Waconia XC Student Athlete Handbook

Section #1 - How to earn a Varsity Letter?

Section #2 - Varsity Performance Standards

Section #3 - XC Meet Athlete Checklist

Section #4 - Additional Meet Information

Section #5 - Your Job vs. Coaches Job (little refresher quiz)

Note: Scroll down for each listed section detail

Section #1 - XC Lettering & VarSITY Standards

OPEN TO ALL Athletes in grades 7 - 12th

Lettering - Must meet Standards 1-3 Below

Standard One - Character

ALL athletes that want to be considered for a XC Varsity Letter MUST be in good academic/behavior standards within our team and school.  NO athlete will be eligible for an Athletic Letter if they were removed from team practices/races due to chemical or behavioral infractions during the season.

Standard Two - Service to the Team/Community

ALL athletes wishing to earn a Varsity Letter MUST volunteer at ONE of our Team Fundraising/Community Events throughout the season.  Athletes will need to be present for the entire event in order for it to be counted. 

2024 - Service/Volunteer Events
#1 - Saturday, Sept 14th Nickle Dickle Day
      7am - 11am
       Report - Bayview Elementary Gym/Running Course

#2 - Saturday, Oct. 26th Haunted Hustle 5K
       Report - Bayview Elementary Gym/Running Course

Standard Three - Lettering Standard Times

Athletes wishing to Letter in XC must run 2 "Lettering Times" during in season competitions throughout our season OR at the Varsity/JV Conference Championship meet.

Guys Lettering Time = sub 19:45.00

Gals Lettering Time = sub 22:55.00

Note: Running a Lettering time at Conference Championship will guarantee a “XC Letter” award… even if it is the first time an athlete successfully completes a race at lettering pace)

ALL Varsity Letters will be presented to athletes during our annual Awards Banquet. 

Standard Four - for Graduating Seniors ONLY

ALL Senior Athletes who have been with the program for 3+ seasons will receive a “Varsity Letter” upon completion of the Senior season regardless of “Letter Time Standards”.

Section #2 - VARSITY PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

Guys - Sub 19:00.00

Gals - Sub 22:05.00

Hey Coach…am I on Varsity?

Above posted times will dictate “Varsity” status and eligibility to run in the designated Varsity races throughout the Waconia XC Fall season schedule. Please note that athletes will not be elgible or considered for a Varsity spot/position within a race unless they are AT OR BELOW the above posted times. First Meet (St. Olaf) “Varsity Squads” will be based on Time Trials and ALL events thereafter will be based on “Last Meet” time. We will run a team of 3 atheltes at a meet if we don’t have enough Varsity Qualifying times within our ranks. The XC staff believes this philosophy will help provide clarity and place kids in the correct race for thei ability level. We believe that an athlete will perform best and will be better equipped to chase that PR (Personal Record) if they are placed in the correct level of race throughout our race season.

So..are you on Varsity? (you show us!) #BAM #HECKYA

Section #3 - WacXC Meet Athlete Prep Checklist

Personal Checklist

_____ - Running Shoes and Extra Socks

_____ - Racing Spikes (ALL athletes grades 7 - 12th and encouraged to race in spikes)

_____ - ALL Parts of the Team Uniform (top and bottoms)

_____ - Warm-Up “Longs” (be prepared for ALL weather conditions)

Clothing List: Warm Fleece Top, Windbreaker/Raincoat, Tights, Wind Pants, Extra Socks, Gloves/Mittens, Stocking Hat, extra T-Shirt

_____ - Packed Lunch (variety of fruit, crackers, nutrition bars, granola, sandwich)

_____ - Water Bottle (filled and sipping on bus ride)

_____ - Post Race Treat (reward yourself)

_____ - $$$ (You never know when the bus will stop at a DQ!)

_____ - Plastic Bag or Large Zip Lock for Wet & Sweaty Uniform Post Race

Note: Don’t leave your uniform in this bag and forget about it till next meet...you will NOT be happy

_____ - Blanket, Towel or Small tarp to sit on at Team Camp **Tarp for wet conditions

_____ - Meet Goals Sheet is filled out and your personal race plan is set

      Ex/ know your time "splits" and have an estimated finish time in head

Section #4 - Additional Athlete Meet Info

Keep Cell Phone use LIMITED upon arrival at race site...please put these devices AWAY during warm-ups, races & cool downs

ALL Waconia Distance Athletes will be in Waconia Gear AT ALL times when boarding the bus for meets, at the meet site and on way home from meets WACONIA PRIDE...Note: these can advertise ANY Waconia Sport, we just want TONS Of Purple and Gold, Wildcat, Waconia Distance advertising (no street clothes...we are here to compete)

Pre-Race...WARM UPS ON at ALL TIMES prior to Racing and during your Cool Down...we will always have a clothes basket and manager at start lines to help transport/watch over warm-up items

Team Camp is the base of operation for our Squad at the meet site...water, post race snacks, foam rollers, medical supplies, and members of the coaching staff can always be found here...it is a team effort to keep this place clean and looking good...please lend a helping hand whenever possible to help set-up, take down and the cleaning of camp at the end of a meet...thanks

We represent our school and our community when “on the road” with our team...from the course, to the bus, to any restaurant you may find yourself in...PLEASE act in a manner that would make our town proud! #keepitclassy

 

Section #5 - Our Job vs. Your Job

As an athlete you have a TON of responsibilities to ensure that your XC experience is positive.  Yes, of course your coaches also have a TON of responsibilities to fulful, but the Gray Train (weird Nickname of our HUGE gray uniformed team) runs smoothest when ALL participants (athlete, coaches, officials, parents, pets) understand the basic framework of responsibility within our squad.  

Quiz Time - Who's Job? (A - Coach, B - Athletes C - BOTH)

Q1 - Provides a detailed workout schedule throughout the season?

Q2 - Completed ONLINE registration for upcoming season?

Q3 - Clean up Team Camp at the end of Meet?

Q4 - Show up with a Good Attitude & Ready to Work!

Answers - #1 A, #2 B, #3 B, #4 C