Frequently Asked Questions

Before you can train with us, you must be cleared on Register My Athlete by our administration.

Step 1: Review the SRHS Athletics Page

On the athletics page, you can review team schedules, learn about code of conduct, and complete the required paperwork necessary to participate. If you scroll down to the bottom of the page, there is a "Resources" box with helpful links.

Step 2: Complete Physical Paperwork by a doctor

You must get ALL sections completed by a doctor.

Step 3: Review RMA Instructions & activate account!

Please read this very lengthy instructions document. You will create an account on Aktivate and will complete the necessary sections (including uploading your physical). After that, we wait for admin to give you the green light! 

Practice schedules are as follows:

MWF:  5-6:30am

TT: 2:30-5pm

Practices on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday will take place before school. Afterward, students will have time to shower in the locker rooms and grab breakfast before classes begin. Please make sure your child eats a good breakfast — it's important fuel for both training and the school day ahead. 

Tuesday and Thursday practices will focus on heat training to help athletes acclimate for race conditions.

For performance and injury prevention, we recommend that all new runners get fitted at a local running shop for proper foot attire. Examples of local running shops:

• Tortoise & Hare Sports (near Arrowhead Mall)

• Road Runner Sports (101 & Scottsdale Rd)

• Runner's Den (16th & Maryland)

• Sole Sports (East Valley locations)

Other Equipment includes

• Racing flats (optional)

• Safety lights (this are mandatory for training in the dark)

In the summer, we train three days a week at the white tanks. During the regular fall season, we complete our Saturday long runs at the white tanks when we do not have weekend meets. The White Tanks is a regional park that includes 100's of miles of trails. We develop our grit by tackling steep inclines, develop muscular depth by experience a variety of running terrain, and grow closer to our team through different team building challenges.

Our team competes in two kinds of meets. Dual meets are smaller, midweek events open to all runners. Invitationals are larger meets, usually on Fridays or Saturdays, with separate races for varsity, JV, and sometimes freshman runners. Only the top 7 runners compete in varsity races, selected by previous finish times and coach's discretion.

Most meets are very spectator friendly! If you'd like to catch your runner at a few different spots along the course, wearing comfortable shoes can help — but you're welcome to simply stay in one spot and watch, too. Coaches will have course maps available, and most are also shared through ParentSquare the week of the race.

Cross country is a team sport where the team with the lowest score wins. There are a few key points to keep in mind. 

Only the Top 5 Score

Each team can race up to 7 runners, but only the first 5 finishers count toward the team score.

Each runner earns points based on where they finish:

• 1st place = 1 point

• 2nd place = 2 points

• 3rd place = 3 points

• ...and so on.

The points from your team's top 5 runners are added together.

The team with the fewest points wins.

Why Runners #6 and #7 Matter

Even though the 6th and 7th runners don't add points to their own team's score, they can still make a big difference.

If they finish ahead of another team's top 5 runners, they push those runners farther back in the standings. That gives the other team more points, which helps your team.

What Happens if Teams Tie?

If two teams have the same score, the team whose 6th runner finishes first wins the tiebreaker.

Example

If your team's first five runners finish:

• 2nd

• 5th

• 8th

• 11th

• 14th

Your team score is:

2 + 5 + 8 + 11 + 14 = 40 points

If that's the lowest score in the race, your team wins!

Unfortunately, injuries are a part of our sport. Many injuries are due to poor form, too much mileage too quickly, or a lack of proper sleep and nutrition. We do have an on-site trainer who assists our students in managing minor aches and pains and can connect families to further resources if needed. SRXC partners with Restorative & Regenerative Health & Wellness, a health center who offers discounts to athletes on the following services:

• IV therapy

• Red light therapy

• Peptide therapy

• Acupuncture and cupping

• Spinal adjustments00

• neural manipulation therapy