'99 X-C Post Meeting Minutes
SCVAL Cross Country Coaches Post Season Meeting November 29, 1999 4 p.m. at HarryÕs Hof Brau
Coaches Present: Roberta Chisam and Marco Campagna, St. Francis; Hal Daner and Ernie Lee, Gunn; Paul Jones, Palo Alto;Hank Lawson, Lynbrook; Walt Van Zant, Wilcox; Grace Voss and Pat Lawson, Fremont; Mike and Loretta Morris, Monta Vista; Marshall Clark and Laura Lopez, Saratoga; Jen McKenzie, Homestead; Stacey Stubbins, Cupertino; Julie LÕHeureaux, Santa Clara; Sam Read, Mt. View; Steve Perry and Kathryn Picanco, Los Altos
Not Present: Willie Harmatz, Los Gatos; Bob Sharpe, Milpitas; Topics of discussion: I. League info- A. Congratulations to the league champions: Boys Varsity Los Gatos Los Altos Girls Varsity Los Gatos Gunn Boys Frosh/Soph Los Gatos Milpitas Girls Jr. Varsity St. Francis Gunn B. All league certificates available for DAL Division, El Camino will get theirs soon.
C. Filling out Varsity teams before JV and Frosh/Soph. It was not mandated, but suggested that teams should fill their varsity boys roster at the league meet before their Open boys to ensure maximum qualifying numbers for C.C.S.
D. Running in the correct race, Be sure that your runners are in the correct divisional race at the league championships.
E. Filling out of C.C.S forms whether you think you are eligible or not to ensure your ability to be eligible to compete if you qualify as a team or as individuals.
F. Aid to runners, interference from spectators; aiding in the chute. We agreed that giving water to runners in the race should be left up to meet management. If they provide it for everyone then we would use it. There were too many instances where runners were impeded by spectators, runners or hit with bottles, and sprayed in their face when they did not want water. To ensure safety and honest competition we would prevent interference during the race.
G. At the league meet we need to be more aware of informing our athletes, parents and coaches of the rules that need to be followed in order to keep the facility. We are still having problems with our buses dropping off and picking up teams and blocking the roadway or driveways. They are not to deal with passengers until they have passed the last house on the right on Hallmark Road. Teams are not to use private property for stretching, walking or looking for water. These is absolutely no smoking or bringing of pets to the course. We could be fined $25.00 by Bob Rush and if it continues we could lose the right to the facility. Please communicate to your athletes, parents and coaches of the need to follow the simple rules.
II. By Laws-A. In reviewing previous minutes from our league meetings we noticed that we passed a change to Article IV. Section 2.4 to limit the frosh/soph boys race to 10 runners at the league championships. This was unanimously revoted in favor.
B. We also voted to limit the all league status to the top 10 runners in the JV Girls and the Frosh/Soph boys.
C. We also voted unanimously to keep the league alignments status quo. We will continue to compete against the whole league at the Central Park Invitational in the early season and have our league championships on the same day at Crystal Springs.
III. Comments on C.C.S Championship meetCongratulations to Los Gatos boys and girls team champions, Gunn girls Div. II runners-up, St. Francis girls Div. III 2nd runners-up and all the individuals qualified for State Championships.
A. Making sure that the athletes get to run--(Aptos, Sequoia) Both of these schools did not get to run as a team at the C.C.S. Championships due to missing the deadline for turning in their paperwork. Be sure to get all paper work in on time.
B. Any other information:
1. Meet management: the league felt that the C.C.S meet was run very smoothly. We would like to see the use of ropes to keep spectators away from the hill at the mile mark and the turn coming into the chute.
2. In the Div. II race, there were two teams that did not show up and this left the race with only 9 teams. There was concern about the number of teams needed to qualify for the State Championships.
IV. Comments on State Championship meet A. Congratulations to those who ran well and finished their season at State Meet. We would like to keep the meet in Fresno vs. Mt. SAC if the vote comes forward. B. We would like to see coaches receive a program in the packet or at least the ability to buy a program when they get the packet without having to stand in line with all the other spectators. 2. We would also like to have the ability for our assistant coaches to get to the starting line during warm-ups. They only received a ticket that would not allow them to get into the starting area for warm-ups. V. Reporting of results on the Internet We would like to request that all league championship results be posted on the internet within 48 hours of their race. All those that host meets to be encouraged to post their results in the results page with either Dan CruzÕs or Hank LawsonÕs links.VI. Coaches Alliance Representative
The new president of the Cal. Coaches Alliance is George Vargas of Woodbridge HS. He would like to have a section representative be part of a board to meet once a year to address section concerns that he could then raise at the state board. The section rep would have league representatives to meet and give feedback to the meeting with the president. Walt Van Zant has given interest in being a rep and Hank Lawson and Roberta Chisam said that they would assist him.
VII. New Proposals: 1. Information was given about Al Hernandez wanting to start another Coaches Alliance. 2. Walt also gave us information on Dan CruzÕs idea of combining divisions at the C.C.S to make the races more competitive and then having a second race the next week only by division. We all voted not to have this format. We prefer our present format. 3. Walt reproposed his idea of using more than the league meet at the end of the season to determine our league champions. It was voted 13:1 not to have other meets count. The league wants to keep status quo. 4. Hal Daner proposed that our league not allow athletes to participate in more than one sport for the school per season.. HalÕs concern was that none of our league schools has such a small population that this rule needs to be present to ensure fielding of teams. The concern is also that some schools can take athletes from other teams during the end of the season or during an important race just to win. This does not educate the athletes about training or the need to build team unity and work ethics. It was voted down 2:8. Some school districts allow it and some felt it should be allowed VIII. Discussion on usage of Rancho San Antonio Park Crystal Springs and other public places. We had Gordon Baillie from the Regional Open Space office come and address the concerns about runners using Rancho San Antonio Park as a training facility. 1. Two years ago a child was forced off a trail by a runner and since then there has been concern about running more than 2-3 abreast on the trails. 2. Concerns have been reported about walkers feeling intimidated with a pack of runners coming at them. We need to educate our athletes on how to share the facility and make it safe for all users of the park. 3. Concern was also raised about the proposed parking fee of $4.00 per car to begin in Jan. 2000. Gordon said that the parking lot belongs to the park system, while the trails belong to the open space district. We would need to get in contact with the park personnel to direct our questions. 4. Gordon also said that he has been in contact with other schools, colleges and groups that use the facility in order to keep consistent with all uses of the park. He would like everyone that brings in groups of more than 20 people to call the office ahead of time to announce their use and if it is a consistent usage, to file a permit for use. This allows the Open Space Office to have a contact person if there are any concerns. He would also like to see buses park in the upper parking or over by the equestrian area for more space. Athletes have also been blocking the driving areas in the parking lots while socializing or stretching and they need to be aware of the problem.