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Covering California Prep Track & Field/Cross Country!
DATE: August, 2002 TO: CIF-SS Boys' and Girls' Cross Country Coaches FROM: Paul A. Castillo, Assistant Commissioner SUBJECT: 2002 Cross Country Season Informational Bulletin
The Cross Country Preview Packet has been prepared to assist you in the organization of your school's cross country program. The information is important in preparation for the upcoming season. PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOUR ASSISTANT COACHES. The following items are included: 1. Introduction & Code of Ethics 2. Calendar Dates 3. Enrollment Divisions & Playoff Guidelines 4. Blue Book Rules - A. Accountability Rule B. Player Conduct Rule C. Spring Practice Rule D. Summertime Rules E. Association Rule F. Tobacco Products Prohibited G. Supervision of Athletes H. Conditioning I/J. Outside Competition K. Other Points of Interest L. Cross-Country Competition Outside season of Sport
ADVISORY COMMITTEE Hal Harkness Will Jacobsmyer, La Sierra High School Janice Kelly, Hemet High School Bob McGuire Rich Medelin, Esperanza High School Cary Nerelli, Morro Bay High School George Payan, Santa Ana High School Brad Peters, M.L. King High School Ken Reeves, Nordhoff High School Jay Stepp, Yucca Valley High School Mike Tomasulo, Temple City High School Billy York, Woodcrest Christian High School
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Bob Baker John Blair Don Chadez, Corona High School Marge Fulton Keith Gilliland Rich Gonzalez, San Gabriel Tribune Hal Harkness Jack Malloy, Diamond Bar High School Bob McGuire Doug Speck, Arcadia High School Brian Springer, SpringCo
2002 CROSS COUNTRY CALENDAR DATES The following is a capsule of the CIF Southern Section calendar for the 2002 Boys' and Girls' Cross Country season:
FALL PRACTICE Organized cross country practice which includes uniforms and any equipment may begin on MONDAY, AUGUST 26. NO practice or instruction of any type may be conducted on a Sunday. Practice is permissible on Labor Day. SPECIAL NOTE: School practice MAY NOT be conducted with other schools. Beginning August 26, teams (including practice sessions) representing a high school must be composed of students under the direct supervision of one principal and attending classes on one campus. (Refer to Rule 302.) SCRIMMAGE DATE Schools are NOT permitted to conduct interscholastic scrimmages in cross country. Any interscholastic competition must be counted as one of the allowable number of meets. FIRST CONTEST The initial date on which a school may schedule and conduct an interscholastic contest is THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12. LAST LEAGUE CONTEST All league competition for entries must end on or before FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8. Schools may compete until November 9 for non-league contests.
PLAYOFF DATES Prelims - Saturday, November 16 - Mt. San Antonio College Finals - Saturday, November 23 - Mt. San Antonio College
The STATE CROSS COUNTRY FINALS will be held at WOODWARD PARK IN FRESNO on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30. LEAGUE ENTRIES FOR CIF-SS PRELIMS
DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE WILL BE CONDUCTING OUR DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS UNDER THE ENROLLMENT FORMAT, WE ARE REQUESTING THAT ALL LEAGUES HAVE THEIR PRELIMINARY RESULTS IN TO THE CIF-SS OFFICE NO LATER THAN 9:00 P.M., FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8.
