Starting a Competitive XC Program from Scratch: Challenges and Strategies
Starting a competitive cross country program from scratch comes with challenges like lack of history, support, and coaching experience. However, strategies such as finding potential runners early, setting a no-cut policy, and creative funding approaches can help overcome these obstacles and build a successful team.
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You want me to run how far? Starting a competitive XC program from scratch
Eric Daugherty- Head XC/TF Coach @ Union Grove HS XC Team State Podium Finishes: 4 XC Team Region Championships: 10 XC Team County Championships: 20 XC Individual State Champions: 1 XC State Runner-Ups: 2 XC All-State Individuals: 8 TF Team State Podium Finishes: 3 TF Team Region Championships: 8 TF Team County Championships: 12 TF Individual State Champions: 6 TF Top 3 State Placers: 15 NIKE SMRC Staff Coach GATFXCCA Mentor Coach
Issues when starting a program from scratch - - - - - No history or culture of distance running at the school or in the community No feeder program or school awareness of the sport Lack of support (financial or otherwise) from administration Finding appropriate locations to train No experience in coaching XC!
Where to find runners in the early years - 9th grade PE teachers do a fitness test (mile or pacer test). Ask to see their results. Personally seek out any promising candidates to speak to. Girls: sub 8:30/ Boys: sub 7:30. Most students don t race to win in P.E. .look for general fitness instead. - Talk to coaches of Soccer/LAX/Swimming/Wrestling..even Basketball. You are looking for numbers starting out. Sell XC as a great way to condition. Slow runners often have fast friends... - If your MS feeder school(s) are close by or on the same campus layout, get in front of the P.E classes toward the end of the year..Or...find a willing teacher/coach in the building to do it for you. Sign-up sheets with parent contact info. If nothing else - Note/Card/Letter to MS track team members that run 400-3200. Personal Invitation
Recruiting Runners (Early years) - Set a no-cut policy when starting out...HOWEVER..this does not mean it s a social club that runs. If you are willing to make the sacrifice to train consistently, there is a place for you (V/JV). Set the expectations early on! - Establish an environment of inclusivity. Cast as wide a net as possible. The more diverse we became, the better the team became.
How to fund a program starting out $$$$ Does your school use a eat what you kill approach or is there a general booster fund/athletic department fund? Midnight Madness Run-A-Thon Partner with other local XC programs to host an invitational (sweat equity)- Battle of Atlanta. Start small and grow the event. Combined booster club, Cross-Country and Track. Union Grove Running Club (host meets)- XC parents work concession/help with track meets. Many of the same athletes for both sports. Contact other sports to see if you can help with concessions for a home contest or tournament
Midnight Madness Helps to have a track, not necessary though. Any flat athletic field works Runners randomly draw time slots: 7-8, 8-9. 9-10, 10-11, 11-12 (or just stop at 10-11...by the time you clean up and leave..it s midnight .) Provide runners with a pledge sheet (two weeks prior). Runners are to seek out friends, family, teachers, etc.. to pledge (no more than $1 per mile..it adds up). Runners will run as many miles as they can in 60 minutes. They may walk if they need to, but only running counts. In 19 years...no one has walked, even if it is a trot, it counts). Ex Runner A gets 15 seperate pledges of $1 mile. Runs 6 miles total (10:00 pace). $90. 20 runners x90= $1800. ($2000-$6000 typically) Have runners turn in pledge sheets (no money collected) when they arrive. Make copies and return the next week with the # of mile run. Athletes have one week to collect.
Midnight Madness (cont) Most of your team will have never run 60 minutes non-stop before. This is both a fundraiser and a great milestone achievement. . Suddenly, those 30-40 minute runs in practice don t seem like such a big deal to the new runner! Have parents bring some grills and book a DJ..or hook up some good speakers. Make a party out of it. Runners eat and hang out when they are done. Great team bonding activity as well. Keep records; most miles run by age or grade. Annual event. Schedule it one week prior to first race of the season. MS runners run 30 minutes or they can choose the 60 min. option
Sample Pledge Sheet (20 lines) I, ____John Doe_______pledge __$1__ per mile I, ___Jane Doe________pledge __$1__ per mile
Appropriate scheduling: The Early Years - If your team is brand new and the runners are inexperienced, your season should be geared to the county or region championships. - Try to run the same course twice during the season, once early and once later. EVERY runner should show good time drops. Great confidence builder for young runners when comparing times. - Make a point to schedule 1-2 large Saturday Invitationals, but enter them in realistic races for their ability (JV or lower varsity if offered). Have them watch the championship races. - Pick one race for a fun overnight trip. Place a condition on it and make runners earn it: Either attendance at Summer running/Mileage logs/ time standard or team placement during the season/ etc...
