GLVC Cross Country Plan to Proceed

GLVC PLAN TO PROCEED PROCESS
  • Coaches unanimously proposed "Plan to Proceed" August 17
  • Athletic Directors unanimously approved "Plan" August 19
  • Council of Presidents unanimously approved "Plan" August 24
  • Athletic Trainers unanimously supported "Plan" August 27
 
  • GLVC (and Lindenwood/Maryville) to make initial site visit to Principia College on September 7-11
  • GLVC staff makes second site visit to Principia for GLVC West Division Race on October 9
  • GLVC administers GLVC Championship on October 24

2020 SCHEDULE (CONFERENCE-ONLY COMPETITION)

SEPT. 25/26: GLVC TRIANGULARS (Distance/Time TBD by all participating teams in Pod; 80-runner limit/race)
Same-day, three-hour drive or less if possible.
  • Pod 1 - Indianapolis, Lewis, Southern Indiana (Host: UINDY)
  • Pod 2 - Illinois Springfield, McKendree, Quincy (Host: UIS)
  • Pod 3 - Lindenwood, Maryville, Missouri-St. Louis (Host: LWU)
  • Pod 4 - Drury, Missouri S&T, Southwest Baptist (Host: SBU)
  • Pod 5 - Rockhurst, Truman State, William Jewell (Host: TSU)

OCT. 2/3: OFF WEEK

OCT. 9/10: GLVC DIVISIONALS (6K W/8K M; Time TBD by all participating teams in Division; 80-runner limit/race)
GLVC East & GLVC West - "GLVC Championship Qualifier"
  • EAST: UIS, UINDY, LEWIS, MCK, UMSL, QU, USI (Host: UIS)
  • WEST: DU, LWU, MU, S&T, RU, SBU, TSU, WJC (Host: LWU)
  • Top-four schools from each race advance to A Race at GLVC Championship
  • Remaining seven schools compete in B Race

OCT. 16/17: OFF WEEK

OCT. 24: GLVC CHAMPIONSHIP (6K women/8K men; Time TBD by GLVC; 80-runner limit/race)
Host: Maryville at Principia College
  • Men 8K: A Race (8 teams) & B Race (7 teams)
  • Women 6K: A Race (8 teams) & B Race (7 teams)

OCT. 30/31: OFF WEEK

NOV. 7: GLVC OPEN
Host & Format: TBD


2020 ROSTER LIMITS
  • 2020 GLVC Roster Data: 241 Men, 196 Women
  • 2019 GLVC Championships: 173 Men, 143 Women
    • Regular-season races had up to 550 runners
  • No GLVC race this season will exceed 80 runners
  • This number stems from Principia College's policy that no more than 80 runners can compete on its course at one time. The eight-team "Championship" race at the GLVC Championships results in 10 per team. For GLVC Triangulars, an average of 26 runners per team can compete in each pod. If there are more than 80 runners between the three teams, a "B" race will take place.

HEALTH & SAFETY
TESTING & SCREENING
  • Adhere to all NCAA Sport Science Institute (SSI) Requirements pertaining to Cross Country.
    • Cross Country is listed as a Medium Contact Risk Sport by NCAA SSI, which means it is not held to the same testing principles as High Contact Risk Sports, such as Football, Soccer and Volleyball.
    • Per NCAA SSI, during in-season (preseason, regular season, and postseason): surveillance PCR testing, for example, 25%-50% of athletes and "inner bubble" personnel every two weeks if physical distancing, masking, and other protective features are not maintained, plus additional testing for symptomatic and high contact risk individuals.
  • Adhere to GLVC COVID-19 Guiding Principles/GLVC Sports Medicine/Athletic Training Task Force Recommendations.
  • Each member of the school travel party must pass temperature screening prior to leaving campus for ANY GLVC event this year.
  • Each member of the school travel party must also test negative during the week of the GLVC Championship in order to be permitted to leave campus.
  • For any school staying in a hotel on Friday prior to the GLVC Championship, each member must pass temperature screening prior to leaving for the course.
  • Each school must travel one Athletic Trainer to all GLVC events.
  • All GLVC Event Management & Officials must abide by all PPE protocols (mask, gloves).

COST-CONTAINMENT
  • Provide maximum scheduling flexibility at each stage to allow for schools to have same-day travel.
  • Race times to be mid-afternoon (rather than morning) at GLVC Triangulars/Divisionals/Championship.

UNIVERSAL SAFETY ZONES
Must adhere to six universal GLVC Cross Country safety zones the entire season.
 
