Together We Are GOLDEN!!
• Our Mission • • • "Seeking Excellence in Academics, Activities, and Athletics"
In pursuit of excellence, the Colorado High School Activities Association strives to create a positive and equitable environment in which all qualified student participants are challenged and inspired to meet their highest potential.
To fulfill this mission the Colorado High School Activities Association will:
Act as an integral component of the educational process.
Administrate, interpret, and seek compliance with the CHSAA By-laws as needed to promote fair play within Colorado activities and athletics.
Provide diverse and equitable opportunities for participation that encourages all qualified students to take part in the activity/athletic experience.
Provide an environment that enhances personal development through sporting behavior, character education, teamwork, leadership, and citizenship while increasing values that partner the educational standards of the State of Colorado.
Recognize the outstanding accomplishments of Colorado athletes, teams, coaches, and administrators through our academic and activity awards programs.
• Our Core Values • • •
Participation is a Privilege
Athletics and Activities Programs are Education-based
Participation in Athletics and Activities Teach Life Skills
Appropriate Perspective is Taught Through Participation
Fun is Primary Reason for a Student’s Participation
Participation Supports the Academic Mission of the school
Participation Supports the Development of Positive Character
Head Coaches- Jen Byrne and Clint Boston
Assistant Coaches- Chad Herbers, Alec Hornecker, Erik Zeitlow, and Evan Ammidown
1700. PARTICIPATION IS A PRIVILEGE Participation in interscholastic activities as a part of a school's educational program is a privilege and not a right. Students wishing to participate are required to meet standards of personal behavior and academic performance which are related to school purposes. In this regard, the CHSAA and its member schools may exercise the fullest discretion permitted under law.
2310.1 Practice is defined as the period of time during which formal practice is authorized by CHSAA Bylaws and during which an assigned coach is instructing one or more of his/her team members.
VARSITY WILL BE PRACTICING ON SATURDAYS (WHEN NOT RACING).
We have 3 basic rules beyond representing our team with pride. They focus on representing self with pride: Attendance, attitude, and accountability.
Attendance at practices is not optional, no matter what level of competitor you are. Consistency in practice/workouts and timeliness are critical for team success.
Practices are critical to both skill and team development.
Missing the day before a meet, or critical workouts during the week, may result in athletes not racing that week as team dynamics are so important for success.
Attendance will be taken daily. Tardies will be tracked as part of this.
Athletes are expected to send a message through our Remind 101 regarding absences ASAP if they are not going to be at school. Include why you will be missing practice.
Absences - Athletes will be granted 3 absences from practice, then all competition opportunities will be at the discretion of the coaching staff. (See dual sport athlete info. below if applicable)
3 = every athlete will have 3 (excused or unexcused) without consequence. This might be for doctors, to get caught up with school work, or being sick.
4 or more = athletes will arrange time to talk with the coaching staff. A plan will be developed for how to resolve the need and get the athlete back to practice. Until this happens, the athlete will not be eligible for competition.
Consistent Tardiness will also result in a lack of competition opportunities.
Attitude
All athletes shall attend all practices and have a good attitude each week to be eligible for competition.
Athletes will contribute to the overall positive culture of the program. (Yes, we all have off/bad days.)
Attitude is key. We expect athletes to be:
on time and stay until practice is done.
respectful of all members of the GHS Cross Country community.
support all members of the GHS Cross Country team in their development.
appropriate representatives of GHS.
role models for teammates.
ready to give 100% at practice.
abstaining from the use of profanities.
positive during practice/competition - everyone has rough days, we know that these take a toll, however, we will talk positively during workouts and meets.
Accountability
Athletes recognize that high school cross country is a TEAM sport, and their actions impact everyone on the team.
Athletes will understand that their choices come with potential ripple effects.
All athletes shall complete workouts assigned (with appropriate accommodations for health).
As student athletes, academics require focus and attention when not practicing or competing.
Missing practice due to homework will count in your allotted absences.
As dates for meets are known in advance, please plan for school work accordingly. Homework will not be a viable excuse for leaving meets early.
Any athlete who is academically ineligible for more than a week will meet with the coaches to develop a plan.