2002-2003 BOYS' AND GIRLS' CROSS COUNTRY GROUPINGS STATE CIF GROUPINGS CIF-SS GROUPINGS Starting # Ending # (TENTATIVE) Division I 1400-1800 1750 + Division II 1100-1350 1400-1800 1350 - 1749 Division III 700-900 1100-1350 750 - 1349 Division IV 150-350 700-900 300 - 749 Division V 1 150-350 1 - 299
2002 PLAYOFF GUIDELINES The CBED Enrollment figures from the 2001 school year as certified by the State for public and private high schools will be used for placement. When the computer enrollment data is received from the State Department of Education, schools will be divided into each Southern Section divisional category. If a school incurs a gain/loss in enrollment of a minimum of 15% in the current year, the current year CBED enrollment figures shall be used in place of the prior year. SOUTHERN SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING
LEAGUE FINALS INTO DIVISIONAL PRELIMS - Each recognized league has been allotted THREE (3) ENTRIES into the Southern Section Prelims. After the entries from each league have been received by the CIF Southern Section Office on Friday, November 8, each team and individual entry will be assigned to their appropriate enrollment category (Divisions I, II, III, IV, V). Three (3) heats will be run in each of the five Boys' and five Girls' divisions for a total of thirty (30) races in the Prelims. Each league may enter the top three (3) individual runners not on a qualifying team, provided they finish in the top six (6) in their league meet.
DIVISIONAL FINALS - The top four (4) teams in each Southern Section divisional prelim will compete in the Championship meet. Additionally, the fifth place team with the fastest team time in the prelims would also advance. In the event of a tie in team time, the time of the sixth runner on each team would be considered. Team awards would include plaques for the first two teams in each division and individual medals would be given to the first fifteen (15) place finishers. All individuals on non-qualifying teams, who finish in the first ten (10) places of each heat will also advance to the divisional finals.
DIVISIONAL FINALS TO STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS - Team entries into the state championship cross country meet shall be based on a formula that is comprised of two factors: 1) An established baseline providing a minimum number of entries for each section; 2) Additional entries based upon the most recent four (4) year history of the section team performance in each divisional race. No section shall have more than seven (7) entries in any divisional race, plus the top five (5) individuals on non-qualifying teams that finished in the top twenty (20).
A comprehensive bulletin detailing the Southern Section Prelims and Finals will be forwarded to all schools in mid October. Starting with the fall of the 2000-2001 school year, only two copies of playoff bulletins will be forwarded to member schools. These bulletins will be directed to the coach and the athletic director. Any future playoff bulletins will be available on our web site only. Please refer to www.cifss.org for all playoff information (including forms to be returned to our office) and heat sheets. The State CIF Office will forward to each school a bulletin covering details of the State Championship activity.
BLUE BOOK RULES - SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST A) ACCOUNTABILITY RULE - 125.1 - COACH EJECTION - Upon the ejection of a coach from any CIF-SS contest, it is the responsibility of the principal of said school to file a letter of explanation with the CIF Southern Section Office which includes the circumstances surrounding the matter and what action the principal has taken to prevent a recurrence. Said correspondence is to be filed within THREE school days of notification of the ejection. Additionally, upon ejection, the ejected coach shall be disqualified from participating in the remainder of the game and will be ineligible for the team's next contest. A second ejection will constitute a two contest suspension and a third ejection will cause suspension for the remainder of the season. QUESTION: What happens if unknowingly a coach or player who was ejected the previous game participates in the next contest? ANSWER: Being in attendance at or coaching/playing in a contest after having been ejected from a previous contest will result in the forfeiture of the contest. QUESTION: What is meant by attendance at a contest? ANSWER: Attendance is defined as being present at the team bench/area, inside a gymnasium, stadium or playing area. The intent of this rule is that the ejected person is not in attendance at the contest.
125.2 - FAILURE TO COMPLETE A CONTEST - When a school fails to complete a contest, due to a coach pulling his/her team from the floor, court or field, it is MANDATORY that the CIF-SS Office be notified by the Principal within 24 hours (excluding holidays and weekends). The competing schools and officials will be required to file written reports, and after review of the aforementioned material, the principal of the school involved will be required to respond to the CIF Southern Section Office concerning his/her investigation of the incident. QUESTION: How serious is such action? ANSWER: It has been the position of the CIF-SS Executive Committee to expect the building principal of the school concerned to relieve the coach from his/her assignment for the balance of that season or the Executive Committee is empowered to consider recommendations for additional penalties.
