How can I get my team a fifth guy for XC?

Assuming you're a high school coach...

Stand right next to your school's soccer field when they announce the "cuts" from the team. Immediately pick off those kids and recruit them to your Cross Country team.

I can't even count how many good high school runners are former soccer players.

Since you only need 1 out of the 3 it doesn't matter if 2 get injured in the process, so make those 3 bust their asses in workouts to stay with the 1 - 4 guys and do more mileage. If they don't care/aren't motivated then F it cause you only have a 4 person team.

Your current 5-7 are a lost cause. Get another 20 guys out there - one of them will be a good 5th.

Threaten them

It's pretty obvious. Stop getting coaching advice on Letsrun and get the kids to bust their asses in mileage and workouts however you can.

make him run faster

you could consider looking around the school for some prospects - maybe some mid distance track guys could be convinced to run XC.

and listen to the person who mentioned soccer

Snipes wrote:

Assuming you're a high school coach...

Stand right next to your school's soccer field when they announce the "cuts" from the team. Immediately pick off those kids and recruit them to your Cross Country team.

I can't even count how many good high school runners are former soccer players.

That's how I got into the sport. Got cut from the soccer team (was half injured) and as I was walking to the car 2 of my friends convinced me to do XC.

trade future draft picks. or trade young talents for a superstar. maybe like verzbicas,three first round picks, and cash for chris derrick

Snipes wrote:

Assuming you're a high school coach...

Stand right next to your school's soccer field when they announce the "cuts" from the team. Immediately pick off those kids and recruit them to your Cross Country team.

I can't even count how many good high school runners are former soccer players.

For sure. It's a completely untapped market.

I'd say that you can't rush it. Build their aerobic base with miles & longer tempos runs.

As the season progresses, do some GOAL PACE workouts (check out Brad Hudson's book on this one).

12 X 400 @ GP w/ 2:30 rest

8 X 600 @ GP w/ 2:30 rest

6 X 800 @ GP w/ 2:30 rest

5 X 1000 @ GP w/ 2:30 rest

5 X 1000 @ GP w/ 2:00 rest

5 X 1000 @ GP w/ 1:30 rest

5 X 1000 @ GP w/ 1:00 rest

I think that's pretty close to Hudson's plan. I think the big thing is to make sure the goal pace is a realistic pace for your runners.

Remind those kids that the most important runner on the team is the FIFTH MAN. The number 1 runner gets all the glory, but it's that 5th man that is the key to the season.

Snipes wrote:

Assuming you're a high school coach...

Stand right next to your school's soccer field when they announce the "cuts" from the team. Immediately pick off those kids and recruit them to your Cross Country team.

I can't even count how many good high school runners are former soccer players.

this isn't 1970 anymore. Cuts for sports are not announced in most schools. They put a list up of who made the team, not who was cut that students can check at their convenience outside of tryouts. Some coaches may not even do that, simply calling everyone who made it individually w/ a phone outside of tryouts.

Definitely, definitely, definitely do whatever you can to recruit soccer players. Some schools play soccer in the Spring, so you can convince them to run XC in the Fall as good cross-training. Otherwise, pick up athletes who get cut. I've also noticed some swimmers to be solid runners due to the large aerobic base.

At my school, our number 1 and 2 runners are soccer players. Number 3 used to wrestle. Number 4 has always been a runner. Number 5 is a swimmer. Number 6 is a runner and Number 7 is a runner who I've convinced to swim on a weekly basis to help cross-train.

Definitely look into other sports and recruit. Have your Top 4 start doggin' on the 5-7 Runners. Have them connect more, push eachother. Have them encourage the runners to chase them as long as they can. Build a team atmosphere among your Top 7 and the other poster is right. Remind them that the 5th Athlete is most important. They can be the deciding factor of where a team finishes in the rankings.

As a whole, try upping the mileage for your team.

Best of luck!

Recruit from the hockey team. Seriously.

Adopt a Kenyan

GCCCC wrote:

Adopt a Kenyan

This^^

GCCCC wrote:

Adopt a Kenyan

That's looking for a #1 guy, not a fifth man.

"date" the hottest mom. At least the season won't be a complete waste

Get the most you can out of the 5-7 guys by training them to be the best that they can be this season. Don't push them beyond repair trying to close the gap between 4 and 5. Train them intelligently. That means hard on the hard days. EASY on the easy days. And DON'T neglect the long run. Long runs make young boys into strong men.

Make your top four run together to reach their greatest team potential. Create an atmosphere that the 5-7 guys can't resist wanting to be more a part of. Show them positive outcomes this season, and make them hungry to train hard for next season.

Keep it fun. Good luck!