**INFORMATION FOR CROSS COUNTRY COACHES**
MEET ADMINISTRATION
Site: Little Everglades Ranch - Dade City, Florida
Meet Director & Sport Administrator: Shanell Young, Director of Athletics
Media Contact: Seth A. Polansky, Membership/Media Specialist
Course Director: Cyle Sage
Site manager: Kevin Campbell
Timing: Scott Peters, Half-Mile timing
Admission: $9.00 at gate; children 3 and under are free.
Parking: $10.00 per vehicle without parking pass. Please bring correct change.
Rosters/Scoring Sheets: $3.00
SPORTSMANSHIP STATEMENT
The Florida High School Athletic Association promotes good sportsmanship by student-athletes, coaches and spectators. We request your cooperation by supporting the participants and officials in a positive manner. Profanity, racial or sexist comments, or other intimidating actions directed at the officials, student-athletes, coaches, team representatives or fellow spectators will not be tolerated and are grounds for removal from the site of competition.
DIRECTIONS
Coming from the north (or southbound on I – 75 ) take the Brooksville exit HWY 50 and turn east (or left) and follow to HWY 98 make a right and go to HWY 301 then go south on HWY 301 and look for sign (about a mile up the road) for the ASH BROOK entrance
Coming from the south or north bound on I 75 take the San Antonio / Dade City Saint Leo university exit of HWY 52 and go east ( or turn right off the interstate ) and follow for 8 miles passing the university and Pasco High School and turn right on Meridian Street. Meridian Street will take you into downtown Dade city and go to HWY 301 and turn north or left and follow HWY 301 north for 6 miles. Look for the signs for the entrance at ASHBROOK, landmark, just past the drive in movie theater that is on the northbound lane of 301
PASSES
General passes
Only FHSAA State Series Passes, the FHSAA Lifetime Pass, valid media identification and will be accepted. (FHSAA ID cards, Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) passes, contest officials passes, etc. will not be accepted.)
Coaches / Team Personnel Schools with 4 or less participants will receive one infield pass/wristband for the meet for coaches, trainers, managers, etc. in the team packet.
Schools with 5-7 participants will receive one infield pass and one (1) assistant passes/wristband to the meet for coaches, trainers, managers, alternate runners, etc., in the team packet. Coaches of schools abusing the Pass Policy are subject to a monetary fine by the FHSAA.
Schools with 5-7 participants will receive Two (2) alternate passes for alternate runners, in the team packet. Coaches/Athletes of schools abusing the Pass Policy are subject to a monetary fine by the FHSAA.
PARKING PROCEDURES
General Parking Directions
All vehicles entering the facility will be charged $10.00, INCLUDING TEAM VEHICLES WITHOUT PARKING PASSES. All ingress and egress will be from or onto Highway 301. Please provide correct change for easy entrance. Parking receipts will be provided. Please communicate this parking information to your parents and followers to help expedite orderly exit from the ranch. Teams and athletes enter Ashbook Road and spectators on Saturday enter at Gould Road.
Please observe the 5 mph speed limit around the track roads and access roads!
Please Stop at all rail road crossings!
Parking on Friday, November 18
Access to the course for walk-thru/preview will be through ASHBROOK entrance (off Hwy 301) from 11 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Exit is through GOULD AVENUE. Directional signs will be posted within the ranch/facility.
ASHBROOK (second access road on Hwy-301) – ALL traffic must use ASHBROOK entrance
Parking on Saturday, November 19
All vehicles will be charged admissions, including buses. Team buses shall park in the designated bus parking area – in the field opposite the grandstands located on the east side of the facility.
ASHBROOK (second access road on Hwy-301) – ALL teams and athletes may use ASHBROOK entrance / BUSES MUST USE ASHBROOK ENTRANCE ONLY
GOULD (northernmost access road on Hwy 301) – ALL spectators must use Gould for entering and exiting make a northbound turn onto Hwy 301
ATHLETES’ INFORMATION
Credentials Participating athletes must wear and display their bib numbers or have on their alternate wrist band, found in team packets, to gain admittance. Team members, coaches, alternates or trainers who do not have a credential must pay to enter the meet. Any person found to be abusing the wristband/credential policy will be asked to leave the facility immediately.
Warm-ups
Contestants must stay on the grass areas adjacent to the track and observe the “Do not enter” signs. Athletes may not warm-up on the track / course or infield as this is considered the competition course and is a restricted area beginning at 7:45 a.m. on November 19, 2011.
