Track Preview and Changes for 2012-13 Cross Country and Track
By Traci Neely, Assistant Athletic Director | Friday, March 30, 2012 11:05 AM
Track & Field
Newly revised forms are now available on the track page of the UIL website: www.uiltexas.org/track. Any championship meet administrator may use the UIL forms, which are designed as front and back pages or top half and bottom half pages that can be copied and cut appropriately.
The rules and guidelines section also has useful information including state association adoptions to the National Federation of High School Track and Field rules, a short summary of uniform requirements, a quick study of tie-breaking procedures for field events and other useful documents for coaches and athletic directors.
Schools should be aware that the district and area meet deadlines are quickly approaching. The district deadline for conference 1A is April 7. The district deadline for 2A-5A conferences and the area meet deadline for 1A is midnight April 14. Extensions will not be granted in the event of weather delays, therefore district and area meet managers should adjust schedules to ensure the prompt completion of the meets.
The district director’s track meet manual will guide coaches through the entry process and answer questions regarding the procedures for scratches as well as give details for the six athletes that are required for relay entries.
Coaches with advancing athletes should review the updated regional site information at www.uiltexas.org/regional. Hotels have been an issue at many UIL events across the state this year, and we encourage coaches to make plans early if they anticipate competing at the next level.
The UIL regional track meet scheduled for April 27-28, 2012 presents a potential conflict with the TAKS testing. We encourage school administrators to contact the Texas Education Agency since TEA has indicated it will work with schools that have students qualify for the regional track meet. However, exceptions will not be considered until students have actually qualified from district to regional competition.
Schools anticipating a possible conflict should promptly discuss the options with coaches and administration to prepare ahead of time. TEA has more information on its website in the A-Z Index under the heading: Alternate Test Dates, Modified Scheduling, and Off-site Testing.
Cross Country – Summer and Fall 2012
Running during the summer months is an important key for a successful and injury-free fall for cross country athletes. While high school cross country teams are allowed to practice all year with a school coach, there are some rules that coach needs to understand to avoid UIL violations.
In recent years, various colleges and universities have created summer training camps for school teams. These camps have become very popular with our schools. Cross country coaches should be aware of the restrictions before making arrangements to attend a team camp.
Coaches for individual sports are allowed to offer instruction during the summer. However, coaches are not permitted to supervise team members for more than the allowable practice limits. The 2012-13 UIL Constitution and Contest Rules will reflect the revised off-season practice limits approved by the Legislative Council in October 2011. The revised parameters to be included in the Cross Country Plan of the C&CR Section 1240 (g):
- Student-athletes shall not engage in more than three hours of practice activities on those days during which one practice is conducted.
- Student-athletes shall not engage in more than five hours of practice activities on those days during which more than one practice is conducted.
- The maximum length of any single practice session shall be three hours.
- On days when more than one practice is conducted, there shall be, at a minimum, two hours of rest/recovery time between the end of one practice and the beginning of the next practice.
- Schools shall not schedule more than one practice on consecutive days and student-athletes shall not participate in multiple practices on consecutive days.
Coaches also need to pay particular attention to two different areas of current policy when they consider a team camp for their program participants. The two policies that come to mind when considering a team camp are:
Constitution and Contest Rules 1206
- (b) A League participant school shall not participate in any athletic contest or conduct any practice or teach any plays, formations or skills on Sunday.
- (k) Workout sessions which involve meals and/or overnight lodgings are prohibited.
4A and 5A Distance Change
A referendum ballot by school superintendents showed a split vote on the distance girls run in cross country meets. Conferences 4A and 5A voted to increase the distance for the race to a 5K (3.1 miles) from the previous distance of 3200 meters.
In the 2012-13 Constitution and Contest Rules in Section 1240, new language for championship girls’ racing distance will read: (c) (2) Girls, Boys. The distance for the cross country event will be approximately two miles for 1A, 2A &3A girls (3200 meters) and three miles for boys and 4A &5A girls (5000 meters).
It is important to emphasis this change is required only for the varsity competition in UIL district, region and state meets. The cross country distance for sub-varsity and junior high boys and girls may remain the same. It is up to local districts and invitational meet host sites. Furthermore, the varsity racing distance may vary throughout the season for the invitational meets. Coaches should seek ways to learn about the increased distance change and how that will affect training for the varsity girls.