Welcome to Watauga High Cross Country. This is general information about the program for parents and athletes.
The coaching staff has had a lot of success training athletes of all abilities and we feel we have a good system in place. We realize not everyone will adapt as quickly as others and we do adjust as we see a need to so we expect everyone to follow our program. If the athlete or parent has any questions regarding our system please feel free to talk to the coaches after practice or call Coach Mac at home or at Hardin Park.
We practice five days a week and some Saturdays. As long as each athlete comes to practice everyday, on time, and with all the necessary equipment, we do not “cut” anyone. We are not a social club. We are a varsity sport. We do require everyone to participate in the meets. We do try to have fun along the way, but our practices are not designed to be fun, they are planned to make every athlete excel and improve. We try to bring beginners along slowly so as to lessen the chances for injuries. We also try to help runners get through their racing phobia.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Equipment needed:
Good pair of training shoes (two would be better)
Comfortable running clothes (shorts, t-shirt/tank top, non-cotton socks, sweat suit)
Warm clothes for cold weather and to put on after practice during warmer weather
Watch with stopwatch function
Water bottle
We will supply ice water (and occasionally Gatorade) and injury ice and bags but no cups (our way of helping the environment) NO ONE WILL BE ALLOWED TO DRINK OUT OF ANYONE ELSE’S CONTAINER.
We will practice after school until approximately 6:30 PM. Practice starts when the bus reaches the venue we are practicing at. We give out monthly practice schedules. These tell where practice is each day. Students can be picked up at the venue around 6pm or back at school around 6:30 (give or take a few minutes). Any student not picked up at the site when the last coach leaves will be transported back to school. Runners are often transported with other runners. If anyone has a concern please speak to Coach Mac, Coach Honea, or Coach Wood.
No one sits the bench in track and cross country. Everyone on the team will participate in the weekday meets provided they are healthy, have followed the rules, and have been to practice regularly. Athletes are required to ride the bus to meets unless prior arrangements have been made with Coach Mac (test last bell, previously scheduled appointment, not doing well in last bell). On these occasions a parent must transport the athlete to the meet. ATHLETES MAY NOT DRIVE THEMSELVES. Athletes may ride home with parents provided they check out with a coach. We usually stop to eat on the way home so food money will be needed. We will travel to several invitational meets on the weekends. Some or all of those meets require overnight stays in hotels. Money will be collected from each student for his or her room. They will also need food money. We try to stay in hotels with continental breakfast as much as possible. These meets often sell t-shirts also. Any athlete with financial concerns can speak to Coach Mac. We do not like to leave any eligible athletes at home due to financial constraints. The conference meet is the last meet of the season before the regional and state meets. We have to cut down to the top seven on each team.
2. Home from school is excused. If you are not at practice and not on the absence list or sign-out sheet you will be charged an unexcused missed practice. Notify a coach if you know you will miss. Cross training must be set up with a coach or it will count as a miss.
1st unexcused missed practice -- a warning will be given.
2nd unexcused missed practice-- warning and one meet suspension
3rd unexcused missed practice-- dismissal from team
3.
Detentions will need to be served in the time the teacher requires (even on meet days). Just because you are an athlete does not mean you do not have to serve detentions. If you are tardy to practice because of a detention you will be allowed to practice provided you told a coach in advance. Each detention counts as ½ unexcused absence. Make arrangements to get to practice after the detention or it will become a full missed practice. Or better yet don’t get detentions.
4. Respect others/treat each other with respect.
5. Captains are an extension of the coaching staff. If you cannot talk to a coach talk to a captain. Also respect what the captain tells you to do.
6. No offensive clothing.
7. All distance runners will run in groups of no less than 3.
8. Clean up after yourself. We are guests wherever we go, especially other courses and the national parks. It does not matter if you left the trash—pick it up.We leave our areas at the meets cleaner than we found them. We will also leave the busses clean after every away meet.
9. Everyone pulls his or her weight on the team. This includes carrying water and tents in and out of meets, cleaning, or any other duties the coaches or captains assign.
10. Drive safely to and from practice. Do not overload your vehicle. No loud or offensive music in parking lots. No speeding into the lots. Loss of driving privileges to and from practice will result.
11. No athlete may drive to or from a meet or ride in a car driven by another athlete or student. Failure to follow this rule will result in automatic dismissal from the team. PARENT DRIVERS ONLY.
12. Cell phones must be turned off during practice. If you answer your phone during practice you will be told to leave for that day.
13. Talk to Coaches about injuries. We have channels to follow to get you going again. It will be unexcused if you just don’t come to practice because of injury.
14. You are a student/athlete; student first athlete second. If you don’t behave in the classroom, you will not be an athlete in Watauga CC and T&F.
Coaches:
Randy McDonough Head Coach 264-8481 W 264-1790 H
Daniel McAulay Asst. Coach
Holley Quick Asst. Coach
David Honea Asst. Coach (in absentia)