FB: American Rivers Conference

[WW]

My issue with staggered starts are the runners going last will be running over a course considerably deteriorated from what the earlier runners ran on.  A muddy mess for the last runners to compete on isn't exactly a level playing field. 

As for starting with masks and then removing at some later point, I know things spread out after the start, but as the race develops you often get small pockets of runners grouped together and that is where the fluids really get to flying around.  You could almost make the argument that is worse than the start of the race.  Putting masks back on near the end would be problematic.  The runners are often at a dead sprint at that point. 

   

The "muddy mess" for the last runners is the price you pay for not being fast whether the start is staggered or not. I presume a stagger would be seeded to allow the fastest runners the earned benefit of the cleanest course.

You're right about the grouping of runners, which is often tactically encouraged. I don't know how to fix that, even in a staggered start. It's just what they do.

Masks near the end would be problematic but it's just a rule you'd have to make. You don't bring it up at 100m from the finish, DQ (or xx second penalty). I'd be more worried about the post finish-line area, which often turns into a giant pileup of oxygen-deprived bodies even without masks. Now you've made them just a little more oxygen-deprived with a mask on, not to mention the possible vision impairment inherent with a hasty mask application, and yeah. That could be a big ol pile of college kids. Not ideal.

Maybe stagger is the way to go...

Do they stagger by team or stagger by individual.  A lot of tactical running gets messed up here no matter which way you go.  It's not really cross country at that point.  But at least they get to compete I guess.

Ideas I've heard include heats that would put like runners together. Say a typical team might bring 8 runners. Your 1 guy goes out against every other team's 1 guy, then all the 2 guys go out a few minutes later, then all the 3s, etc. Also heard discussion about 1)spreading out the starting boxes, 2) having multiple assigned finish chutes to reduce pileup clogs at the finish chute, and 3) just having smaller meets.

[doolittledog]

My issue with staggered starts are the runners going last will be running over a course considerably deteriorated from what the earlier runners ran on.  A muddy mess for the last runners to compete on isn't exactly a level playing field. 

As for starting with masks and then removing at some later point, I know things spread out after the start, but as the race develops you often get small pockets of runners grouped together and that is where the fluids really get to flying around.  You could almost make the argument that is worse than the start of the race.  Putting masks back on near the end would be problematic.  The runners are often at a dead sprint at that point. 

   

The "muddy mess" for the last runners is the price you pay for not being fast whether the start is staggered or not. I presume a stagger would be seeded to allow the fastest runners the earned benefit of the cleanest course.

You're right about the grouping of runners, which is often tactically encouraged. I don't know how to fix that, even in a staggered start. It's just what they do.

Masks near the end would be problematic but it's just a rule you'd have to make. You don't bring it up at 100m from the finish, DQ (or xx second penalty). I'd be more worried about the post finish-line area, which often turns into a giant pileup of oxygen-deprived bodies even without masks. Now you've made them just a little more oxygen-deprived with a mask on, not to mention the possible vision impairment inherent with a hasty mask application, and yeah. That could be a big ol pile of college kids. Not ideal.

Maybe stagger is the way to go...

Do they stagger by team or stagger by individual.  A lot of tactical running gets messed up here no matter which way you go.  It's not really cross country at that point.  But at least they get to compete I guess.

Ideas I've heard include heats that would put like runners together. Say a typical team might bring 8 runners. Your 1 guy goes out against every other team's 1 guy, then all the 2 guys go out a few minutes later, then all the 3s, etc. Also heard discussion about 1)spreading out the starting boxes, 2) having multiple assigned finish chutes to reduce pileup clogs at the finish chute, and 3) just having smaller meets.

Those make sense to me.  I've been to some high school meets with 28 schools, so that would be 196 runners. If you put it down to 14 schools and they were starting every other box and had multiple finish chutes that would make a lot of sense to me.  More so than staggered starts and what not. 

Now if you can help me out with how men's and women's lacrosse are different risk levels as are individual and relay swimming and you will have made my day 

[5 Words or Less]

Bobby Riggs must've wrote rules 

[5 Words or Less]

US LaCrosse disagrees with USFHS NFHS

https://www.uslacrosse.org/blog/us-lacrosse-addresses-sport-risk-levels-in-nfhs-return-to-play-guidance

The National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) recently published its "Guidance for Opening Up High School Athletics and Activities", which classifies boys' lacrosse as a higher risk sport and girls' lacrosse as a moderate risk sport relative to the potential for COVID-19 infection.

US Lacrosse and the NFHS enjoy a strong, collaborative relationship, however US Lacrosse and its Sports Science & Safety Committee disagree with the NFHS classification of boys' lacrosse as a higher risk for disease transmission. The Sports Science & Safety Committee has reviewed the matter and shared its belief that both boys' and girls' lacrosse are more appropriately placed in the moderate risk category.

