Cross-Country

Our Goal

The goal of the John Fisher Cross Country program is to provide a positive atmosphere that will allow students to have fun, be challenged, and achieve their goals while getting active in a sport they can enjoy for life. The program encourages children to compete against themselves and do the best they can. We will provide them with the training they need to accomplish this.

Training times and rain policy

For the junior students (gr. 4-6), the program runs Tuesdays and Thursdays at Sherwood Park. Practices will happen regardless of rain, so bring a change of clothes if necessary. Sessions start at 7:45 am. Students should meet and be ready for warm-up at this time.

Permission Form

Every student who participates must submit a signed permission form. They are with this letter. Please return them to us no later than Thursday or 1st practice. ALL BLUE SHEETS MUST BE RETURNED (juniors only for now)

For the primary students, practices will be held at lunchtime at 11:30. We will have practice once a week : gr. 1 on Mondays, gr. 2 on Tuesdays, and gr. 3 on Thursdays. To participate in the meets the students must attend all training sessions. In order to get in enough running and be physically ready for the first meet we encourage the children not to miss more than two practices (due only to illness or religious holidays). It is only a 4-week commitment. If your child is unable to attend, please provide a note. Keep in mind your child will need to purchase a school team “Fisher Penguin” t-shirt. *Interested parents are welcomed to assist with practice by running and/or taking attendance.

Parent’s Role

Your support is essential to your child’s enthusiasm and success in the program. Please encourage them to have fun, but also to focus their efforts during training sessions. Some children are more competitive than others and don’t like to lose. Unfortunately there can only be one winner in a race. Focusing on self improvement and commitment are worthy goals that apply well beyond sports venues. Show them that participating in training, and doing the best they can each day will bring improvement they can be proud of.

Some children like to participate but don’t like to compete. This is fine too. They can still set goals to improve through their training. Sometimes when they can see themselves improving they open up to the idea of competing. It’s important not to pressure them into competing, let them come to it on their own. There are a lot of runners who love the sport and enjoy the health benefits, but have never competed.

If your child wants to drop out of the program encourage them to hold on for a couple of weeks. We all know as adults that taking up a vigorous sport like running isn’t always comfortable for the first couple of weeks. If the children hang in there, the sessions become easier.

The Meets and team qualification

All children who participate in this program and who show they are physically ready are invited to the “ZONE 6” cross country meet at Ashbridge’s Bay on Monday, October 4th, 2010.

The top 4 teams and the next top 15 individuals from the zone meet on October 4th will qualify to compete in the Conference Championship Meet at Ashbridge’s Bay on October 14th.

The top 3 teams and the next 15 placing individuals and from the Conference Meet will move onto the City Championships at Centennial Park in Etobicoke on October 21st. For results of the City Championships, click here.

• The grade 1’s, and 2’s and will run approximately 1 km. —Approximately 5 laps of school field
• The grade 3’s will run approximately 1.5 km — about 8 laps of the school field
• The grade 4’s, 5’s and 6’s will run approximately 2 km.—Approximately 10 laps of school field

Team Qualifying

Runners may also move on if their age group team places in the top 4 at the zone meet, and top 3 at the conference final. Teams are comprised of the 4 John Fisher individual runners (in the same grade) whose placements add up to the lowest numeric value.

Food and drink

Hydration is very important in any aerobic activity. It is recommended that the students drink about a cup of water 30 minutes before they train. They should also have a water bottle with them at school to hydrate throughout the day. The training sessions are 30 minutes long so a water bottle is not required during the training session.

Eating should be limited in the hour leading up to training. We suggest a small breakfast before they arrive, and a snack to eat before going into school and another for their recess break.

Following these guidelines will help the students keep up their energy stores.

3 strikes and you’re out

This program involves a lot of children, and we only have them for 30 minutes each training session. Therefore students who disrupt the practices will be given 2 warnings before they are asked to leave and join us again next year.

Attendance

We will be taking attendance at the beginning of the practice. Please make sure you check in with the coach doing attendance right when you get there. If you arrive late you will NOT be marked present.

Parent Volunteers

We will need a number of volunteers for the zone meet at Ashbridge’s Bay on October 4th. As of right now it looks like we will be taking 2 buses to this meet. More details to follow.

Monday, October 4th Zone Meet procedures

The meet will begin at 10:00am sharp with the grade one girls. That race will be followed by the grade 1 boys. This pattern will continue throughout the day, finishing with the grade 8 races.

With this schedule in mind, we ask that grade 1,2, 3 and 4 runners come to school that day at 8:15 and meet in the gym. Attendance will be done and then we will board the 2 buses leaving at 8:30 am. The gr. 5 and 6 students will assemble in the gym at 9:45 and leave at 10:00. For the return trip, one bus will leave the meet after the grade 3 boys have completed their race (around 12:00) and the second bus will return to John Fisher after the grade 6 boys have finished (around 2:00).

Questions

If you have any questions, or concerns please contact us. Thank you.

Jean-Aimé Lalonde

Emilie Adams