Computer Chips
Coaches will be responsible for the return of ALL competitors’ chips immediately following the race. A monetary fine shall be assessed for failure to return the appropriate chips, missing/lost chips ($20 per chip). Finish line personnel will assist in the removal of the chips before the athletes exit the finish area. Failure to wear the correctly assigned chips will result in disqualification for the offending runner. The competitor must attach one chip to each shoe. NFHS Track and Field and Cross Country
Rule Book 9-3-3 and 9-4-3.
***BY ACCEPTING THIS PACKET YOU ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR RETURN OF ALL TAGS. NON-RETURNED TAGS, LOST TAGS, DAMAGED TAGS ETC. WILL BE BILLED TO YOUR SCHOOL AT A RATE OF $20.00 PER TAG. A copy of this notice will be sent along with an invoice to your Athletic Director. If you leave the venue and realize you have tags still in your possession, be sure to mail them to the address on the back of the chip to ARRIVE by Friday 11/30/11 to avoid being billed for non-return.**
Coaches must pick up computer chips and team packets on Friday, November 18, 2011.
Course Access
The course will be open for walk-thru from 11 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Friday November 18, 2011. Team personnel only may view the course at this time.
The course will re-open 7:00 a.m. and must be vacated by 7:45 a.m. on Saturday November 19. Only competitors (in uniform) and meet officials will be allowed on the course, which is a restricted area at all times! We recommend that coaches tell their athletes where they (the coaches) will be located to enhance coach/athlete communication.
Coaches and team personnel are not allowed on the infield on Saturday, November 19, 2011, after 7:45 a.m.
Participant Pins
Each athlete participating in the 2011 FHSAA Cross Country Finals will receive a complimentary Finals Pin commemorating his/her participation in the event.
TEAM INFORMATION
Packet pick-up
Packet pick-up will be held on Friday November 18th, at 11:00am - 4 p.m. at the designated location. Packets will contain bib numbers, coaches’ passes/wristbands, computer chips and participant pins.
Each school entering a team or individuals in the FHSAA Finals must complete the online coaches meeting before Saturday; November 19th. Packet pick-up will re-open at 7 a.m. at the Little Everglades Steeplechase meet headquarters, located at the team, gate.
Team Tents
Shall be located along the outside of the track rail, between the start and the finish line, opposite of the grandstand.
Roster/Scoring Sheets: Will be available for purchase for $3.00 at the Team IP tent.
COMPETITION PROCEDURES
Rules
National Federation Track and Field & Cross Country rules and policies found in the 2011 FHSAA Cross Country Manual will be followed.
Schedule:
Gates open 7:00 AM
Class 3A girls
8:30 AM
Class 1A girls
9:50 AM
Class 4A girls
8:50 AM
Class 2A girls
10:10 AM
Class 3A boys
9:10 AM
Class 1A boys
10:30 AM
Class 4A boys
9:30 AM
Class 2A boys
10:50 AM
Awards ceremony: ~30 minutes after the conclusion of the last race
One (1) coach may accompany his/her team to the starting line but must exit the starting area promptly when instructed to do so by the head starter.
Starting Commands
The starting procedure for all cross-country meets will be one long whistle blast followed by the firing of the starting gun (NFHS 9-4-4).
The starting position for each team in the FHSAA Finals will be drawn by lot, left to right, in advance by the meet director / games committee. Individual contestants will be assigned starting positions using the same procedure.
Substitutions
Substitution requests must be made at the course walk through on Friday, November 18, 2011. Any other substitution requests require the approval of the FHSAA.
Results
Meet results will be posted at the meet under the announcer’s tower.
Unsportsmanlike conduct by participants will result in disqualification from the event (NFHS 4-5-1). This includes violating restricted areas for athletes and coaches. Spectators are subject to ejection from premises.
Disqualification of a coach or other (non-student) school personnel shall result in disqualification from further involvement in the meet. Violators shall leave the facility upon ejection.
Failure to participate
A contestant who qualifies in the top 15 finishers for the state meet must compete, unless the reason for not competing is ruled sufficient by the Commissioner of the FHSAA or the top fifteen-finisher is substituted for by a teammate.
Inclement Weather Procedure
Competition. Meet management will communicate with the head coaches in the event of inclement weather thereby causing a delay in the competition schedule.
Awards Ceremony. The awards presentation will be conducted in the barn in the event of inclement of weather.
Tie-breaking Procedure
National Federation Track and Field rules will be used for breaking ties (9-2-4). Video may be used for school identification only. Chip times shall be used to determine official, place finishing.
AWARDS CEREMONY
Location
The awards ceremony will take place in front of the Grandstands, south of the finish line area on the track.
Individual Awards
Individual awards presentation participation is mandatory for both coaches and athletes. Recipients of awards who are “no shows” will be considered for penalty under unsportsmanlike conduct. However, recipients may have their awards accepted
by a teammate or coach.