US Lacrosse recently published its "Return to Play Recommendations for Lacrosse" and encourages the national lacrosse community to review and adhere to these guidelines in the months to come in an effort to appropriately balance infection and injury risk with the desire to return to the field.

[5 Words or Less]

Speedo now makes PPE

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Speedo now makes PPE

LIMITED QUANTITIES- Available to individual swimmers ONLY

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Speedo now makes PPE

Available to individual swimmers ONLY

Thus, relays = higher risk

[5 Words or Less]

[doolittledog]

If I could give you additional karma today I would...well done you!

[BLynn]

In the NAIA, the largest conference (Mid South, 22 teams; 3 divisions) announced no fall sports.  For the first time since Covid started, I'm throwing in the towel on NAIA football this fall.  We're down to about 53 of 95 schools and counting.

[BLynn]

In the NAIA, the largest conference (Mid South, 22 teams; 3 divisions) announced no fall sports.  For the first time since Covid started, I'm throwing in the towel on NAIA football this fall.  We're down to about 53 of 95 schools and counting.

ok, maybe I jumped the gun, a little. (darn reading comprehension skills) - here's the subtext -

"In football, each of the three divisions will independently determine conference play. With the football footprint spanning over seven states, each division's administrative council was given the authority to make the decision on fall play based on state and federal regulations within its geographical area. An announcement on the football schedule will come later this week once all three divisions' leaderships have met."

[formerd3db]

In the NAIA, the largest conference (Mid South, 22 teams; 3 divisions) announced no fall sports.  For the first time since Covid started, I'm throwing in the towel on NAIA football this fall.  We're down to about 53 of 95 schools and counting.

ok, maybe I jumped the gun, a little. (darn reading comprehension skills) - here's the subtext -

"In football, each of the three divisions will independently determine conference play. With the football footprint spanning over seven states, each division's administrative council was given the authority to make the decision on fall play based on state and federal regulations within its geographical area. An announcement on the football schedule will come later this week once all three divisions' leaderships have met."

One aspect that I quite can't understand is that all of these conferences (and schools) put the same statement in their announcements that in concern fo the safety of the student athletes that they are following local, state, and federal guidelines. Given that those guidelines are essentially the same everywhere ( at least from what I've seen and personally been involved), what are those schools that are planning to play and go against their conference decision basing their decisions on regarding the guidelines? What is so different? If any of you know the answer, I would appreciate being educated. Thanks.

[Schipper Strong]

I would love for them to be able to have spring football. Guess we will just have to wait and see. I was so looking forward to this season! I sure hope these seniors get their senior season and take it, whenever that happens.

[doolittledog]

In the NAIA, the largest conference (Mid South, 22 teams; 3 divisions) announced no fall sports.  For the first time since Covid started, I'm throwing in the towel on NAIA football this fall.  We're down to about 53 of 95 schools and counting.

ok, maybe I jumped the gun, a little. (darn reading comprehension skills) - here's the subtext -

"In football, each of the three divisions will independently determine conference play. With the football footprint spanning over seven states, each division's administrative council was given the authority to make the decision on fall play based on state and federal regulations within its geographical area. An announcement on the football schedule will come later this week once all three divisions' leaderships have met."

With the NAIA offering immediate membership for any school that moves over, I wonder if the ARC ever contemplated a move back to the NAIA. 

[WW]

In the NAIA, the largest conference (Mid South, 22 teams; 3 divisions) announced no fall sports.  For the first time since Covid started, I'm throwing in the towel on NAIA football this fall.  We're down to about 53 of 95 schools and counting.

ok, maybe I jumped the gun, a little. (darn reading comprehension skills) - here's the subtext -

"In football, each of the three divisions will independently determine conference play. With the football footprint spanning over seven states, each division's administrative council was given the authority to make the decision on fall play based on state and federal regulations within its geographical area. An announcement on the football schedule will come later this week once all three divisions' leaderships have met."

One aspect that I quite can't understand is that all of these conferences (and schools) put the same statement in their announcements that in concern fo the safety of the student athletes that they are following local, state, and federal guidelines. Given that those guidelines are essentially the same everywhere ( at least from what I've seen and personally been involved), what are those schools that are planning to play and go against their conference decision basing their decisions on regarding the guidelines? What is so different? If any of you know the answer, I would appreciate being educated. Thanks.

Local and state guidelines are different per geography, as is the overall effect and spread of COVID. It's why in Wisconsin, for example, high school football is shelved till spring (if at all) in urban areas, per conference determination, and a full go (with a delayed start) outside of the major urban hubs.