2007 Cross Country Manual

SEASON -- The competitive season shall extend from August 13, 2007 through and including the state meet on October 27, 2007.

COURSE -- Cross country shall be over a course 4,000 meters in length. An invitational or conference meet may be of greater or lesser distance. The course should be on a grass covered terrain. Measurement shall be along the middle of the course. The course shall be clearly marked by a wide line (with a material that is not injurious to the eyes or skin), or by signposts with large directional arrows wherever the course turns, or by flags one foot square and mounted on stakes that hold them two or more feet above the ground.

FLAG DESIGNATIONS:

red flag -- indicates a turn to the left

yellow flag -- indicates a turn to the right

blue flag -- indicates a course straight ahead

REGIONALS: There will be five regions for all classes. Regional Co-Ed meets will be held on Thursday, October 18, 2007 starting at 4:30 p.m. Each team may run seven runners and will count the top five finishers towards team’s total score.

STATE: Competition will begin at 11 a.m. Competition will begin with 4A followed by 3A, 2A and 1A. The girls will run first followed by the boys. An awards ceremony for Class 4A will follow the 3A girls’ race. An awards ceremony for Class 3A will follow the girls’ 2A race. An awards ceremony for Class 2A will follow the girls’ 1A race. An awards ceremony for Class 1A will follow the completion of the competition.

ELIGIBILITY: Ninth through twelfth grade students are eligible to participate.

SCORING: Scoring shall be: 1st place -- 1 point; 2nd place -- 2 points; 3rd place -- 3 points; 4th place -- 4 points; 5th place -- 5 points; etc. Displacement scoring will be used at the Reginal and State Meet.

ALL CLASSES -- A maximum of seven entries per school. Displacement scoring will be used at the Reginal and State Meet. The team score shall be determined by totaling the points scored by the first five finishers of each team. A school with less than five finishers shall qualify for indvidual placement, but no credit shall be given for team total.

Ties shall be resolved by comparing the sixth place finishers from the tying teams. The team with the best sixth place finisher shall be declared the winner. If one team does not have a sixth place finisher, the team with the sixth place finisher shall prevail.

STATE MEET: The State High School Cross Country Championship Meet consists of two (2) separate competitions, Team and Individual.

Qualifiers for the State Meet are as follows:

4A consists of the largest 48 schools from previous year enrollment. There shall be five regionals with the top three teams and the top 10 individuals qualifying for state.

3A consists of the next 64 schools from previous year enrollment. There shall be five regionals with the top three teams and the top 10 individuals qualifying for state.

2A consists of the next 72 schools from previous year enrollment. There shall be five regionals with the top three teams and the top 10 individuals qualifying for state.

1A consists of the remaining schools from previous year enrollment. There shall be five regionals with the top three teams and the top 10 individuals qualifying for state.

AWARDS: Team places and awards (duplicate in case of ties) shall be based on total team points scored.

Regional Meet: Members of the top three teams and the top 10 individual placewinners will receive medals. A team banner will be presented to the winning team.

State: The winning and runner-up teams will receive trophies. Medals will be awarded to members of the top three teams in each class plus the top 10 individual placewinners. Each individual and team champion will receive an acrylic plaque. All other participants will reveive a vinyl plaque.

FOOTWEAR: Cross country footwear shall be worn and shall be only the spike shoe and/or sneakers.

REGIONAL AND STATE CROSS COUNTRY COURSE: No competitors shall be allowed to practice on their assigned regional course or on the state meet course ten days prior to the event. Exception if course is that which is used by a school for normal practice.

NEW: Regional sites are required to clearly mark the course, preferably with a double line. Each site must provide a chute area and must videotape the finish line.

STATE MEET: Any runner who crosses the finish line without wearing the proper timing chips issued to her shall be disqualified.

SPECTATOR CONDUCT

All spectators at state-sponsored Cross Country meets shall wear shoes and a shirt which shall extend to the waist area. No one shall be admitted who is wearing a mask (hidden identity).

With the understanding that a cross country meet is held as a part of the educational institution, the Board of Directors of the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union has adopted the following policies. It is the expectation that the host site enforces these rules regarding unacceptable behaviors:

Disrespectful conduct, including profanity, obscene gestures or comments, offensive remarks of a sexual nature, or other actions that demean individuals or the event. Penalty---EJECTION

Throwing articles onto the contest area. Penalty---EJECTION

Entering the contest area in protest or celebration. Penalty---EJECTION

Physical confrontation involving contest officials, coaches/directors, contestants, or spectators. Penalty---EJECTION

Spectator interference with the event. Penalty---EJECTION

Jumping up and down on the bleachers. Penalty--WARNING/EJECTION

Use of artificial noisemakers, signs, or banners. Penalty---WARNING/EJECTION

Chants or cheers directed at the opponent. Penalty---WARNING/ EJECTION

When the match starter/referee arrives on-site (30-60 minutes prior to starting time), the starter shall locate the administrator (event manager) in charge for the evening. If no administrator is available, the HOST COACH shall be deemed in charge. If a problem arises during the meet, the official shall notify the event manager of the problem, and shall inform the event manager of the remedy needed (could include asking for direct supervision of the area, warning issued by the event manager, or ejection from the area).

Host management is responsible for all spectators, regardless which school the spectator is supporting. Any necessary communication or action taken shall come from the event manager in charge.

ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO POLICY

No alcohol or tobacco is to be sold or consumed on the grounds of any state tournament venue leased or provided to the Athletic Union for the purpose of conducting a state championship. Section 123.46 of the Iowa Code states: A person shall not possess or consume alcoholic liquors, wine or beer on public school property or while attending a public or private school-related function. A person shall not be intoxicated or simulate intoxication in a public place. A person violating this subsection is guilty of a simple misdemeanor.

PETS/ANIMALS PROHIBITED

No pets are permitted at events sanctioned by the IGHSAU or IHSAA. Any person with a pet will be asked to leave. This policy shall comply with the provisions of Iowa Code 216c in that such a person with a disability or person training an assisted animal has the right to be accompanied by a service dog or an assisted animal under control. The person is liable for damage done to any premises or facility by a service dog or assisted animal.