We received a copy of the following information from Mike Taylor, Cross Country Coach at Williamstown and Treasurer of the WV Track & Cross Country Coaches Associaton. WV TRACK & CROSS COUNTRY COACHES ASSOCIATION Governing Body: REGION I: Kristine Alvarez REGION III: Scott Welch REGION II: Paul Martin REGION IV: Paul Hodges REGION V: John Rowlan DATE: January 16, 1999 TO: WV Cross Country Rules Committee From: Track & Cross Country Coaches Association Purpose: State Meet Qualifying/Regional Participation 1999 With the relocation and success of the 1998 State Cross Country Meet held in Williamstown, the WV Track and Cross Country Coaches Association would like to make suggestions to further improve the level of competition and exposure of the athletes. The basis for the suggested improvements comes from data gathered from other states and from high shcool and college coaches that attended the 1998 State Meet. Four of the neighboring states of West Virginia allow the top three (3) teams from each division that qualify from their respective regions to attend the state meets. Each of these neighboring states also allow the top ten (10) runners exclusive of the top three teams to attend the state meets. Maryland qualifies the top half of the teams participating in the regional meets and the top half of all runners participating in the regional runs. West Virginia currently qualifies one (1) or two (2) teams from each region and only allows the top five (5) runners inclusive of the qualifying teams to participate at the state meet. Other states contacted regarding qualification for state meets included Texas, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Iowa. All of these states qualify the top three (3) teams and qualify at least the top ten (10) runners from each of their divisions. Michigan and Kansas qualify the top twenty (20) runners exclusive of the top three teams. These states boast upwards of 215 runners participating at their divisional state cross country meets. High School and college coaches attending the 1998 West Virginia Cross Country Meeet praised the way the meet was conducted and complimented how well organized the meet was especially being only the first year held in Williamstown. However, it was also noted by some college coaches attending that there needs to be major improvements in team participation and the means of qualifying individuals in order to have a better cross section of the runners that represent our state. Based upon the data gathered from other states and the suggestions submitted by coaches from West Virginia Weslyan, Wheeling Jesuit, and Virginia Tech, the following criteria for State qualifying and team participation for the West Virginia State Cross Country Meet was agreed upon the the State Coaches Association: 1. Regions with 0-4 teams participating would qualify one (1) team to the state meet. Regions with 5-8 teams participating would qualify two (2) teams. Regions with 9 or more teams would qualify three (3) teams from their respective divisions. 2. The top ten (10) individual runners exclusive of the runners qualifying as team members would qualify to the state meet. 3. Any team that participates in five (5) regular season meets will be counted toward the team participation count in the Regional Meet. In addition, any complete team beginning the Regional Meet as a complete team but finishing as an incomplete team shall be counted in the team count towards state qualification. If any team chooses not to participate in regional competition that team must submit in writing, to the WVSSAC and Regional Director, the reasons for not participating in the Regional Meet at least ten (10) days prior to the Regional Meet for WVSSAC approval. Possible sanctions by the WVSSAC could be applied. 4. Individuals and teams that participate in the state meet must have participated in at least five regular season meets prior to the regional meet exclusive of a medically documented injury that may have hampered participation by an individual. Said document must be submitted with the Regional Eligibility sheet to the Regional Director. 5. To insure fairness to all participating teams at the regional and state meets, it is suggested that two (2) dates be designated for invitational meets to be held at the regional and state sites. These invitational meets would be on Saturday during the same calender week each year. This would eliminate any scheduling problems or conflicts for teams wishing to have the opportunity to run at these sites prior to the regional and state meets. 6. Any of the top five (5) West Virginia teams from each division of the invitational meet held prior to and at the proposed state course site, currently being held at Williamstown, that does not qualify at their reginal meet would earn a berth to the state meet. 7. Cross Country be given the option to begin practices the Monday of week five (5). 8. Recognition of the top fifteen (15) runners at the state cross country meet as All State compared to the top ten (10) presently recognized as All State. It is further suggested that a member of the State Coaches Association be present at the Board of Appeals meeting to assist with answering any questions that the Board may feel the need to ask or inquire about the proposed changes for the upcoming Cross Country Season. RATIONALE FOR THE 8 IMPROVEMENTS 1. This suggestion will allow some of the smaller regions to send two teams to the state cross country meet. It also will allow those large regions to possibly send a third team to the state meet. In using the figures from last year, one additional team from A-AA boys' classification would have been entitled to go to the state meet. Many regions in both A-AA and AAA were one team away from advancing an additional team. 2. It is theoretically possible for the top 10 individuals in the state to be from the same region. Under the current guide- lines, only the top five individuals in each region advance to the state meet. Athletes that do not place in the top five in their respective region are not given the opportunity to garner all-state honors (currently top 10 in the state). Including the top ten exclusive will also allow deserving runners from stronger regions a chance to compete in the state meet. 3. In at least one region last year, teams decided not to compete in the regional meet. Had those schools participated, one additional team would have qualified for the state meet. Currently, schools in a sense are penalized for the non-participation of other teams because of qualification being based on the number of schools participating. Under this new proposal, teams not participating or affected by injury during the regional meet would count toward the total number of teams competing in the regional. 4. Under the current system, schools can legally add runners to their regional roster that have not competed in a cross country race during the regular season. The only stipulation for a runner competing in the regional meet is that they have the required number of practices and for their team to have competed in at least five meets. Under this new proposal, all athletes will be required to compete in a minimum of five meets. Students with a documented injury that hinders them from competing in five meets would be excused from this rule with documentation from a doctor. 5. Most schools around the state only have one opportunity to see the state meet course in Williamstown. This opportunity occurs during the Little Run Farm Invitational in September. At least one regional course had an invitational on the very same weekend. For most of the schools involved thsi, too, was the only opportunity for them to see their regional course. As a result, a school is put in the situation of having to choose between viewing the regional course or the state meet course. This proposal designates that an invitational on the state meet course and those on regional courses be on different dates. This will insure fairness to all participating teams at the regional and state meet. 6. This proposal is one that will allow teams from very tough regions an opportunity outside the regional to qualify for the state cross country meet. This opportunity would occur by placing as one of the top five West Virginia schools in their respective divisions. Using data from last year, one school that placed second in their division was denied a trip to the state meet because they were not the top team in their region. Across the state, 3 A-AA girls teams, 3 A-AA boys teams, 3 AAA girls teams, and 2 AAA boys teams would have been permitted to go to the state met. This proposal will help give the state meet a better representation of the top teams statewide. 7. Since cross country is a very physically demanding sport, this association is asking that schools be given the option to begin practice on the Monday of week 5. By doing so, athletes will be gradually worked into condition and be less likely to sustain injuries. 8. Increasing the number of all-state runners to the top fifteen will allow this honor to be proportional to the increased number of schools participating in cross country and possibly the state meet.