Rules and Regulations
· Equipment
Athletes should all have a decent pair of running shoes. 90% of all feet/leg injuries can be accredited to having poor footwear. We can not stress the importance of a good running shoe. We recommend that everyone go to Often Running in Normal. They have professionals there that can assess how the runner moves and what shoes would be the best for him or her. We understand that some athletes are just trying the sport for the first time and parents are worried about buying expensive shoes that will never come out of the closet. If this is a concern, we also recommend Read's Sporting Goods in Bloomington. Mr. Read has all of the shoes you will need for the price that you can afford.
Spikes are recommended but NOT required. Spikes are lighter and will allow the runner to be faster, but they will only be used on race day.
Uniform: Jerseys will be provided. The jerseys will be returned at the end of the season. If they do not get returned, the office will hold the student’s report card until the equipment is returned. The participants will have to provide their own black shorts. The shorts need to be solid black. They can not be black with pink stripes. They need to be as full black as possible. (A Nike Swoosh or Adidas stripe at the bottom is fine as long as it is small)
T-shirts will be available for purchase.
· Team Rules
Athletes will be under the same rules as they are in school. Rules may be found in the student handbook.
Attendance is taken daily. 3 unexcused absents will result in dismissal from the team.
Grades: Grades are very important. Grades will be handed to the coaching staff at the beginning of each week. If an athlete is failing a class, they are not permitted to compete in practice or meets for the entire week. For example: if the student is failing his or her math class on Monday, he or she is not allowed to go to the race on Saturday. Even if the student stays after school and gets the grade back up to passing, he or she may still NOT compete for the remainder of the week. If the student is failing a class on the week of sectionals, the athlete may not run in the sectional meet. If the team makes it to state, he or she will still not be permitted to run in the state meet because he or she didn’t compete in the sectional meet. If the student is ineligible 3 weeks (in a row or separate) he or she will be dismissed from the team.
Students need to dress for PE. If they do not, they will not be eligible to compete in practice or meets on that day. It will also count as 1 unexcused absents.
On race day: it is SCHOOL POLICY that all participants ride the bus to the meet. If the athlete misses the bus he or she may NOT compete under any circumstance. Even if the athlete shows up on their own, on time, ready to go, he or she still may NOT compete. Students may ride home with their parents if they so choose. It is also SCHOOL POLICY that in order to ride home with one’s parents, we need a note provided to the coaching staff written by the parent. THE NOTE MUST ALSO BE SIGNED BY A MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION. That means that if a parent is planning on taking the athlete home with them they need to have a note signed ahead of time by the administration and the parent. It is too late to wait until Saturday to decide to take the athlete home.
· Cuts
Cuts are typically only made before Sectionals (late September/early October). Date tba - usually the week before sectionals. The season will come to and end for all but 10-12 boys and 10-12 girls.
Athletes should all have a decent pair of running shoes. 90% of all feet/leg injuries can be accredited to having poor footwear. We can not stress the importance of a good running shoe. We recommend that everyone go to Often Running in Normal. They have professionals there that can assess how the runner moves and what shoes would be the best for him or her. We understand that some athletes are just trying the sport for the first time and parents are worried about buying expensive shoes that will never come out of the closet. If this is a concern, we also recommend Read's Sporting Goods in Bloomington. Mr. Read has all of the shoes you will need for the price that you can afford.
Spikes are recommended but NOT required. Spikes are lighter and will allow the runner to be faster, but they will only be used on race day.
Uniform: Jerseys will be provided. The jerseys will be returned at the end of the season. If they do not get returned, the office will hold the student’s report card until the equipment is returned. The participants will have to provide their own black shorts. The shorts need to be solid black. They can not be black with pink stripes. They need to be as full black as possible. (A Nike Swoosh or Adidas stripe at the bottom is fine as long as it is small)
T-shirts will be available for purchase.
· Team Rules
Athletes will be under the same rules as they are in school. Rules may be found in the student handbook.
Attendance is taken daily. 3 unexcused absents will result in dismissal from the team.
Grades: Grades are very important. Grades will be handed to the coaching staff at the beginning of each week. If an athlete is failing a class, they are not permitted to compete in practice or meets for the entire week. For example: if the student is failing his or her math class on Monday, he or she is not allowed to go to the race on Saturday. Even if the student stays after school and gets the grade back up to passing, he or she may still NOT compete for the remainder of the week. If the student is failing a class on the week of sectionals, the athlete may not run in the sectional meet. If the team makes it to state, he or she will still not be permitted to run in the state meet because he or she didn’t compete in the sectional meet. If the student is ineligible 3 weeks (in a row or separate) he or she will be dismissed from the team.
Students need to dress for PE. If they do not, they will not be eligible to compete in practice or meets on that day. It will also count as 1 unexcused absents.
On race day: it is SCHOOL POLICY that all participants ride the bus to the meet. If the athlete misses the bus he or she may NOT compete under any circumstance. Even if the athlete shows up on their own, on time, ready to go, he or she still may NOT compete. Students may ride home with their parents if they so choose. It is also SCHOOL POLICY that in order to ride home with one’s parents, we need a note provided to the coaching staff written by the parent. THE NOTE MUST ALSO BE SIGNED BY A MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION. That means that if a parent is planning on taking the athlete home with them they need to have a note signed ahead of time by the administration and the parent. It is too late to wait until Saturday to decide to take the athlete home.
· Cuts
Cuts are typically only made before Sectionals (late September/early October). Date tba - usually the week before sectionals. The season will come to and end for all but 10-12 boys and 10-12 girls.