TO EARN A VARSITY LETTER, YOU MUST SATISFY AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:
1. Perform at least as well as the "A" standard time(s) given in the VARSITY LEVEL PERFORMANCES table,
which appears later in this document.
which appears later in this document and earn a minimum of 12 points based on the following criteria:
are at least twice as many individuals competing as receive individual awards.
more of the following criteria:
Meet of Champions and at least meet the "C" standard in the table below for the course on which the meet is
contested.
have been on the team for at least two seasons and have remained in good standing with no unexcused
absences and have at least met one of the "C" standards in the table below.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
1. Perform at least as well as the "A" standard time(s) given in the VARSITY LEVEL PERFORMANCES table,
which appears later in this document.
which appears later in this document and earn a minimum of 12 points based on the following criteria:
- Dual Meets – 3 Points Maximum Each Meet
- 1 point for finishing in the SPFHS Top 7 (does not apply if we have seven or less finishers)
- 1 point for finishing in the Top 7 in the overall race results
- 1 point for finishing ahead of the fifth runner of the opposing team (does not apply if the opposing team has
less than five finishers)
Triangular Meets – 5 Points Maximum Each Meet
- 2 points for finishing in the SPFHS Top 7 (does not apply if we have seven or less finishers)
- 1 point for finishing in the Top 12 in the overall race results
- 1 point for finishing ahead of the fifth runner of each opposing team (does not apply if an opposing team
has less than five finishers)
Varsity Invitationals/Championship Meets – 8 Points Maximum Each Meet
- 3 points for finishing among the top 1/3 of all finishers
- 2 points for finishing among the middle 1/3 of all finishers
- 1 point for finishing among the bottom 1/3 of all finishers
- 1 point for winning the individual championship
- 2 points for winning an individual medal or plaque
- 1 point for winning the team championship
- 1 point for winning a team medal or plaque
JV/Novice Invitationals/Championship Meets – 3 Points Maximum Each Meet
- 1 point for winning the race
- 1 point for running faster than our slowest finisher in the varsity race, provided the race is contested over
the same course under the same conditions - 1 point for running faster than the 5th runner of the team one place behind us in the varsity team standings
are at least twice as many individuals competing as receive individual awards.
more of the following criteria:
- Any place in the team standings that receives a team award at an invitational, provided there are at least
twice as many teams competing as receive team awards. - First or second place in the team standings at the Union County Conference Watchung Division
Championship and at least meet the "C" standard for the course given in the table below. - First, second, or third place in the team standings at the Union County Championship.
Meet of Champions and at least meet the "C" standard in the table below for the course on which the meet is
contested.
have been on the team for at least two seasons and have remained in good standing with no unexcused
absences and have at least met one of the "C" standards in the table below.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
- To earn a varsity letter, you must be at all meets, barring extenuating or extraordinary circumstances. This
includes all championship meets. - You will not be awarded a varsity letter if you have been found to be cutting and/or walking road loops.
- If you suddenly take an inconceivable amount of time off of your best time on a course, that race performance
will not be considered, as it will be assumed that you cut the course. Only legitimate performances will be
considered. You must be able to duplicate a performance within a reasonable time difference. - Times in junior varsity and novice races will be considered, so long as they are legitimate performances. Times
in freshman races will not be considered. Only times run in races contested on the same course as the varsity
races will be considered. - You will not receive a varsity letter if you are not working your hardest and giving your fullest effort.
- You must participate in varsity-level workouts in order to be considered for a varsity letter.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
- Will I earn a varsity letter if I come to practice everyday?
- No. A varsity letter is not a certificate of participation. Giving varsity letters for coming to practice everyday
would be analogous to naming students to the high honor roll for having perfect attendance in school. A varsity
letter is something to be earned, not something to be given. It needs to represent something. If everyone
gets a varsity letter, a varsity letter won’t mean anything anymore.
- Who keeps track of my performances?
- Mr. Koegel keeps the official records. Every effort is made to document your performances in every meet. This
is done for numerous reasons. Most importantly, it is done to track your development. Meet results can be
found elsewhere on this website.
- What if the weather is bad on the day of the race or the course is muddy?
- Your race will be evaluated to see if it would have met the performance standards had the conditions been
favorable.
- Why aren't all of the courses where we compete listed in the performance table?
- Some of the dual meet courses where we currently run (Cedar Brook Park in particular) are of questionable or
unknown distance. Some of these courses change every year as well, as they are not properly mapped,
marked, and measured. As a result, any attempt to assign a cut-off performance for these courses would be
too subjective in nature.
- Will performances in sub-varsity events be considered?
- Your times will be considered regardless of the level of competition in which they were achieved. The earning of
sub-varsity medals will not be considered.
- Is there a maximum number of letters that will be awarded?
- No.
- Is there a minimum number of letters that will be awarded?
- No.
- What if I earned a letter last fall?
- This has no bearing on whether you will earn a varsity letter this fall or not. You must earn your letter every
season.
- What if I earned a letter in winter track & field and/or spring track & field?
- This also has no bearing on whether you will earn a varsity letter this fall or not. Again, you must earn your
letter every season.
- What if I get injured during summer training or during the season?
- The awarding of a varsity letter will be at the discretion of the coaching staff. They will evaluate your
development up to the point of your injury and determine if you would have earned a varsity letter. If you are
injured while participating in an unauthorized activity, such as a club sport, you may not be awarded a letter,
regardless of other factors.
- What if I ran in the varsity race at a championship meet? Do I get a letter then?
- Not necessarily. At certain meets, we must run at least five runners in the varsity race before we can enter sub-
varsity races. If we happen to have a season where we are riddled with injuries or are low in numbers we may
be forced to enter junior varsity runners in the varsity race. This applies especially to the Watchung Division
and Union County Championship meets. You still must meet the aforementioned criteria to earn a varsity letter.
- Am I guaranteed a varsity letter if the conditions above are met?
- No. Factors such as poor attendance and violations of team rules will weigh against your favor. You must be at
practice and at the meets. The decision as to what qualifies as an excused absence rests with the coaches, not
with the athletes. You must also do everything asked of you by the coaches. You must conduct yourself in the
appropriate manner at all times, which includes working your hardest and being respectful to your teammates,
coaches, opponents, and the officials. Please refer to the team rules, regulations, and guidelines.
- How do I earn a junior varsity certificate?
- This is done through attendance at and effort in both practices and meets. Signing up for the team does not
guarantee that you will earn a junior varsity certificate. At the very least, you must be at practice, working your
hardest, everyday.
- Will the VARSITY LEVEL PERFORMANCES table be the same next fall?
- Not necessarily. The table will be re-evaluated every season.
- Will the rest of the varsity letter requirements be the same next fall?
- Not necessarily. The letter requirements will be re-evaluated every season as well.
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