LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Ballfield Road
Lincoln, Massachusetts 01773
781-259-9400
September 2013
Dear Parents of Runners,
We just wanted to send home some information regarding this year’s cross-country season. I am very excited to be returning as your coach and as many of you know, I truly love running. I am also thrilled to share that Karen Shepard will be joining us as coach again this season.
As of this moment we have 48 children who have signed up to join our team. There are always changes at the start of the season draws closer, but we expect to be fielding a very large team. We feel it is important to share a few of our beliefs that serve as the foundation for our coaching philosophy:
1. Everyone can run and deserves to feel dignity and pride in their efforts.
2. Individual improvement is stressed over meet victories.
3. Even though running is an individual endeavor, our very large team still permits the fostering of a strong community. We are a team!
The following are some highlights that we want to make sure you are aware of:
1. Practice Attendance Policy – Students must be at 3 practices/races a week in order to participate in the following weeks’ race.
Why? Our rationale for this rule is that students must be running at a consistent pace for a minimum of 20 minutes 3 times a week to stay conditioned to run cross-country in a healthy fashion. (Soccer practices do not count for endurance running events or as practice). We reserve the right to make exceptions for certain circumstances such as illness; commitment to making up runs on the weekends with a note from the parents will be granted only for extenuating circumstances, not as a ritual.
2. Attire for Away Meets – Students will not be permitted on the bus without some warm clothing. (Does not need to be optional team warm ups!)
Why? It is more likely to result in injuries such as pulled muscles or sprained ankles.
3. Practice Cancellation Policy – We will cancel practice any time there is thunder and lightning forecasted. We will make a judgment call on rain. Days with rain will find us warming up and stretching in the gym and then running outside.
Why? Safety first. With such a large team, managing a team practice in a small gym is not productive for the runners or the coaches.
Some general information: Cross-country will not be cutting anyone who wants to participate with the team. We will hold practices until 4:30 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Due to our commitments as teachers, there will be no practices on the following Mondays:
September 30.2013 October 7, 2013
In the event that the season is extended due to canceled meets: October 28, 2013!
Sincerely,
David Trant Karen Sheppard