Dual sport athletes are defined as those competing with a sports team outside of our sport.
Jeffco Policy: Dual Participation - A student may participate in two CHSAA sports during the same season provided the parents, coaches and school athletic director approve.
Dual activity/sport athletes will be required to communicate with coaches weekly about their schedule. They will also complete a calendar showing practice days and which meets they will/won't be available for so that we can make the most appropriate decisions about racing.
Violations of the agreed upon time with the team will leave competition at the discretion of the coaches. (ex, may be top 7, but not a team player, so compete JV)
Dual sport athletes need to understand that athletes who are with the team regularly may take priority in competition due to cohesiveness of teammates.
Participating with another running team is not a dual sport, and will not be an acceptable reason to miss practice or competitions with the team. Athletes will not be attending outside competition during the season unless the team is sending a contingency, or if there is an email from a college coach about needing to attend.
Activities which are in “off season” will be expected to come second to XC if you have earned a Varsity spot and would like to participate at the Varsity level.
Athletes will need to work with their coaches to ensure that time can be prioritized in a manner which works to achieve the desired goals. (ex, if the goal is Varsity level competition, are you at practice for the most important workouts of the week?)
In order to keep athletes healthy, dual sport athletes may overlap on practices one day a week. Workouts are workouts as far as muscle is concerned. 2 practices back-to-back in high frequency is not sustainable, nor proactive when it comes to preventing injuries.
Remember appropriate attire for all workouts.
Weather changes happen rapidly. Be sure your bag has a variety of clothing options for all possibilities. Lack of appropriate clothing will result in being asked to leave practice/meets as your health is important to us.
Shirts will always be on while on campus, during meets, and when appropriate with temperatures during practices.
Clothing will cover appropriately, mimicking competition day expectations. Violations will lead to a one-to-one conversation the first time, and dismissal from practice on subsequent violations. (ex. Athletes will have spandex/compression shorts under floppy shorts, or will wear lined shorts. Tanks/shirts will cover as much as a race top. etc)
Earning competition spots at meets will come from a combination of best times + attitude + practice attendance + connection to the team. (please see attendance)
Members will arrive to the bus, or meet venue (when no bus), at appointed time.
All athletes will stay until the team is done and ready to leave.
We will represent GHS in the most positive light always. Our athletes will:
wear GHS XC attire and speak of the school positively.
keep our team area clean and leave no trace when the meet is complete.
model sportsmanship within our team and with the competition around us as they make us better.
participate in team preparations/huddles, stretching, cool downs, and debriefs.
support teammates on the course when they are not racing.
Athletes will come prepared and ready to be successful for the entire meet. This includes:
packing appropriate snacks/meals to fuel for strong competition.
bringing enough water for the duration of the meet. We rarely have access to water at the meet venues.
having layers, blankets, sunscreen, etc for healthy maintenance.
during sunny meets - staying in the shade when possible, and wearing light layers to limit energy used to cool the body. Energy conserved can be spent in events.
during overcast/cooler meets - appropriate layers will be on until competition time.
We can't afford to lose athletes to heat fatigue or injury to cold muscles.
Athletes who meet the following Varsity criteria will be considered for a letter: (no one element will result in a letter)
Demonstrating leadership by modeling our team expectations each day
Consistently helping the team reach agreed upon goals
Having a time which could allow you to run Varsity in meets throughout the season
Competing primarily with the Varsity squad at meets
Qualifying for Regionals and/or State
*MEETING ANY ONE OF THESE CRITERIA WILL NOT GUARANTEE A LETTER.
1720.1 Participating school districts and schools shall have the right to impose stricter standards for eligibility than those set forth herein. The General Eligibility Requirements are not intended to restrict any school from setting local academic requirements or otherwise exercising control over its curriculum, grading practices and policies regarding the granting of class credit.
Any student with an F is ineligible to compete. We would expect that these athletes are practicing when they are back on track with grades.
Any athlete with one F may regain eligibility for the following week if they have documentation from their teacher about a grade change.
Any athlete with 2 or more Fs is ineligible for the week.