B) RULE 1716 - PLAYER CONDUCT RULE - Any player ejected for any reason or any player who leaves the confines of the bench or team area during a fight that may break out or has broken out shall be disqualified from participating in the remainder of the game and will be ineligible for the team's next contest. The next contest may not be a forfeited, postponed or canceled game. A second ejection will constitute a two contest suspension and a third ejection will cause suspension for the remainder of the season. A player who was ejected from the previous contest who, knowingly or unknowingly, participates in or is in attendance at the next contest, will result in the forfeiture of that contest. QUESTION: What is meant by attendance at a contest? ANSWER: Attendance is defined as being present at the team bench/area, inside a gymnasium, stadium or playing area. Students ejected from a game in progress should remain under supervision of school staff. The intent of this rule is that the ejected person is not in attendance at the contest.
C) RULE 1708 - SPRING PRACTICE - Beginning May 19, for a period not to exceed fifteen (15) days, a school may hold before and after school practice but may not participate in an interscholastic scrimmage, practice or contest. SPECIAL NOTE: Only students currently enrolled and attending a member school (grades 9-12) may participate in spring practice/tryouts. Eighth graders do not become ninth graders until after they have graduated.
D) RULE 1709 - SUMMERTIME RULES - 1710.1 From close of school in June OR June 13 (whichever is first) until the summer dead period, there shall be no restriction on high school coaches working with high school students registered and/or attending their respective high school, provided approval is received from the school principal. QUESTION: Who may participate in high school summer athletic programs approved by the principal? ANSWER: Only students registered for the upcoming school year in grades 9 through 12. Additionally, it would be a violation to allow elementary students (8th grade and below) to participate with the high school team. For students enrolled in more than one school, all summer competition must be confined to one school. QUESTION: What are the guidelines for sport camps? ANSWER: (A) High school sponsored sport camps during the school year or during the summer: (1) Only students registered or enrolled in the high school can attend. (2) The high school name or nickname can be used. (3) Principal of the high school has given permission for the camp to take place. (B) Other sport camps during the school year or during the summer: (1) Students from other high schools and/or individuals from the general community are invited to attend. (2) High school name or nickname cannot be used in the title of the camp or used in the promotion of the camp. (3) Organizers/coaches should secure facility permit for use of school and equipment. (4) Organizers/coaches should provide required liability insurance. (5) The camp may be identified as the coach's/organizer's camp, but without any connection to the high school or the high school sports program. NOTE: During the regular school year (from the start of the fall season until school is out in June) all Blue Book Rules apply, i.e., the Association Rule, etc.
1709.2 A summer dead period will be in effect from Monday, August 4, 2003, until the beginning of the first official starting date for fall sports which begins on August 25, 2003 No class could be offered in a summer school program which could circumvent the rule. During the dead period, weight lifting ONLY would be permitted. No running or other type of conditioning would be allowed. Special nationally recognized programs in various sports that require a national or regional championship format, such as Bobby Sox Softball, American Legion or Mickey Mantel Baseball, etc., would be allowed to continue, until completion, during the dead period. An exception to this rule will allow WATER POLO AND CROSS COUNTRY ONLY the choice of a three-week period from June 30 to July 18, 2003, as a dead period with principal approval in lieu of the August dead period.
SPECIAL NOTE: THE SOUTHERN SECTION COMMISSIONER HAS THE AUTHORITY TO GRANT EXCEPTIONS TO THE SUMMER DEAD PERIOD REQUESTED BY THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL FOR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OR PROGRAMS. ALTERNATE DATES MUST BE FORWARDED WITH THE REQUEST FROM THE PRINCIPAL. THE ALTERNATE DEAD PERIOD WILL BE APPROVED FOR ALL LEVELS, NOT JUST ONE TEAM, AND MUST BE FOR THREE (3) CONSECUTIVE WEEKS.
E) RULE 1710 - ASSOCIATION WITH HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS - No member of the school athletic staff shall organize, sponsor, or coach a cross country team outside the season of cross country, during the school year, in which students with remaining eligibility at that school are participating.
