8th grade boys. Every team member is required to run in at least three regular season meets and the league championship meet. Transportation to Meets Team member parents are asked to volunteer to drive the kids on the team to the meets. Car pool drivers meet at the Piedmont Community Hall parking lot at 3:00 p.m. on the day of a meet. Communications The primary communications tool will be via e-mail. There will be a weekly bulletin summarizing the previous week's practice and plans for the upcoming week. The plan is to have a team parent for each grade who will coordinate transportation to the meets. Parents are encouraged to contact the coaching staff or the Recreation Dept. with any questions or concerns. Runner Reward Program As a way to reward team members for coming to practice and participating in meets, points are awarded. As points are accumulated rewards are earned starting with a small item, i.e., an Icee at Mulberry's and ending in a larger item, a gift card to Fenton's Ice Creamery. A document summarizing this program will be provided. |
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Cross Country Team Fact Sheet |