Getting high school kids to come out for cross country

Personally, I went out for the team to get in shape for soccer (Which was a winter sport @ my school). Once I got to college I was surprised how many of the other guys on the team joined xc for the same reason. Entering with no real goals besides getting a good base for soccer, and ending up running in college.

I think that getting the word out is the best thing- try and get the existing kids to go and work @ a marathon, 5k, etc...for local recognition, (maybe even for donations/sponsorships from the race?). Plenty of those folks IN the race have kids that are young and getting ready for JH/HS.

Especially the first few years, I think it would be prudent to take some kids who aren't the fastest, but have a lot of personality (the ASB types). They can really help bolster support for the team on campus daily...having someone who has access and the connections to many other students is a great asset.

As I was leaving hs, we began hosting an annual track carnival for elementary school and junior high kids from the community. It seemed to have really helped let kids know when they are good at something ('hey! I might be GOOD at this running thing...!), and gave them incentive to come out to watch track meets, etc- which will help get them out for cross when they get to hs.

Good luck.

I agree with you Soup. Take a couple of lettermen (and gals) with their jackets, with medals, to an assembly of eighth graders. Let the students share the comradery developed by the runners as they become teammates. Tell them how fast the fall season will pass as they prepare for each meet and invitational. This sport welcomes all levels of ability. There are no benchwarmers. You train and you participate.

Talk to the good students who are not athletes. Many of them have a very good work ethic, and the idea of working toward a goal can be something they just might like to try. Perhaps they've been unsuccessful in other sports and are receptive toward the idea of improving ones' self through their efforts, which is possible to much more of an extent in running that in most other sports. The ones who come out usually really appreciate their experience and even if they're not talented, they make coming to practice fun. But some of them have talent they don't know they have if you'll give them a chance.

tell them all their wildest dreams will come true

I second whoever said wrestlers, it helps them and they'll help you.

And don't be afraid as broadcasting XC as an athletic option for really nonathletic people. I mean nonathletic as in not good enough or coordinated enough to succeed at soccer or basketball or whatever, but athletic enough to work hard at running. You never know-our #4 runner this year didn't make the musical her freshman year and decided to run instead because she had a crush on one of the freshman boys. Couldn't break 29:00 as a freshman, now she has two varsity letters and a PR in the 21's.

Basically, emphasize how with some effort, anyone can succeed in cross country. (And you might not want to mention just how far you run until they show up the first day, if they've never run before...)

SOCCER KIDS!!!! when i first started we had nobody but then i got a few soccer kids and now they are geting their friends who are getting thier friends and so on. and with these kids playing club soccer since they were young they already have a lil bit of an aerobic base. my whole CC team is made up of soccer players and we won districts and even sent a guy to state this year. and im in a 5a school in texas which isnt to bad in CC. just my thought

Son, you need to take my leadership class.

Definitely recruit from the soccer team. Most good runners were former soccer players that have unknowingly built a base for running throughout their youth. Find the guys that are generally out front pushing during the lap running or wind sprints toward the end. Those are your competitors.

1. Run with your kids.

2. Bug the hell out of every kid that even resembles a runner. Maybe even kids that don't look like runners.

3. Make flyers and hand them out at school. Kids are easily influenced.

4. Ask your team to recruit. Tell their friends to come out.

5. Show enthusiasm, appreciate the hard work kids put in.

6. Make small weekly awards, for races, leadership, hard work throughout the week.

7. CAPTAINS!!! Give them the reigns and give them some ability to put in feedback from the team and make up awards,etc. You should appoint a captain on the girls and boys side for each class FROSH-SENIOR. With the senior being the most powerful.

8. Have the kids run right after school and around it to try and see if kids maybe see them running around and could become interested.

9. Have weekly meetings and maybe get a group run together during the week just to see who is interested and see if any new faces show up.

10. BE EXCITED! Always.

Arapahoe High School in a Denver suburb had over 250 kids on the CC team. The school has 1800 students.

Cherry Creek High School, also in the denver area, had over 300 runners.

Jackson\'s Jesse wrote:

Arapahoe High School in a Denver suburb had over 250 kids on the CC team. The school has 1800 students.

Wow that’s more than 10% of the school

"Apparently, the suspect knew the victims through participating in cross country athletics, for which the school's massive participation rates was known for."

I thought that you were fake news, but...

https://www.cnn.com/2013/12/14/us/colorado-school-gunman-karl-pierson/index.html

SHEESH.

Do you have any connections to the junior high school coaches?

Scouting needs to take place at that age. It's the same when

there's a talented math student in junior high who takes classes

at the high school level. Get my point?

At any rate, you should encourage the benefits of cross country,

or at least for me, "running is like putting money in your health,

you invest in your future!"

Encourage or go talk to the local youth church groups, on

the premise...Run for God!

Dig?

Jackson\'s Jesse wrote:

Arapahoe High School in a Denver suburb had over 250 kids on the CC team. The school has 1800 students.

Cherry Creek High School, also in the denver area, had over 300 runners.

Sometimes coaches consider cuts when that many people are interested in coming out for the team.

No wonder why those teams are so good