F) RULE 527 - TOBACCO PRODUCTS PROHIBITED - The use of tobacco products in conjunction with any CIF Southern Section athletic contest is prohibited. This would include all those involved in the contest including players, coaches and officials.
G) RULE 307 - SUPERVISION OF ATHLETES - State and Southern Section Rule 307 states: "No CIF team or individual shall participate in interscholastic or approved competition with any other team unless the CIF team is under supervision as required by the California Administrative Code Title V and CIF Bylaw 506(B). (Additionally, refer to Rule 123.)" It should be noted that schools representing the same district may send one credentialed or certified supervisor for three or four students. These individuals have been recognized and are to continue to be recognized for registration and participation purposes in that the district has assigned the supervisory role for all students from its member schools to this one individual. However, the concern is for those students who are not accompanied by a faculty representative and report to the playoff site by themselves or with a parent. PLEASE NOTE: THIS RULE WAS REVIEWED WITH BOTH THE STATE CIF OFFICE AND THE SOUTHERN SECTION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND REAFFIRMED THAT THE INTERPRETATION STAND AS ABOVE AND THAT ANY STUDENT REPORTING FOR COMPETITION WHO IS NOT UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE AND SOUTHERN SECTION RULE 307, IS TO BE "DENIED" ENTRY FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE COMPETITION. As pointed out by the Southern Section and State CIF Attorney, there are also inherent liability problems when an individual competes in violation of said rule. Please review this rule with your staff in that it will be strictly enforced as per the above application.
H) RULE 312 - CONDITIONING - A high school may conduct physical conditioning before and after school outside the season of sport. This conditioning may include weight training, aerobics, jogging or other related conditioning activities, but specific skills or equipment related to that particular sport MAY NOT be used in such conditioning activity. QUESTION: What would constitute a violation of the conditioning rule? ANSWER: An example of a violation would be if the high school basketball coach were to have students with remaining eligibility running in the gym dribbling a basketball or conducting other activities, such as simulating lay-ups. It would be permissible to run laps on the track, without any equipment, or to lift weights. Further, it is suggested that all conditioning programs be conducted in conjunction with the weight room and no use of a permanent facility, such as a gym for basketball or volleyball, etc., be utilized. QUESTION: May an athlete participate in conditioning programs before and after school outside the season of sport without an annual physical examination? ANSWER: No - An annual physical examination is required before a student may tryout, practice (to include physical conditioning) or participate in interscholastic athletic competition. QUESTION: With regard to conditioning, in the sports of cross country and track and field, what are athletes permitted to do? ANSWER: Athletes may take part in a conditioning program which could include running, however, no coaching or teaching of skills pertaining to the sport by the coach may take place. Additionally, no sport specific equipment may be used. QUESTION: Is interval training and/or road runs during the track and field preseason considered a violation of the conditioning rule? ANSWER: No. Aerobic conditioning may take place after school as long as specific skills are not being worked on and the emphasis is on conditioning.
I) RULE 600 - OUTSIDE COMPETITION - A student on a high school team becomes ineligible if the student competes in a contest on an "outside" team, in the same sport, during the student's high school season of sport. If the outside team has half or more of the team members as stated in the National Federation rule book for that sport, it shall be considered the same sport. *Examples: three on three basketball -- outside team competition prohibited; two on two volleyball -- outside team competition permitted. For purposes of this rule, touch football and flag football are considered to be a different sport than tackle football. In the sport of soccer only, it is permissible for a student on a high school team to compete in a contest on an "outside" soccer team except during the period of November 15 through March 15. During the period of November 15 through March 15, a student on a high school soccer team becomes ineligible if the student competes in a contest on an "outside" soccer team during the student's high school season for soccer. This rule shall not be in effect for those sports conducted outside the state adopted season of sport. QUESTION: What is the definition of the student's high school season for soccer in the Southern Section? ANSWER: A season of sport is defined as that period which begins with a student's first interscholastic competition (non-league game, tournament, contest or league game). For the 2002-2003 season, the date would be December 2, 2002. QUESTION: May a student who competes at the freshman or junior varsity level compete on an outside team during his or her high school season of sport? ANSWER: No. The Outside Competition Rule pertains to all levels of competition. Thus, any individual participating at the varsity, junior varsity, sophomore and/or freshman levels may not compete on an outside team during his or her high school season of sport. *See exception in above paragraph.
