The season starts on August 17 with practices.  It wraps up in late October.  There is a schedule of six Sunday races at Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia.

No experience is necessary.  If you like to run, then you can do cross-country.

Gender            Boys and Girls (separate competition)

Grades            K through 8^th Grades

Practices

We plan to have two practices per week at Mason’s Mill.

We practice with all three teams together so that we have a good group of 30-40 kids for practices.  We stretch, talk, do drills and go running around the park.

We usually practice from 5:30 to 6:30 on the same days each week.

Sunday races

The 2010 schedule will be posted here:  http://members.verizon.net/~acentrik/cyo.htm

Each Sunday, the races start at 12:45.  There are 8 races for different age groups and genders.

The youngest kids (age 5-8) race first, first girls and then boys, running 1.2 miles.

Then girls 9-10, boys 9-10, girls 11-12, boys 11-12, all covering 1.9 miles.

Finally girls 13-15 and boys 13-15, covering 2.5 miles.

The meet ends around 4:00 when the last race is done.

Every child is assigned a number that they wear for every race.  Individual results are posted on-line.  There are no team results for the regular races.

League Website

http://philacyotrack.blogspot.com/

Everyone has to find their own ride to and from the Sunday race in Philadelphia, but sometimes there is informal car pooling if a kid needs a ride.

Meets are canceled or ended if there is severe weather or lightning. Coaches do not find out about cancellations until the morning of the meet after 10:00AM .  E-mails will be sent to the team before 11:00AM if canceled so please check your e-mail before you leave for a race.

Some kids attend practices but do not race.  This is fine.  Some kids can’t attend practices but want to race.  This is fine, too, but very rare.  The practices are fun.

Championship meet and team competition

The final race of the season is a championship race.  To qualify for this race, each runner must have completed a minimum number of races during the season, usually 3.  The top finishers in each championship race usually receive awards, at least the top 10, perhaps more.

The championship race also includes the only team scoring of the year for ages 9-10, 11-12 and 13-15, scored separately for boys and girls in each age group.  To qualify for team scoring in any of these six races, a school must have at least three runners in the specific race.  Points are based on a runner’s place in the race, with 1 point to the winner, 2 points for second place. The lowest total team score wins in cross country.

Registration

Please make checks payable to the Parish you are registered in and turn into your coach or your CYO Athletic Director.  You may also choose to sign up on Wagdogs.

Coaches for the Team:

Dave O’Connell          Phone:  215-658-0681                                          Email:  oconnell_d@bls.gov

Jenny Mars                 Phone:  215-620-0093 or  215-659-1215          Email: marsfam@verizon.net

We are certified as a CYO coaches and our background checks are on file with our rectories.

Dave O’Connell:  2010 will be his second year as head coach for SJC and co-coach for St. David and St. John of the Cross.  This is following several years as an assistant coach for SJC, St David and St. John Bosco.  His two daughters are on the team.

Jenny Mars:  2010 will be the 8^th year as head coach for St. David and several years coaching St. John Bosco and St. John of the Cross with Mr. O’Connell.

ASSISTANT COACHES:

Carmine D’Uva:  Has joined us this year to help at practices.

We are always looking for parents who would like to run at practice to come and help at the practice.  If you are interested, please talk to Dave or Jenny about this.