Cross Country FAQ
Does my child have to try out for the team?
No. We accept everyone. All skill levels are welcome, and we encourage all children to give it a shot. Even if you feel your child isn’t the most athletic, XC fosters a fun community where each child is encouraged to find their own way to love running.
When are practices and when do they start?
Practice days are Mondays, Tuesday, Thursday & Saturdays through the end of August. Then they switch to just Monday, Tuesdays and Thursdays. The first practice will be on Saturday, August 2nd.
What time are the practices?
Weekday evening practices are 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, Saturday Morning practices are 8:00 am to 10:00 am. It is very important to get your athlete to practice on time.
Where do you practice?
We will practice at a number of facilities. There will be two practice locations each week night to accommodate everyone. Practices will be at Griffith Park, Hahamongna Watershed, the Rose Bowl, and various smaller parks in Burbank and Glendale. A detailed practice schedule will be available in late July.
What should my child wear and bring to practice?
Running shoes, athletic clothing, a towel, and a filled water bottle. It’s also a good idea to bring extra water if you can.
Does my child have to attend every practice to compete?
No. The more practices they can attend the more they will improve their running, but there is no requirement to attend practices to compete.
When and where are the meets?
The first meet is 8/30 and then they are every weekend through 10/25. You can find more information about the schedule here: https://vyc-xc.org/
Does my child have to attend every meet?
No. The meets are a fun chance to get out and run with other kids, but there is no requirement to attend every meet.
Is it the same uniform used for Track and XC?
Yes, we use the same uniform for both our Track & Field program and our Cross Country Program.
What kind of shoes does my child need?
Any running shoes are fine. Some kids like to run in trail specific running shoes and then race in XC racing flats, but they’re not necessary. SPIKES ARE NOT ALLOWED IN XC IN CALIFORNIA.
How old does my child have to be?
Athletes can start as young as 5 and be as old as 18. Age divisions are based on age at the end of the calendar year. Example: If a child is currently 4, and their birthday is December 30th, they would be in the 5-6 year old age group and can compete. All high schoolers are allowed to compete as long as they do not compete for their high school team due to CIF rules.
Age Groups and Race Distances
Sub Gremlin/Ages 5-6
Year Born 2019-2020
Race Distance: 2000 Meter Run
Gremlin/Ages 7-8
Year Born 2017-2018
Race Distance: 2000 Meter Run
Bantam/Ages 9-10
Year Born 2015-2016
Race Distance: 3000 Meter Run
Junior/Ages 11-12
Year Born 2013-2014
Race Distance: 3000 Meter Run
Youth/Ages 13-14
Year Born 2011-2012
Race Distance: 4000 Meter Run
Intermediate/Ages 15-18
Year Born 2006-2010
Race Distance: 4000 Meter Run (sometimes 5000 meters)
How can I get involved and help?
We need coaches (no experience necessary) to help direct practices and warmups at meets. We also need parent volunteers to help at practices and meets with supporting the athletes in various ways. We will have a team meeting on Zoom in early August to talk about ways to get involved and what the team needs.
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Track Season Information
- Does my child have to try out for the team? What are the age ranges?
No. We accept everyone. I’ve coached all skill levels, and encourage all children to give it a shot. Even if you feel your child isn’t the most athletic, we will find an event for them.
Athletes can start as young as 5 and be as old as 18. Age divisions are based on your child’s birthday at the end of the calendar year. Example: If your child is currently 4, and their birthday is December 30th, they can compete. All high school age children are allowed to compete as long as they don’t compete for their high school team due to CIF rules.
- When does the season start/end?
Registration will open up in January. The season begins the 2nd week of February and goes through the 2nd weekend of May.
- Where do you guys practice? Meet locations?
Practices are held at Burbank High and Burroughs High. During track season we also utilize parks in Burbank. During Cross Country season we utilize courses at various parks in Burbank and Burbank adjacent. Our calendar will have the location listed for you if ever in doubt.
Locations for the meets is determined by the Valley Youth Conference. Meet locations are based on school availability. Locations range from the Glendale/Burbank area to the Lancaster/Palmdale area. Our final meet, Individual EvenT Championships (IEC’s), will be held in Santa Barbara.
- What is the practice schedule?
This is based upon the permits. Generally we practice Tuesday/Thursday evenings (5:45-7:15) and Saturday mornings (10-12 or 11-1). When the track meets begin, we will no longer have Saturday morning practices, because that is our Meet days. We will switch that practice to Monday evenings.
- Do I need to attend every practice/meet?
No you don’t. I understand that children these days have very busy schedules, homework, school events, playing other sports, or a combination of things. On the same note, your athlete gets out of this sports what they put into it. There is a minimum number of meets that must be competed in to be eligible for the end of season championship meet.
Please note, if your child is on a relay team, they will need to be at the practices set aside for relays. If not, they may be replaced at the upcoming meet.
- What is the cost?
New athletes are $295. This fee covers everything for the season: uniforms, meet fees, awards, and our end of season BBQ. Only new athletes will receive Warm Ups. We offer sibling(s) discount, returning athletes discount, and train only discount.
- Does my child need spikes?
Although spikes are not mandatory, it is greatly encouraged. I do encourage parents to get spikes early, because the closer we get to the season, the harder they are to find. We will have a Fleet Feet rep come to practice to sell shoes. Athletes are NEVER to wear their spikes to practice. Coach will ALWAYS announce when spikes are to be put on.
It is usually easier to find spikes in women sizes, so just convert the size to fit your child. Spikes do run narrow, so I suggest getting an accurate size from a shoe store. Even though they are labeled as women spikes, boys often don’t mind the colors.
- What events do they compete in?
There are various running and field events. Running events are the 100M, 200M, 400M, 800M, 1500M, 3000M, 4x100M relay, and 4x400M relay. The field events are long jump, high jump, shot put, and javelin. Some age groups are restricted on events they are able to compete in. This will be discussed at our team meeting.
- As a parent what is needed from me?
For Registration – To complete your registration you will need to have a copy of your child’s birth certificate, passport, or official school documentation that has their age and date of birth.
For Practices – Please make sure your child has plenty of water. Athletes are to attend practice in comfortable running/athletic gear. I also suggest that they have running shoes instead of regular tennis shoes. They don’t have to be an expensive pair, but it is suggested since running shoes are usually lighter than regular tennis shoes.
For Meets – Parents will be asked to help run the various events that the children are participating in. You will be given instructions on how the event is run, and what to look for. At away meets, we will only be responsible for 1 or 2 events, but at home meets we will be responsible for the whole thing. Please note we are a volunteer driven organization. All of our coaches/meet workers are volunteers.
I’m looking forward to seeing you all. I’ve heard we have some returning families that have been away for a while, and a lot of new families. This is already shaping up to be a fantastic season. If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to email me. You can contact me here through the Instateam app, or email me at bvtrackteam@gmail.com. Feel free to tell your friends to bring their children out. If you’re new, please come and introduce yourself. I won’t be hard to find. Thanks and enjoy the rest of your day.
Coach Anderson