SEVEN LAKES CROSS COUNTRY A Parent’s Guide to Seven Lakes

EVEN LAKES CROSS COUNTRY 

A Parent’s Guide to Seven Lakes Cross Country - 2025 Season

Welcome to the proud tradition of Seven Lakes Cross Country. You have become a part of one of the most successful high school Boys and Girls teams in the state of Texas. Parents have been instrumental in helping to build and maintain the success of the Seven Lakes Cross Country program. There are many things you can do to help contribute to the success of the teams this year. Some of those are simple, some are a little time consuming or just hard work, and there are even a few things you should not do. Hopefully this will help guide you to a great Cross Country experience. 

INTRODUCTION 

Scott Kenney is the Head Boys’ Cross Country coach. Coach Kenney has been coaching at Seven Lakes since 2005. Communication with parents is important. If you have any questions or comments or simply would like to know how your son is progressing, please contact Coach Kenney at one of the following. 

Work Phone: 281-237-2895 

Email at Work: scottakenney@katyisd.org 

Alyssa Crocker is the Head Girls’ Cross Country coach. Coach Crocker has been coaching at Seven Lakes since 2020. Communication with parents is important. If you have any questions or comments or simply would like to know how your daughter is progressing, please contact Coach Crocker at one of the following.

Work Phone: 281-237-9528 

Email at Work: alyssarcrocker@katyisd.org 

Additional Supportive Staff: 

• Campus Athletic Coordinator James Hamon 281-237-2840 
• Assistant Athletic Coordinator Kaytlin Eidson 281-237-2928 
• Head Athletic Trainer Liz Wagner 281-237-2879 
• Athletic Office Administrative Assistant Tambi Martin: 281-237-2940 

COMMUNICATION 

Please do not hesitate to contact your respective head coach with any concerns you may have. Email usually works best for short responses, phone calls work best for long responses. We also have our own website. In order to get to our team website, you simply need to visit Seven Lakes High School’s Athletic Booster Club High School main page, and click on Sports, then click Cross Country or go to sevenlakesxc.com. Here you will find schedules, records, and announcements. 

HISTORY AND TRADITION 

The Seven Lakes Cross Country Boys Team has an outstanding tradition of success over the past 20 years. 7 District Team Champions, 8 District Individual Champions, 62 All District performances, 3 Regional Runner Up Teams, 4 Region Team Champions, 3 Region Individual Champions, 19 All Region performances, 19 State Meets, 11 All-State performances, 1 Team State Runner-Up, 1 Team State champions. The 2025 team is set to continue this tradition, as we will thrive in 2025! This is the tradition of Seven Cross Country – a commitment to excellence forged by self-discipline, dedication, and consistent hard work. 

The Seven Lakes Cross Country Girls’ Team has an outstanding tradition of success over the past 20 years. 6 District Team Champions, 3 District Individual Champions, 57 All District performances, 5 Regional Runner Up Teams, 3 Region Team Champions, 2 Region Individual Champions, 13 All Region performances, 16 State Meets, 3 All State performances. The 2025 team is set to continue this tradition, as we will thrive in 2025! This is the tradition of Seven Cross Country – a commitment to excellence forged by self-discipline, dedication, and consistent hard work. 

PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS 

The philosophical foundation of the program correlates directly with the philosophy of the Katy Independent School District Athletic Department. This philosophy is to maintain a broad-based program that will afford all students with athletic interests and abilities an opportunity for safe and healthful participation in the sport of their choice. The philosophy is based on the concept that there is a need for rugged physical development and fitness for every youngster, as well as a variance of interest, abilities, and desires. 

OBJECTIVES OF THE K.I.S.D. ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT AND SLHS XC PROGRAM 

The purpose of the Seven Lakes Cross Country program is to do more than provide competition between two individuals and/or two schools. It is to teach fair play, sportsmanship, the understanding and appreciation of teamwork, the teaching of discipline, and that to quit means failure and hard work means eventual success (properly defined). We will attempt to accomplish this general objective through the following goals. 

