FB: American Rivers Conference

[Schipper Strong]

This is old news, but something to post about.

https://who13.com/sports/dutch-traveler/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

[doolittledog]

This is old news, but something to post about.

https://who13.com/sports/dutch-traveler/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

That was a great story. I wish we would get more of those reports on the local channels.

[doolittledog]

BVU announces the ARC has postponed fall contact sports. 

https://bvuathletics.com/news/2020/8/10/general-a-r-c-announces-decision-to-postpone-fall-contact-sports.aspx

Golf, Tennis, and Cross Country will go ahead.

As a father of a XC runner I'm curious if they will change how they run those meets.  Because they are packed in closely at the start, are still relatively close together throughout the race, and I've seen every type of fluid flying around during the race (spit, snot, sweat, puke).  I understand Golf and Tennis getting the green light.  I have no idea how they think cross country is acceptable to continue. 

[5 Words or Less]

ARC's press release explains cancellation(s)

https://rollrivers.com/news/2020/8/11/american-rivers-conference-a-r-c-makes-announcement-regarding-fall-sports.aspx

[doolittledog]

ARC's press release explains cancellation(s)

https://rollrivers.com/news/2020/8/11/american-rivers-conference-a-r-c-makes-announcement-regarding-fall-sports.aspx

I still want someone to explain cross country to me.  I don't get how that sport gets the go ahead. 

[Pat Coleman]

ARC's press release explains cancellation(s)

https://rollrivers.com/news/2020/8/11/american-rivers-conference-a-r-c-makes-announcement-regarding-fall-sports.aspx

I still want someone to explain cross country to me.  I don't get how that sport gets the go ahead.

Me either -- I can only hope they are going to do something about how those races start. Obviously there ends up being separation as the race goes on, but those starts are really bunched up.

[5 Words or Less]

They may run time trials

[formerd3db]

Right. If they really want to adhere to the medical protocols, there are two ways to do it, although neither will be popular. Do staggered starts (or time trials as you mention) OR if a group start, all runners start out with masks.

[5 Words or Less]

These are HS risk groupings

Based on the USOPC and modified by the National Federation of High School Sports guidelines, below are examples on what constitutes low, medium and high-risk sports:

Low-Risk Sports: Individual running events, cross country with staggered starts, golf, sideline cheerleading, weightlifting, bowling, fishing, swimming individual races, diving and bicycling

Moderate-Risk Sports: Basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball, softball, ice hockey, tennis, swimming relays and women's lacrosse

High-Risk Sports: Football, wrestling, men's lacrosse, competitive cheerleading, dance, martial arts and field hockey

[WW]

Right. If they really want to adhere to the medical protocols, there are two ways to do it, although neither will be popular. Do staggered starts (or time trials as you mention) OR if a group start, all runners start out with masks.

This is the only way to do it, IMO. Lower your masks at 100m and put them back on 100m from finish. Staggered starts or time trials aren't cross country and they aren't racing any more than a NASCAR qualifying round could substitute for the race itself. Believe it or not, there are many tactical elements to the sport of cross country.

[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. 

     

[5 Words or Less]

Unusual rule for unusual year

[doolittledog]

These are HS risk groupings

Based on the USOPC and modified by the National Federation of High School Sports guidelines, below are examples on what constitutes low, medium and high-risk sports:

Low-Risk Sports: Individual running events, cross country with staggered starts, golf, sideline cheerleading, weightlifting, bowling, fishing, swimming individual races, diving and bicycling

Moderate-Risk Sports: Basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball, softball, ice hockey, tennis, swimming relays and women's lacrosse

High-Risk Sports: Football, wrestling, men's lacrosse, competitive cheerleading, dance, martial arts and field hockey

Since women's lacrosse is moderate risk and men's is high risk. Do women's lacrosse and men's lacrosse have different rules? 

Individual swimming is low risk but swimming relays is moderate risk?  Where do I start at how crazy that is.

[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...

[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.