How many kids does your school bring?

F

Fartlek

New member
I am trying to find out how many kids are brought along to the state meet for your school in CC. How many alternates? Thanks
 
 
Usually 2 per team. This year we had a couple of extras, we had our 8-9 guys and 2 freshman that were 10-11 but only a few seconds out. I wanted them to get the feel of being at the state meet, and the escitement of being a part of it to carry over to next year.
 
We brought two this year, one last year and one the year before that. This year our 8th and 9th runners were close to our 6th and 7th runners. (Their PR times were within about 10 seconds.) I think run4life is smart in bringing up the "getting the state meet experience" idea. Our #5 guy this year and last was the alternate as a sophomore. He said that going to the state meet as a sophomore made him less nervous as a junior.
 
Depends on the size of the team. We usually only have 10-12 kids so everyone goes. If the team is larger, then I'd probably take 9-10. I don't think there can be a hard and fast rule. It depends on so many things, including attitudes and team chemistry. I should add that it seems logical to take oonly one alternate, but after living through a league meet where the morning of the meet 4 of the top 7 guys had the flu, I like to have a little more to work with in case of emergency.
 
You take all the kids on the team. It's a team! Why would the state be any different than any other meet?

You tell them they can go as long as they keep coming to practice and doing what you ask them as a coach. You never know what part of the state meet experience might flick that switch for one of the kids that was not varsity.
 
We transport as many as want to go, I was referring to how many I consider alternates. This year I had to use my #9 in the district meet due to an illness and #8 had a last second conflict.

I also believe you never know what might appeal to each of the out of top 7 or 8 group.
 
I agree with psycho. Actually last year we had a situation where the AD wanted to limit the number who went (after we had always taken everyone in the past). This was sprung on us at the last minute. Using exactly that argument, we were allowed to take all 16 guys. They practiced just like normal right up until meet day.

If we had a team the size of St. X or something, I'm sure it wouldn't fly to take everyone overnight and that would be a supervison nightmare, but certainly the school would bus the non-running kids down on Saturday.

Even when we just qualify individuals, nearly everyone on the team goes to support them on meet day. This year with 2 guys and a girls' team, I think we only had 3-4 HS kids (out of 28) not make the trip in one way or another. We had several of our JH kids make the trip too. It's an invaluable experience for the non-running kids.
 
I agree on most of what you say. I tell my runners they are welcome to attend practice right up until the state meet - so long as they are doing the work and not distracting the runners that will be racing in the competition. We had 40+ boys and 30 girls on the HS team, so it would take two buses to transport everyone, but we don't have all attend anyway. We transport those that want to attend, they pay their own way into the meet. The school picks up the alternates.

If they don't want to do the workouts, I really don't want them at the practices anyway. This year we took about 30 kids, plus many met us at the meet with friends.
 
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