Establish your own traditions Team Pasta Dinners: Can be done in parent homes or at the school. Have sign-up sheet at parent meeting to start the season. 3-4 families per meal sign up. Pick 4 big meets throughout the year: Ist race of season/County/Region/ big invitational .. School records/Hall of Fame Seniors/captains pick the season t-shirts/slogans etc.. PR cupcakes
100 Points Total 10pts - Every time named to All-County team (top 7) 15 pts - Every time named to All-Region team (top 7) 50 pts - Every time named to All-State team (top 10) Men: Every invitational race under 18:00- 2 pts Every invitational race under 17:00- 5 pts Every invitational race under 16:00- 10 pts Member of a county championship team (top 7) 10 pts each time Member of a region championship team (top 7)- 20 pts each time Member of a state championship team (top 7) - 50 points each time Women: Every invitational race under 21:00- 2 pts Every invitational race under 20:00- 5 pts Every invitational race under 19:00- 10 points 5 pts - every season a varsity letter is earned 10 pts - being named captain (one time award) 15 pts - breaking a current school record (each time)
One Step at a Time. Early Years (#1-3) - - - No team qualifies for State (Didn t have a full girls team until year 3) No county or Region Championships No All-State Runners + + + + + Recruited full team of boys/girls...eventually. Started a MS program (handful of 8th graders) Began to promote the sport within the building and cluster Coaches education (GATFXCCA Clinics, SMRC Coaches Program, USATF Level I and II schools) One Boy/One Girl qualified for State Meet as an individual
Middle Years: Know enough to be dangerous Goals: Develop your varsity culture/Achieving buy-in Summer Running MS Program/presence Overnight Trip- Should be earned- Doesn t have to be based on time Start to transition from coach-set goals to team-set goals Appropriate scheduling for this phase Know your own strengths/weaknesses- get help! 2012 Coaches Invitational 4x1600 @ Tech Focus on your backyard
Summer Training Your attitude and presence will set the tone in the beginning! If you cannot make the commitment, why should they? 2-3 days a week as a team/ On your own for the rest Summer Mileage Plans (2-3 groups) Individualize for your higher level runner(s) End of Summer fitness test/ice cream party- invite other local schools
Appropriate Scheduling: Phase II Find a mixture of high quality invitationals and confidence builders Find meets that have a MS race as well as JV/Varsity Pick the same 2-3 meets each season and go to them year in and year out- Chart progress YOY Allow captains or upperclassmen/returning runners to have a say in the overnight trip Season training should be geared towards the State Championships at this point
Sharing Ownership: Coach and Athlete Captains???? Involve the runners (all levels) in setting team and personal goals 7=1
Competitive Years (going from bad to decent) + + + + + + + + 4 Region Championships 4 Henry County Championships 1st All-State Runner Established a culture of Summer Running Full fledged MS program- fundraise for coaches supplement First College Scholarship Runners Start to transition from Coach set goals to Team set goals XC Hall of Fame (100 point scale)
Once you have an idea. (Phase III) Goals: Celebrate and build on your culture- College/former runners/HOF/ stories Differentiate for your varsity runners- one size does not fit all Taper can be a dangerous word... Appropriate scheduling Summer/Fall/Spring- round Training Professional Development: Nike SMRC coaching clinic, GATFXCCA Mentor Program, USATF Level I and II schools, GATFXCCA Distance Summits
Differentiate for your varsity runners as needed You must develop that relationship over time Who needs to be sharpened? Who gets stale with a severe taper? Who needs more sleep (everyone) Who needs to watch their ferritin levels?
How good can we be?? (2013-19 ) + + + + + + + + 6 Region Championships 12 County Championships 4 State Team Podium Finishes 1 individual State Champion 2 individual State Runner-ups 5 additional All-State Runners Numerous College Scholarship runners at the DI and DII level Seek out Mentors- There is always an aspect that you can improve upon What happens when things don t go to plan?
