Hazel Green High School (HGHS) Cross Country Handbook
Mission Statement:
The HGHS Cross Country program is an extracurricular activity designed to foster a passion for running, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
Background:
The HGHS Cross Country program has been a recognized sport at the school for over 14 years. Recently, the program has experienced tremendous growth in student participation and coaching staff. In 2024, both the boys’ and girls’ varsity teams qualified for the state championship for the first time in the team’s history. The staff is enthusiastic about the program’s future and is committed to making changes that will establish a strong foundation for continued growth and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
Objective:
Cross Country is a demanding sport that requires dedication, perseverance, and a commitment to both individual and team improvement. Beyond producing exceptional runners, we strive to develop outstanding individuals who contribute positively to society. To meet these goals, the following guidelines are in place to promote positive thinking, encouragement, teamwork, and leadership. This will also serve as a general overview and reference of expectations of each athlete on the team.
HGHS Cross Country Team Structure
The HGHS Cross Country team is recognized as a Varsity sport and is composed of athletes across multiple levels of experience and ability. The team is structured into three primary groups to best support athlete development and competition readiness:
Varsity A Team
• Composition: Up to 10 members per gender.
• Eligibility: Athletes with the best times who meet all policy requirements. This group may include exceptional middle school athletes who demonstrate early talent and dedication.
• Focus: Competitive performance, athletic excellence, and leadership.
• Events: Typically entered in 5K races at meets.
Varsity B Team
• Composition: Athletes typically in grades 10–12 who are still developing competitive consistency.
• Focus: Building endurance, mental stamina, and teamwork while preparing for higher competition levels.
• Events: Also compete in 5K races; may be entered in separate heats or divisions from the A team depending on the meet structure.
Junior Varsity (JV) & Middle School Participants
• Composition: Primarily students in grades 7–9.
• Focus: Developmental training emphasizing endurance, mental strength, and fostering a love for the sport.
• Events: Typically race in 2-mile events, while following a similar training regimen to the Varsity B team.
1. Practice Attendance:
Official practices occur Tuesday through Friday. Most races are held on Saturdays. Athletes should run individually on Sundays.
Mondays may be used to make up Sunday runs on their own, although this is not ideal. Instead, this is used as a rest day for all runners who follow the team training plan.
Rest days are included in the training schedule and tailored individually.
Two unexcused absences in one week will make you ineligible to race for the week.
Multi-sport/activity athletes will communicate with all coaches regarding individualized practice and training schedule at the beginning of the season. Emphasis of attendance will be workout days (Tuesday and Thursdays)
Car pool will be provided and encouraged to assist athletes in getting to practice off campus.
2. Race Attendance:
All athletes are expected to participate in scheduled races and perform to the best of their abilities.
Unexcused absences from races will make the athlete ineligible for the sectional meet.
The race schedule will be posted by coaches as soon as possible prior to the season; however, changes may occur due to weather, meet cancellations, or other unforeseen circumstances.
3. Attendance Policy:
Excused Absences Include:
ACT or SAT testing
Illness
Injury (must be communicated and documented)
Doctor’s appointments
Other school events (with prior communication to coaches)
Unexcused Absences Include (but are not limited to):
Oversleeping or missed alarms
Transportation issues
Hair or personal appointments
Family vacations or travel without prior notification
Following an outside coach’s schedule without team coordination
4. Outside Coaching:
Outside coaching is permitted but HGHS Cross Country must remain the athlete’s primary commitment.
Athletes must inform team coaches about external training via weekly communication through the team’s official messaging system (Google Chat).
Athletes should still attend team practices when they can to maintain team unity, even if they have a different workout scheduled.
5. Fees:
All athletes must pay team fees by the deadline set by coaches. Fundraising opportunities are available to help offset these costs.
6. Injuries:
All injuries must be reported immediately to the coaches so the athlete can be referred to the trainer.
Clear communication is required to adjust the athlete’s training plan appropriately.
7. Tracking Runs:
All runs must be tracked on Strava and visible to the coaches to help with training oversight and planning. All athletes must connect their Strava account to the team’s website for auto-syncing runs.
8. Training Plan:
The team training plan is available on the team website, including target paces.
Following the plan is crucial for performance improvement and injury prevention.
Weekly updates from coaches will be provided to outline training expectations.
9. Communication:
Google Chat is the primary tool for team communication. Athletes should ask coaches to be added if they haven’t been already.
10. Social Events:
The team encourages participation in bonding events such as “Fun Fridays,” team dinners, the end-of-year banquet, and the Walk-a-thon at a local assisted living facility.
11. Fundraising:
Fundraising helps support the team and covers expenses like travel, camps, and social events.
Activities may include car washes, banner sponsorships, popcorn sales, and restaurant nights. Public contributions are vital to team success.
12. Gear:
Athletes must wear appropriate workout attire and supportive running shoes.
A GPS tracking watch is highly recommended (Garmin discounts available).
Racing spikes are optional but beneficial for serious competitors.
13. Team Contract and Dragonfly Paperwork:
All athletes must sign a team contract before the first official team race.
It is the athlete’s responsibility to stay up to date on Dragonfly and ensure that all required paperwork is completed and submitted before participating in any competition.
The aim of this handbook is to ensure transparency and consistency among coaches, athletes, and parents. Through strong communication and shared commitment, we hope to develop reliable individuals who reflect the values of the HGHS Cross Country program. This document serves as the foundation for continued success and personal growth within the program.