Saturday, November 17, 2018

Update from NCS office

ADs/Coaches/League Commissioners:
 
As you are aware, the CIF cross country meet is on schedule for Saturday, Nov. 24, which means that we need to come up with a contingency plan for advancing our qualifiers (both team and individual) if we are unable to conduct our NCS championship. Our cross country management team has been working diligently to get this process in order and we would like to communicate the plan now, in case we get to a point where we must put this in motion. Our goal has not changed – to run our section meet as we normally would – but if that becomes a non-viable option, here is how we will proceed.
 
Advancement Committee
Similar to the precedent set in other NCS sports, a 3-person “Advancement Committee” (approved by the cross country management team) will determine the teams and individuals to be advanced to the CIF state championships. The committee is made up of knowledgeable individuals who have an in-depth understanding of the sport and are familiar with the 2018 season.
 
Application for Advancement
Attached please find the “Application for Advancement.” Due to the time-squeeze of this announcement and subsequent deadline (see form), the NCS cross country management team has opted not to make this application mandatory for state advancement, however, coaches are strongly encouraged to submit completed forms by the deadline to assist the committee in its decision-making process.
 
In Good News! 
Yes, I actually have some. If we are unable to conduct our championship and we get to the “Advancement Committee” stage, the CIF has graciously approved an additional team qualifier in each of our divisions. At this time, there is no exception for an additional individual entry.
 
Thank you once again for your patience and flexibility – I know this has been hard on all of our schools.
 
More to come,
Bri
 
------------------------------------
Bri Niemi
Associate Commissioner
North Coast Section, CIF
@CIFNCS

============================

ADs/Coaches/League Commissioners:

Thank you for your patience.

At this time, NCS is postponing the cross country championships scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 17 at Hayward HS due to the continuing poor air quality, which is projected to last into the weekend.

Decisions like this are never easy, but we need to make determinations in the best interest of our student-athletes, while balancing the potential weather change, schools’ travel arrangements, recruitment of personnel to run the meet at a later date, logistics for 1400+ runners and contingency plans for state advancers.

We have rescheduled the meet for Tuesday, Nov. 20 @ Hayward HS.

Meet management will continue to monitor available options and will keep our schools informed if anything should change.

Thanks,
Bri

------------------------------------
Bri Niemi
Associate Commissioner
North Coast Section, CIF
@CIFNCS

12 comments:

anonymous said...

Does anyone know what a back up plan would be if there is no race on Tuesday or if air quality is still bad? Would NCS officials pick teams for state?

The lack of information is quite frustrating.

Anonymous said...

NCS football is exploring the possibility of playing in Humboldt County on Monday at Eureka,Fortuna and McKinleyville.We should join them because Tuesday is still looking pretty smokey!!It would be epic if we could race the Tall Trees course that I have heard so much about from the legendary powerhouse coach from Campolindo HS,Chuck "Woolly" Woolridge!!

Anonymous said...

Agreed. It shouldn't be that hard to have three already established race locations (hayward high school and two others) that are spread out over the entire NCS that are ready to go upon a Monday notification. Our section is very large and the whole thing cannot be covered in unhealthy air. Santa Rosa, Ukiah, Eureka, all come to mind as options; there are lots to choose from. Yes housing could be a challenge but i for one would offer my home and i know of others that would do as well to help out those traveling from the farthest distances should they need a place to stay. I don't think putting all the eggs in one basket (Hayward High) makes sense. And I'm sure nearly everyone would agree that the kids should race to see who advances as opposed to having a committee choose or base advancing off of the last race. Who can carry this message to NCS? I'll email them but feel like we need the weight of the coaches, athletic directors or others to get some momentum.

Anonymous said...

There is no way you could race on the tall trees trail, it's a tiny single track trail in the middle of a redwood forest.

ML said...

NCS XC
Pick a location by Sunday noon in the section that has good air quality now/forecasted and go with it.
No way they should roll the dice on Hayward, forecast is the same/no change likely by Tuesday am.

The section is big and we have locations with good air quality now, someone going to drive a long way no matter where they race.



Anonymous said...

Air quality has been consistently lower in Ukiah and there is still time to scramble volunteers and prepare. I hope ncs doesn’t just resign itself to this committee approach when a race COULD be run.

Anonymous said...

WHO IS THE THREE PERSON COMMITTEE?

Anonymous said...

So by not running NCS gets an extra team? Yeah, this meet is not happening.

Anonymous said...

Just hears that NCS is officially a "GO" for tomorrow?! Why has SFS and Oakland cancelled and NCS in Hayward is still a go? The Air has not changed and is the same everywhere. How does NCS read/interpret AQI? PurpleAir and Air Now all say over 150 right now. Worst case scenario for NCS State meet podium contenders would actually be running in AQI barely below 150 only four days before State. This would be horrible for our athletes.

anonymous said...

This is set up to be a horrible experience. Everyone will show up and may run in air that at best will be close the some artificial line. What is clear kids will be running in really poor air on the border of unhealthy or showing up and not running at all. For schools traveling a great distance this is a horrible result.

The poor decisions started last week when no back up plan was made on Thursday and NCS simply kept kicking the can down the road.

The health of the kids should come first, not pushing this through due to a series of bad decisions by NCS officials.

Anonymous said...

A 3 person "advancement committee" is a really terrible idea. It would inevitably piss off all the non-selected athletes, as well as their coaches and parents.

And NCS has had more than a week to get another location. Just another case of bureaucratic incompetence.

Anonymous said...

Finally a solid backup plan for the conditions that NCS find themselves.

Also the bonus team slot is a nice consolation from the state. Good idea to get coach's input as well, so nobody gets left out from consideration.

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