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How do I register my child for the SJPS Cross Country Program?
You can register you runner with the school the Final Forms registration tool located at https://stjosephsylvania-oh.finalforms.com
The cost for the 2022 season is $50 – you will also need to complete a sport physical and sign the CYO contract – details are on the final forms site.
What is the Saint Joseph Parish Cross Country Program Like?
This question could take me pages to answer, but let me shorten it into by listing the main goals:
We want to provide this opportunity for every child who wants to run, compete, and belong to a team.
We want to provide a reasonable range of training by challenging the more experienced runners and pushing the less experienced runners within their ability to help them improve their running and endurance skills every week.
We want to make running as fun as running can be by having fun practices and allowing the runners to socialize with each other outside of school.
We want to provide extra events and activities that make the Cross Country season not only fun, but memorable and special to each runner. (Like the year end banquet for instance.)
We want to promote the daily presence of God and Jesus in our lives by praying at practice and promoting Christian values and integrity in our training and competing.
How Long is the Cross Country Season?
The Cross Country Season Runs about 8 weeks total from the first practice on Tuesday 8/16/2022 through the Final CYO meet on 10/8/2022
When and Where Do We Practice?
Practices are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 6:00 pm to 6:45pm at Pacesetter Park. We meet at the Shelter located in the South Soccer Fields. First Practice for the 2022 Season is on Tuesday 8/16/2022.
What Time do the Cross Country Meets Start?
We participate in and follow the CYO Meet Schedule. There are Five Meets Total. The Meets for the 2022 Season are every Saturday and start on Saturday 9/10/2022, ending on Saturday 10/8/2022.
More Details about the meets can be found on the CYO website: https://toledodiocese.org/cross-country
The start time of the meets are subject to change as CYO plans out the season, but traditionally the schedule looks something like this:
8 AM – 10 AM Juniors then Cadets Race
11AM – 1 PM Pee Wees then Minors Race
NOTE: 7th-8th grade runners may participate in a couple of non-CYO meets per the “Junior” Coach’s discretion.
What is the SJPS Attendance Policy for the Cross Country Program?
The Program is designed for the busy Sylvania family in mind. We hold practices 4 days a week
and we have coaches lined up and available for each practice at all age groups. Attendance at
every practice is not required. We understand that we have many multi-sport athletes and
athletes who also participate in other extra-curricular activities (i.e. Scouts, Dance, Music, etc.).
We encourage and support this. We ask that you come to as many practices as you can make to
ensure your runner gets the proper run instruction and endurance training needed to compete.
As far as Meets are concerned, we ask that you try your very best to make every meet to
support our team and program – if you are not going to be able to make it, please let your group
coach know. With that said, we do only have one mandatory meet which is the Final meet on
10/8/2022.
What Age group is my child considered? How far do they Race?
The runners are divided into 4 different age groups for practice and competition. These groups
are then broken down between boys and girls... So, there are really 8 unique teams in this
program. The breakdowns are as follows:
K-1st Pee Wees Race Distance: 0.5 Miles
2nd-3rd Minors Race Distance: 0.75 Miles
4th-6th Cadets Race Distance: 1.0 Miles
7th-8th Juniors Race Distance: 2.0 Miles
What are the rules for competing at a CYO Cross Country Meet?
There is a great deal of information available on the CYO website including a Parent’s Handbook
and the Cross Country rules. Please go on the site and review these documents:
https://toledodiocese.org/cross-country
Who is Eligible for the CYO Program?
Students who attend Saint Joseph Parish School regardless of geographical residence.
Parishioners of Saint Joseph attending the Spiritual Studies Program at Saint Joseph.
If there are any questions or concerns about eligibility, please feel free to review with the Head Coach.
What uniforms do the runners wear?
At the beginning of the season an online store is opened for the purchase of runner’s uniforms
and spirit wear. Each runner is responsible to purchase a uniform which consists of a Mint Green
SJPS Tee Shirt for grades K-6th while grades 7th-8th wear more of a track type uniform. This
deadline for ordering from the online store is typically set at 3 weeks before the first meet to
ensure we have uniforms in time for the first meet. (NOTE: With recent shortage in everything
due to the pandemic – availability has been a problematic consideration for us.)
As a Parent, how can I participate in this great program?
Parent Volunteer: There are several ways that a parent can help out the program. Through-out the year we hold certain “fun” events at practice and a banquet at the end of the season. We will be looking for parent volunteers to sign-up and help lead making these events happen.
Parent Helper: You could also choose to help coach as a parent help. We are always looking for those parents who are willing to get out there and run with the kids. It really does not matter if you are a good runner or not, all our practices for the younger kids occur on the South Soccer Fields at Pacesetter and in many cases you can help watch the kids with just a little jogging. Having parents regularly available is a big help to the coaches as some days there are many more children than coaches on any given day.
CYO Coach: You are also welcome to become a certified coach. Again, good running ability is not a requirement to help as a certified coach. You will need to go through a background check and a couple hour certification course about “Protecting our Youth” to obtain the certification. Certified coaches are most valuable on the day of the meet, so don’t worry if you cannot make hardly any of the practices. Only certified coaches can go behind the ropes during a meet – which is very critical at the start of the race as we get them settled into the runner’s corral and keep them calm and ready for the race to start. If this at all interests you, please contact Paul Martin (sjsxcountry@gmail.com )
What are the Covid Policies for the Cross Country Program?
Our Program will follow all of the guidelines set forth by the Sate of Ohio for participating in youth sports.
These guidelines may change during the season as the real world condition, new laws, or direction from CYO may change.
As of right now, there are no extra-ordinary precautions planned this season to address this topic.
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