Fundamental Team Rules and Policies
Attendance Policy regarding practice
The premise for our policies regarding practice attendance is simple. In order to be a successful team, the athletes must attend practice. Obviously there are benefits to the team regarding our physical conditioning which will directly and positively affect our performances in meets. However, the benefits of attending cross country practice go beyond the physical. Team bonding and friendships are formed through the group spending time together, including the time at practice. Topics such as nutrition, race preparation, race strategy, general training philosophy, etc. are often talked about at practice. If you miss practice, then you miss out on that information. Additionally, practice is usually the medium for general logistical announcements (when the bus is arriving for the meet, what time the races start, etc.) which are obviously important. Likewise, it should be obvious that we would expect attendance of the athletes at the meets. For this reason the coaches have set certain guidelines for attendance requirements for the cross country team.
Excused absences from practices
A note could be required for any missed practice to be considered excused. The following are examples of an excused absence form practice:
- A doctor/ dentist/ orthodontist appointment. A note from the parent or doctor IS required in this case.
- An injury. However, you may still need to attend practice and do an alternate workout (for example, on the stationary bicycle or something else). A note MAY or may not be required in this case.
- An excused absence from school. A parent note MAY or may not be required in this case.
- In certain instances, a runner may be allowed to attend a practice of something besides Alpharetta HS cross country. This is detailed further in the section below entitled "Other athletic activities".
Unexcused absences from practices
The following guidelines apply for an unexcused absence from practice:
- A personal reason such as attending a concert, sporting event, social event, etc.
- An unexcused absence from school.
- Any non-emergency reason which is not approved by the coach in advance.
- A job.
- Detention (private or public). You can either serve it before school, or better yet, don't get it. If you must serve an afternoon detention, you will be expected to report to the coach before serving it and report to practice immediately after you finish serving it. This will be counted as a tardy.
The following are the consequences for unexcused absences from practice:
- 1st offense: private conference with the coach, subtraction of one lettering point towards a varsity letter.
- 2nd offense: private conference with the coach, subtraction of an additional lettering point towards a varsity letter, and suspension from one meet.
- 3rd offense: dismissal from the team.
Note: one race run at the varsity level constitutes one lettering point.
Other athletic activities
One of the most common questions asked by potential cross country athletes is regarding participation in other athletics (e.g. club soccer teams, Swim Atlanta or Dynamo swim teams, USTA or ALTA tennis, etc.). The question generally asked is somewhere along the lines of "is it possible to participate in one of these other activities and still be a member of the cross country team, even if it means occasionally missing AHS XC (XC = cross country) practice?". The answer to that question is somewhat complicated. The short answer is this: MAYBE. Here are some things you should know about these situations:
- The decision as to whether an individual would be allowed to participate in AHS cross country is entirely at the coaches' discretion.
- The coaches' decision will be made considering the best interests of the team as the first priority and the best interests of the individual as the second priority.
- The coach must be approached and this requested BEFORE the athlete starts to participate in both and begins missing practices. The coaches, athlete, and athlete's parents must all agree on what type of practice schedule will be allowed before participation in both sports starts to take place.
- The coaches' decision as to whether the athlete will be allowed to miss practices to participate in another athletic activity will be made weighing several factors including but not limited to the following:
- How often would the athlete have to miss AHS XC practice?
- How much could this athlete contribute to the team?
- Is there any history with the AHS XC team?
- What kind and what level of physical conditioning would the athlete undergo at the practices of the other activity?
Furthermore, if an athlete can participate in both activities and not miss any practice time (for example, an athlete goes from AHS XC practice, right to club soccer practice which starts at 7:00), then that is entirely permissible and within the team rules. However, it may not be the wisest thing in terms of maximizing the student/athlete's performance and the maintenance of a balanced lifestyle. It is advised the coach, athlete, and athlete's parents discuss this so as to make a decision that is in everyone's best interests in cases like these.
Attendance policies regarding meets
Athletes are expected to run in all the meets in which they are scheduled to run, unless you receive approval in advance from the coach. Approval may be given in instances where there is a very good reason (for example, you are taking the SAT) to miss a meet. Otherwise, the policy is if it is not a very good reason, don't even ask. If there is a situation in which a true last minute emergency arises, then the coaches will take that into account. The consequences for missing a meet are as follows:
- 1st offense: subtraction of 2 lettering points towards a varsity letter and suspension from a meet.
- 2nd offense: dismissal from the team.
Note: In instances where we are riding the bus to a meet, Fulton County policy requires that the participating athletes ride the bus. Therefore, if for whatever reason, an athlete does not ride the bus to a meet, but arrives by some other means of transportation, then that athlete may have it considered to be a missed meet (which would include suspension from that particular meet). These will be handled on a case by case basis.
Traffic Offenses
With so many athletes on the team, it is vital to our safety that all
athletes only run on the prescribed course. Any deviation from that
course without asking the coaches first can lead to several problems.
One being that the coaches do not know where the runners are. This can
obviously lead to a dangerous situation and a lot of worry on the part
of the coaches.
Therefore, any digression from the path designated by
the coaches for that day will result in anything from it being counted
as an unexcused absence form practice to dismissal from the team. The
severity of the consequences would depend on the intent of the athlete
as it is interpreted by the coaches.
Another traffic offense would simply be defined broadly as using poor
judgment out on the road. Athletes should run against traffic whenever
possible and off the road as much as the space will allow. Also,
athletes should always wait until it is safe to cross whenever they
must cross the road.
Attitude
It is very important to the success of our program here at AHS to
approach every day with a positive attitude. Negative attitudes will
not be tolerated as they erode team spirit and morale. If an athlete
has an attitude that is deemed by the coaches to be detrimental to the team,
that athlete will be instructed to leave practice at that time. This will
count as an unexcused missed practice. Each subsequent occurrence will count
as a next offense (e.g. if it happens a second time, then it will be
considered a second unexcused absence from practice, etc.). Additionally,
when that athlete returns to practice, he/she may have to have a seated
conference with the coaches.
Included in what would be considered as an attitude detrimental to the team
would be any act of insubordination towards the coaches, lack of following
directions or just simple laziness.