1. Keep as many athletes as possible in a good environment. 
2. Instill good habits, sound morals, exemplary citizenship, and a high standard of sportsmanship in each athlete involved in Seven Lakes Cross Country 
3. Encourage students to grow physically, mentally, morally, and socially. 
4. Instill in youngsters an appreciation for optimum health and physical fitness. The importance of proper rest, good eating habits, and cleanliness will be stressed at every opportunity. 
5. Develop the program in such a manner that the end result will be one of unity, harmony, and success. Mass participation will be emphasized and encouraged among all ability levels. 
6. Instill in all athletes the desire to represent Seven Lakes High School and the Seven Lakes community in a manner that will make school administrators, teachers, parents, and other citizens proud of them. 

ATHLETE EXPECTATIONS 

As a member of the Seven Lakes Cross Country team, each athlete is expected to: 

1. Maintain good academic standing – pass all classes. Students who earn below 70 may not participate in meets. They still practice. If failing grades become habitual the athlete will be dismissed from the team.
2. Keep a detailed Training Log daily. On a weekly log sheet, your athlete will log workouts, record updates and announcements, and communicate with coaches. This will be graded and is a part of the 6 weeks average. 
3. Participate to their fullest. A 100 daily participation grade will be given when the student shows up on time (10 points) with SLHS issued equipment (10 points), completes training to the best of their ability (70 points), and logs training daily (10 points).
4. Be a positive example to teammates, parents, and the community wherever they may go. Be selective in their social activities. 
5. Maintain good training procedures including proper nutrition, hydration, rest, and injury management. The use of alcohol, tobacco, or drugs is contrary to sound training and sound living and will result in swift disciplinary action as allowed through the KatyISD athletic handbook. 
6. Attend and participate in all practices and meets including those scheduled on school holidays. Athletes are not excused for work, Driver’s license, hair appointments, etc. It is the parents’ responsibility to notify the coach explaining the reason for the absence BEFORE it occurs.  Unexcused absences may result in exclusion of the athlete in that week's meet and more than 2 unexcused absences or 3 tardies to practice will result in removal from the team.

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If an athlete has an illness or injury, a doctor’s or a parent note- including signature, phone number, date and reason- must be given to the coach and training room. HOWEVER, an athlete is still expected to dress in appropriate workout attire –AND-attend all practices to earn their full daily grade. Failure to dress out, even when legitimately injured or sick, will result in a 5% grade deducted for each practice tardy or unexcused absence. If an athlete must see a trainer, it is required that they check in with their coach first. The athlete must then sign in with the trainer.

1. Properly care for equipment loaned to them. Missing equipment items will be paid for. 
2. Be familiar with the rules and tactics of Cross Country. 
3. Keep parents informed of all team activities. 
4. Report on time to all team functions. Arrival at the practice start time is NOT on time. We have a saying in Seven Lakes Cross Country, “If you are early, you are on time. If you are on time, you are late. If you are late, you are rude.” Be ready to run at the start time. 
5. Report all injuries to your coaches for referral to the trainers. Athletes/Parents please let the coach and trainers know you are injured before you go to a doctor. 
6. Athletes are not to practice with private sport specific coaches. We believe that private coaches are ultimately detrimental to the athlete, and more importantly, the team. 

Failure to meet the team expectations may result in disciplinary action including suspension from meets and/or removal from the team. Coach Kenney and Coach Crocker reserve the right to suspend any team member for any action considered inappropriate or detrimental to the team. 

If an athlete is to miss a practice for any reason, parents should contact Coach Kenney or Coach Crocker in one of the previously mentioned fashions BEFORE practice. 

If a team member has a conflict with another school activity, the athlete, the sponsor, and coach will discuss the situation and create a compromise that works for everybody. If there is a conflict with an outside school activity, Cross Country will take priority. Coach Kenney and Coach Crocker will make the final decision as it affects Cross Country. 