Team Awards
Team awards presentation participation is mandatory for both coaches and athletes. The team runner-up and champion will stand on the podium together.
Award Schedule
A formal awards ceremony will be conducted approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the last race.
Decorum / Prohibited Items Athletes must be in uniform/school warm-ups. No jewelry, hats, sunglasses, costumes, etc. are allowed to be worn by award recipients, individual or team.
MEDICAL INFORMATION / PROCEDURES
Trainers
Medical personnel and athletic trainers will be available throughout the competition.
Any medical personnel traveling with the team must use one of the passes allotted for team personnel.
Team medical personnel must be stationed at the medical tent during his/her team’s race.
Emergency Forms
Coaches must remember to have proper paperwork for their student-athletes for emergency situations warranting medical information.
Training Supplies
Schools must provide their own training supplies. Trainers are provided by the host for response to medical emergencies. They will not massage, tape, etc., athletes.
MEDIA INFORMATION PROCEDURES
Media Interviews
Coaches and athletes may grant interviews at any time in the accessible areas of the venue at their discretion.
Media headquarters will be located in the jockey’s field house located at the south end of the track on the infield.
For media credentials, please contact the FHSAA office at 352-372-9551, extension 170.
GENERAL SPECTATOR INFORMATION
Seating
Spectators are encouraged to bring any lounging chairs or folding chairs for the grandstand area. Approximately ninety percent of the course is visible from the grandstands. The awards area will also be situated in front of and on the south end of the grandstands. Spectators should be able to take photos from this area.
Video Policy
Video cameras or digital cameras are allowed in the venue, however, such items must be run independent of electricity provided by the venue.
Prohibited Items
Pets, coolers, alcohol and tobacco products are prohibited in the facility.
General Admission
Spectators are not allowed on the course at any time.
The facility will open for review to spectators at 11 a.m. until close (approximately 4:00 p.m.) on Friday, November 18, 2011. Parking will be charged on Friday. Parking passes from Friday, can be used for Saturday as well.
Spectators and teams will be allowed admission at 7:00 a.m., November 19, 2011.
Jury of Appeals
4A School 2A School
Rick Rothman
Spanish River
Chris Sumner
Godby
Kristin McWilliams
Winter Park
Ray Rodriguez
Holy Names
Jason Means
Riverview
Gerard Spring
Lake Highland Prep
Ryan Kelly
Vero Beach
Tony Ryan
Bolles
Ron Norris
Buchholz
Eileen Daly
Berkeley Prep
Peter Blount (A)
Dr. Phillips
Doc Crabtree (A)
Ransom Everglades
David Halliday (A)
Flagler Palm Coast
Brian Haffey (A)
Bishop Kenny
Ryan Raposo (A)
Ferguson
Patty Palermo(A)
North Broward Prep 3A School 1A School
James Travieso
Vanguard
Gary Droze
Maclay
Paul Nowicki
Bartram Trail
Doug Butler
Holy Trinity
Scott Gowan
Chiles
Franci Jefferson
Benjamin
Lorretta Purish
Charlotte
Ken Vinal
Trinity Prep
Frankie Ruiz
Belen Jesuit
Edwin Mctureous
Oak Hall
Chris George (A)
North Fort Myers
Nathan Means(A)
Mount Dora Bible
Jeff Somner (A)
Estero
Geoffrey Goodwin (A)
Northside Christian
Chris Biernacki (A)
Armwood
Carl Egbert (A)
Community School
Jury of Appeals
Jury members and alternates have been recommended by FACA and approved by the FHSAA. Decisions of the jury are final. (See page 7 for a listing of the members of the jury of appeals.)
A jury of appeals shall serve as the final board of appeals.
A head coach must first consult the meet director/referee to discuss all potential appeals. If the coach feels that the terms and conditions of competition or the application of the rules have been misapplied or misinterpreted after consulting the meet director/referee, a written appeal shall be made to the jury. The director/referee will have the proper appeal form.
Situations which are subject to appeal include, but are not limited to:
a. Misapplication of the rules must be filed within 30 minutes after the announcement of event results.
b. Correction of clerical or team scoring errors which may be corrected up to 48 hours after the end of the meet, unless another time period is specified in advance by the meet management.
c. Correction of meet results involving an ineligible participant may be made at any time when discovered.
d. Failure to follow a procedure contained in the terms and conditions of competition announced in advance by the meet director to games committee. This includes such items as the time schedule, returning chips, etc.
Non-appealable situations
a. Any judgment decisions pertaining to violations or alleged violations of the rules.
b. A decision made by the finish judges or timers that does not involve misapplication of a rule, or the terms and conditions of competition. (This applies to chip timing.)
c. Whether a start is fair and legal.