Athletic Director refuses to send us to nationals

Present it like you would any project and prove the ROI on the investment. ROI doesn't have to be all monetary. I had a headquarters project approved based on a return of morale and productivity as an example.

I qualified with a 9:44 3k steeple and went my senior year of HS. Tanked my training after the end of the regular season and came in almost last. Set back training for my freshman year of college XC by a few weeks. Wouldn’t change a thing. It’s awesome to be in an environment like that, to experience it first hand. You’re not really competitive but you’re part of the event. Unless you’re at the top of this sport, none of this really matters. You’re not going to remember the result of your extra month of XC training, but you’ll remember the meet.

I coached HS for six years and sent relays to NBNI every year. It's not up to the AD to send you guys (or give their blessing) because Nike/NB Nationals are outside of the HS competition window. That is why many schools register as "My High School Track Club". Stricter schools won't let you even wear your HS-issued uniform because there is no state-backed association that sanctions the meet (some schools don't care).

Connect with your coach to organize it through Athletic.net. If they blame the AD, then the coach just doesn't want to go.

Yall sound stupid. If a high school team makes any nationals, the trip should be paid for by the school. In what other major sport does this happen? And we wonder why the sport is treated with no respect. We don't even respect the sport. Crazy

Since it is out of season and teams compete as clubs any support from the school should be considered gravy. Fund raise and make sure it happens if you are committed.

You obviously do not coach. My staye association does not permit schools to pay. Teams must compete as club teams. Imagine if a high school basketball player is on a club team in the summer or a soccet player is on a club team. The teams at these meets have to compete as a club. Boosters can pay or the team can do fundraising but school funds can't be used. It is like a kid qualifying for the Boston Marathon and expecting the AD to be involved and to pay for it.

First, outstanding job to you and your teammates for qualifying. I think attending competitions with high level talent can help motivate athletes to compete at the next level.

Second, the athletic director's job in many schools is largely compliance. The reality is that 1.5 months is not very much time at all for a bureaucratic monstrosity aka any school environment to do anything, especially if it includes any potential liability for the school, or potential rules violations that may be incurred by doing such things as having the school coach attend, or wearing school uniforms. Many coaches don't know the rules, and in many districts the coaches arent permitted to attend or coach at any out of season events. The athletic director is looking out for the school and the team.

Third, the commenters who mentioned that the nationals are a bit of a scam are also not totally wrong. Often times qualifying for relays, especially outside of the elite or most competitive heats, is relatively easy. That is to say, you need nothing close to a really national level, yes, arbitrary, but let's say top-20 time in the country for the year. And, even if your relay is say top 6-20 in the country, even then you most likely don't have much of a chance of winning.

So lets be clear. The school is being small. You guys are willing to pay. Having said that most people compete unattached or for a made-up team. Just do that. It will be a great time and a great experience. you never know if you will compete next year!

To everyone saying it’s a waste of money to go if you’re not competing for the win, I’d encourage you to go to any high school athlete who travelled with their teammates to a meet out state. Outside of the State meet, it’s usually one of their best memories

Yea, exactly. I ran FootLocker Regional a couple times just because it was a fun experience. Got 100th-something place and didn't run my best time, but it was still fun. And one year in the open race, I finished next to Emily Sisson when she was still in middle school. Can confidently say I beat an American record holder and Olympian.

You can't compete for your school at any of the high school "national championships". You can only compete as a "club". Your AD has no jurisdiction over whether you can or cannot go to this meet. The school isn't even suppose to pay your way. You need to form a club and either fundraise like our school does or pay your own way.

ok chatgpt

If you're not winning your state meet (and maybe even go as far to say dominating your state meet) then you don't need to go to 'Nike Outdoor Nationals'. You've got plenty of competition in your state, you don't need to spend a ton of money traveling across the country.

Your AD has nothing to say about it as you're not representing your school, and you're seniors so he can't even retaliate. If you can cover the expenses, go.

The are extending their track season for weeks for a pointless high school meet.

If the are running in college, this is going to hurt their buildup for cross.

Skip nationals and build mileage for the 8k

Fundraise or pay for it yourself like every other generation of runners. You’re not that special.

I'm sure your parents can come up with a couple of hundred dollars to form a USATF club team and uniforms and form a 501(c)3 non profit organization. That's also how I got around coaching during the off season.

Problem solved.

I thought you were talking about NCAAs and I was very confused. You’re talking about some shoe company’s self-promotional meet, dude who cares, it’s not an actual national championship.