So what next? After RGB's email excoriating those who would use "petitions" and other methods to "circumvent" the standard process, what steps do we take to improve our qualifying process that don't infuriate the political process? We want to work within the appropriate channels, but how do we do it?

At the risk of not playing my political cards well, I am very angry at reading this this morning. The more I think about it, the angrier I get. From my point of view, removing JV runners from the regional meet serves no good purpose whatsoever.

Like a lot of other people, I have strong feelings about this entire situation. I hope this forum proves to be a useful place to work on ideas for addressing the situation we now face. Over the last couple months, I've come to learn and appreciate a few things: 1. Not all coaches, and especially not all ADs, see value in keeping JV runners active through regional week. That's a reality we all have to face. 2. CHSAA, being the sanctioner of regional and state contests, has the right to say there will be no sub-varsity competition at this level. I get and appreciate that. I can understand some reasons why CHSAA feels they need to do things that way. 3. Amendments that come subsequent to the committee reports are difficult, in the extreme, to get passed. And this situation is probably as it should be. All this leads me to conclude that the most effective approach will be to work toward getting this issue addressed at the cross country committee level next year. If, for example, a large majority of coaches see value in having two extra non-scoring runners at regionals, then we need to work through channels to accomplish that. We've learned something about what the obstacles and objections to that are and none of us will be surprised next year by a committee report saying there will be no more JV races at regionals. If there's a better plan than running two extra non-scoring runners at regionals, then now is the time to hammer out the details of that plan. On a personal level, I may need to step out of these discussions. It seems that my presence, and especially my advocacy, in these discussions tends to imply a TCA-centric agenda. And that has not helped. I have attended and spoken out at regional rep meetings for many years running, but perhaps the time for me to be doing that has expired. Be assured, though, that I will support these discussions taking place on Colorado Track XC.

Being new to Colorado I have not added too much input to the way things are done here. I have seen some great things that Colorado does in both Cross country and Track & Field and I have passed that on to my coaching friends in Pa. to try to emulate. However, I have also seen things that definitely need to be fine tuned. In my 2 years out here I have yet to run my varsity 6 from the regional meet at the state meet. Both years, 1 or 2 runners have beaten a varsity runner in the JV race. And I have chosen to run them in the state meet. Removing that JV race really impacts alot of choices and / or opportunities for coaches and athletes. Does anyone actually think that Missing a couple more classes is going to effect their classroom grades. I can guarantee that these XC runners have the highest GPA’S of any athletic teams in the State. Also, the cost to run a Cross Country Meet is minimal compared to any other sport. I do not see the logic. The state association should be glad, we as XC coaches want to keep our entire teams intact till the end of the season. I have always told my teams that at the end of a meet we meet along the finishing chute till every one of our runners finishes. And a season does not end till the last person is done competing (even if only one qualifies for the state meet everyone continues to train and goes to the state championships as a team. Cross is truly the epitome of team sports. Please, as coaches, let’s not let this happen. Just look at what is proposed in Oregon, the land of Bowerman and Prefontaine. We need to work together for the good of the kids.

I disagree with CHSAA's decision on every level. It is disturbing to see adults making decisions that negatively impact both our kids and our sport. Maybe it's time to get more of us involved as regional reps? Or maybe there is a way to get the coaches association more involved with CHSAA so that they listen? I really don't know the answers to what the best approach is here, but it is frustrating to see the JV race go away. It really does hurt the team aspect of the sport we all love so much.

The CHSCA (coaches association) T&F/XC regional reps next meeting is Feb. 5th at the T&F clinic (Red Lion Hotel). The meeting will start at 4:00 pm sharp. Coaches are encouraged to attend.