Any student in the program with any D or F grades will be expected to be in study hall daily before practice. This is true for every athletic program at GHS. Attendance will be taken daily. Students who are absent from study hall without communicating, and receiving permission, will not be allowed to practice.
2100.2 Players certified to participate as members of any high school sport team may compete on any other team, in any non-school activity or event in that sport during that sports season with the express written permission of the principal. Permission shall be granted if: (a) the student’s class attendance is not compromised; and (b) the student is in good academic standing under the school’s activities policy applicable to all students.
Q2: May high school team rules be used to determine the high school eligibility of the students who participate on outside teams?
A2: Yes. Section (b) would include high school team rules and other school policies which are applied and adhered to by all students.
Drugs, alcohol, and tobacco (Violations are accumulated for the entirety of high school)
On a first violation, athletes will be subjected to the CHSAA penalty + 1 meet + 10 hours of service to the Golden HS community + education course connected to the conduct. Athletes will meet with the coach(es) prior to rejoining workouts with the team.
In the case of a second violation, athletes will be done for the season.
In the case of a third violation, athletes will be done competing with us for their duration at GHS.
Behavior and language
Athletes will uphold a safe and welcoming environment. This includes, but is not limited to, appropriate verbal and body language. Athletes who violate this will need to have a meeting with the coaching staff (expertise coach and head coach) to address how the behavior will be addressed and changed. It will be up to the discretion of the coaching staff the penalty which will be incurred.
A second violation will include parents in the conversation. It will be up to the discretion of the coaching staff the penalty which will be incurred.
A third violation will result in a dismissal from the program for the remainder of the season.
Athletes need appropriate footwear for training and racing. We recommend Runners Roost so they can do a treadmill stride/gait assessment, then match runners to the right training shoes. Make sure you tell them you are with Golden HS as both will offer athletes a discount. As runners get stronger they will likely also benefit from a pair of race flats. Flats are recommended over spikes as many of our courses have some concrete.
Throughout the season, we need support from our families to provide a couple of team dinners and to help organize the banquet. Dinners are potluck style and often held at a home, but could also be here at school with food brought in.
We do ongoing fundraising through King Soopers cards. Simply register your Rewards number for groceries/gas, select our program, and our program receives a small percent spent on purchases. This is critical as we pay for every single race and bus trip during the season. We also generally have some regional and state expenses to cover.
Our squad volunteers at The Bear Chase Trail Race the last weekend in September. We expect that all athletes work a shift as this donation to the program covers several of our meet expenses.
Race day is a big day, filled with many emotions. Please know that some stress is normal in athletes. We need some space before races begin to run through race day routines. We also need time to check in after races. Please respect the space, and know we won't keep them from you for the whole meet, but small chunks of time throughout.
Practices are every school day and will be held on Saturdays there are not meets. Most practices run from 3:45-5:45 There will be some morning practices, which run from 5:55am to about 6:55 am. Athletes will then have time to have breakfast, socialize with their teammates for a few minutes, and prepare for classes.
Morning practices are not optional. This early practice allows more recovery time before races than an afternoon practice, keeps our bodies familiar with morning running as Saturday races are mornings, and gives our athletes an afternoon to attend other high school functions.
Generally speaking, we run the top 7 boys and girls in the Varsity races, with the top 5 scoring. Scoring is by place, so the lower the place, the lower the score, and the better our chance of winning. The goal is to have all 5 runners across the finish line before other teams accomplish the same.
All athletes compete at meets through League. Regionals allows the top 9 boys and girls to race for State qualification. From Regionals, the top 4 teams qualify for State (top 7 finishers from the Regional squad). Also, any individual in the top 15, not with a team, qualifies individually.
Many meets require athletes to be dismissed from school early. Teachers will be aware of this, but it is up to the student to arrange to make up missed work.
Races often require parent transportation. We will take a bus outside of the Denver Metro area and all athletes will be expected to ride to the meet. If not riding a bus home, athletes will need to be signed out with a coach.
CHSAA Cross Country Bulletin 2025. The coaching staff expects athletes to become scholars of their sport. Here you will find important information about practices, meets, and rules for all events.
State Meet schedule
We are looking forward to a great season!!