J) RULE 601 BYLAW 600 PENALTY A. INDIVIDUAL (1) FIRST OFFENSE IN HIGH SCHOOL CAREER IN ANY SPORT - The student becomes immediately ineligible for participation with his/her high school team for a number of contests equal to twice the number of contests of outside competition in which the student participated. (2) ANY SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE IN HIGH SCHOOL CAREER IN ANY SPORT - The student becomes immediately ineligible for one year (365 days) from the second infraction in all sports. (3) APPEALS - Upon written appeal to the Section Commissioner, the student may petition his/her section for reinstatement of his/her eligibility status.
B. TEAM (1) GAMES FORFEITED - Games in which a student participated on his/her high school team after violation of CIF Bylaw 600 shall be forfeited. (2) APPEALS - Sections may establish rules and procedures to consider requests for waivers of game forfeitures.
K) OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST - 1. MAXIMUM CONTEST - An individual of a cross country team will be permitted to enter and participate in no more than a total of 11 dual, triangular or invitational (sanctioned) meets during the season, not including all-league or CIF Southern Section Championships. 2. COMPETITION IN ONE DAY - An individual may compete in only one (1) cross country race in any one (1) day. 3. OUTSIDE COMPETITION - (Unattached) competition is permissible for a student in other than school contests during the season of sport. Please refer to Blue Book Rule 606 regarding unattached competition which will highlight specific regulations in reference to athletes who compete unattached. 4. PROPER UNIFORM - All Athletes competing in cross country must be in proper team uniform and wear running shoes. Spikes are not permitted. 5. DISTANCE OF RACES - The maximum distance in all non-league, league and invitational cross country competition shall be 5,000 meters (3.1 miles)(Adopted Southern Section Council March 22, 2001). A shorter distance may be adopted by a league or by mutual agreement by schools for non-league competition. 6. TEAM COMPOSITION - Coaches are urged to become familiar with CIF Rule 200 in reference to Boys and Girls team competition. Major emphasis would be the area of your school fielding only one team and its makeup consisting of both Boys and Girls. If a Girl is a member of this student team, she - at the conclusion of the regular season - WOULD NOT be permitted to compete in the Girls' cross country championships, but must take part in the boys' championships, if she so qualifies. In order for a Girl to compete in the CIF-SS Girls' post-team cross country championships, she must have been a member of a Girls' team for the regular season or have run as a freelance entry all season due to the fact that her school fielded only a Boys' team or did not field any team in this sport. 7. RULES - Cross Country competition in the CIF Southern Section is conducted under National Federation Rules, which are contained in the 2002 edition of the National Federation Track and Field Rule Books. 8. No interscholastic contests or practices of any kind are to be held on Sunday.
L) CROSS COUNTRY COMPETITION OUTSIDE THE SEASON OF SPORT - IMPORTANT!! It has come to the attention of this Office that some schools in this Section may be violating Section and State rules relative to coaches and/or school involvement with athletes in the sport of cross country OUTSIDE THE SEASON OF SPORT DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. We would ask that coaches review the outside competition rule in that association with athletes is allowed outside the season of sport IN ONE REGULARLY SCHEDULED PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASS ONLY and that schools and coaches may not be involved in outside meets with their athletes, such as the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships which are conducted after the Southern Section and State Final. These meets are not sanctioned or sponsored by the CIF Southern Section. High school athletes participating in these meets do so as unattached individuals. The school cannot provide or be involved with the furnishing of uniforms, transportation, lodging, coaching and/or before and after school practice.
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