TEAM UNITY 

• We would like to create several opportunities throughout the season to help bring the teammates together. Look forward to updates pertaining to these events. 
• Each Friday evening before Cross Country Meets, we will encourage the team to gather at a local eating establishment for a team dinner. The schedule and times will be discussed and announced during the week before the meet. 
• Each athlete involved in the Seven Lakes Cross Country program is expected to refrain from drinking ALL Carbonated Beverages during the duration of the competitive season. This is a small sacrifice that all runners can make. In making this (and other) sacrifice/s the entire team, best to worst, is unified. 
• At the close of every meet, the program will round up to reflect on the meet and give out Spartan Shout-Outs. This process is a symbol of our team unity and the significance of every individual to the success of the program. This allows individual athletes and teams to recognize the accomplishments of teammates. This is a very important process of team building. Athletes are expected to be present.
• Many of our families make the trek to the Regional and State Championship meets at the end of the season. Even if your son or daughter is not participating, we encourage you to come to these highly competitive, outstanding races. It doesn’t get any more exciting in this sport! Don’t miss these events!!! 
• The Cross Country season culminates with an Awards Banquet. We will be sending out information at least 3 weeks prior to the team banquet so you and your family can plan accordingly in order to attend.

NUTRITION 

Water/Gatorade – The absolute minimum consumed should be 128 ounces per day (that’s one gallon, or 16 eight ounce cups)! The drinking fountain rule applies for school – If you pass one, take a drink! 

Proper nutrition is essential to athletic performance as well as good overall health. 

● A balanced meal of complex carbohydrates, meats, vegetables, fruits, and fluids is best. ● Athletes should eat before and after every workout and race. 

● All athletes should eat at least 8 servings of fruit and vegetables each day. 

● What about vitamins? Done in moderation they can’t hurt. (Although they may not help) 

● During the racing season athletes should not be drinking any carbonated drinks! 

● “Junk food” should be eaten in moderation (20% or less of food intake) and must never replace the essentials of a healthy, balanced diet (80% or more). 

● All athletes need to consume enough calories to maintain their weight. No one should be on a “diet” or diet pills of any kind. There are some athletes; especially those who are experiencing exercise and good nutritional habits for the first time that will experience weight loss. If you suspect your athlete is not eating properly please bring this to the coaches’ attention. 

EQUIPMENT 

Required equipment: 

• All athletes must have at least one pair of quality running shoes for training. Two pairs are better than one-one for quality workouts and one for recovery runs! Buy shoes in person at a specialty shoe store prior to buying online.
• Competitive racing shoes for meets (also called spikes) should also be purchased for athletes to wear during XC competition. The quality of the spikes will matter.
• All athletes must get and wear a runner’s watch to practice each day (one that has a stopwatch with “splits/laps” feature and is water-resistant). Recommendation Gramin or Coros watch.
• All athletes will be issued racing equipment at the start of each season. It is imperative that this equipment is turned in at the end of each season. 
• All athletes will be held responsible for their equipment. If lost or stolen, the athlete will be required to make payment for lost equipment. 

Suggestions for keeping up with equipment: 

● Athletes should make sure they place their equipment in their locker with the locker locked! ● Athletes should NEVER loan equipment to someone else. 

● Athletes should always have someone watching their equipment while they are competing. 

Picking A Training Shoe: 

Quality running shoes generally cost between $100 and $250. The most important factor in choosing a running shoe is comfort. If the shoe fits and is comfortable you are probably OK. If injuries are a problem or there is some biomechanical flaw in a person’s running form, the best option is to have your runner’s stride and running form evaluated. Fleet Feet and Good Times Running Company are stores that work well with us.

Cross Country Team sport involving running over varied terrain.

Dual Meet  A meet between two teams. In Texaswe rarely have these.

False Start Runner leaving the starting line early. Starter will return all runners to the line for a restart.

Finish Chute The roped-off area at the finish, through which runners are directed in order to establish place in a race. (You should stay away from this area unless you are helping with the meet)

Footlocker Inv. The National Championship individual race at the end of season.

NXN The National Championship team race at the end of season.

Invitational A meet between a multiple number of teams. All of our races except District, Regionals and State are Invitationals.

Pace Rate of speed maintained over a prolonged distance. Normally we are trying to run at the same pace over the entire race.

Personal Record (PR) Best performance time on a specific course or overall for an athletes career. The best they have ever done.

Racing Flat or Spikes A lightweight shoe designed primarily for racing.

Starting box, gate, lane Designated area to which a team is assigned for the start of a race. 

Surge A gradual or sudden increase in speed as a tactical move in a race.

Warm Down/Cool Down Exercises and running through which the body is physically returned to a pre-running state.

Warm Up Exercises and running through which the body is physically prepared prior to racing or working out.