  1. Team Camp - Mask On and Social Distance
  2. Warm-Up Area - Mask Off (only when warming up), otherwise Masks On and Social Distance
  3. Clerking Area - Mask On and Social Distance
  4. Start Line/Designated Stride Area - Mask Off and Social Distance
  5. Finish Line - Social Distance, Immediately Report to Finish Line Team Camp and Mask On
  6. Team Sanitization - Mask On and Social Distance (competition gear to be placed in team-issued individual garment bag/trash bag for ride home)
 
GLVC will provide consistent branding/signage for each zone at each event.

STAGGERED ARRIVAL TIMES
  • Eight GLVC teams prefer to arrive 90 minutes before the first race
  • Five teams prefer to arrive 120 minutes before the first race
  • Two teams prefer to arrive 180 minutes before the first race
 
Based on a 2 p.m. CT start time of the first-of-four races, an example of staggered arrival times could be:
  • 11:20 - Indianapolis (~23 people)
  • 11:30 - Drury (~23)
  • 11:40 - Lindenwood (~23)
  • 11:50 - Maryville/McKendree (~40)
  • 12:00 - Quincy/Truman State (~38)
  • 12:10 - Illinois Springfield/Southern Indiana (~46)
  • 12:20 - Lewis/Southwest Baptist (~47)
  • 12:30 - Missouri S&T/William Jewell (~38)
  • 12:40 - Rockhurst/Missouri-St. Louis (~42)

TEAM/PARTICIPANT CHECK-IN
  • All event information, including participant bibs and chips, must be in a sealed and labeled envelope for each team.
  • Only one designated coach/trainer can pick up the participant packet.

TEAM CAMPS
  • It is recommended that each team camp be at least 40 feet x 40 feet.
    • If there are space constraints, at least 20 feet should be between each team camp.
  • Prior to heading to the start line, runners must provide their own water bottles at the finish line team camp. Water and cups at the finish line will be used for emergencies only.

START LINE
  • Teams arrive at the start line no earlier than 10 minutes before the race for all GLVC events.
  • All runners must have masks on when arriving to start line. Designated stride areas do not require masks, but if you choose to wear one, ample time will be provided for you to secure your mask in waistband, sports bra, or participant bib before the start.

STARTING BOXES
  • GLVC Triangulars: 3/(or 2) Boxes/Team; 2 Box Buffer Between Teams
  • GLVC Divisionals: 3/2 or 2/1 Boxes/Team; 2/1 Box Buffer Between Teams
  • GLVC Championships: 3/2 Boxes/Team; 3 Box Buffer Between Teams
    • Principia had 46 starting boxes for the 2017 D-III Women's Championship.
    • GLVC Championship Eight-Team "A" Race Proposal: Team 1 (1-3), Team 2 (7-9), Team 3 (13-15), Team 4 (19-21), Team 5 (25-27), Team 6 (31-33), Team 7 (37-39), Team 8 (43-45).

FINISH LINE
  • The Finish Line at all GLVC events must be as wide as the scoring and timing company can make it.
    • GLVC Championship Finish Line: Contracted timing company currently operates with a 16-foot wide finish line but has the ability to increase to 32-feet wide.
  • The Finish Line Team Camp will consist of a completely open area to allow for runners to immediately distance from each other after the race concludes.
  • Team-specific signage will be displayed in the open area and socially distanced from other teams competing.
    • GLVC Championship Finish Line Team Camp: Wide-open area will have Finish Line Team Camps designated by GLVC school feather flags, distanced 30-feet apart to adhere to State of Illinois requirements.
  • Runners are to immediately make their way to their Finish Line Team Camp and put on their mask.

CHIP RETURN
  • Following each race, ONLY the head coach will be responsible for taking the plastic bag provided to each team and collecting every chip from their student-athletes in the race. The bag will be delivered to the timing company where chips are secured and sanitized. The head coach will keep the bag for the next race (when applicable).

GLVC CHAMPIONSHIP BANQUET & POST-RACE AWARDS CEREMONY
  • There will be no formal championship banquet this year.
  • There will be no formal awards ceremony this year.
  • Teams who are represented in the top-15 for All-GLVC honors will remain around the finish line for an abbreviated ceremony.
  • Teams who are not represented in the top-15 or for postseason honors will immediately return to team camp and leave the premises.
  • Abbreviated awards ceremony will meet all social distance requirements.
  • Medals and trophies will remain wrapped in protective plastic and be handed to honorees by staff with gloves on.
  • Honorees will then remove medals or awards for their formal picture.
  • Team champion picture will be socially distanced with masks on.

ACCESS
Spectators
  • No spectators allowed at any GLVC event.

Staff
The GLVC will limit access to personnel staffing at all GLVC Triangular/Divisional/Championship events.
  • Tier 1/Green: Meet Administration, Athletic Trainers
  • Tier 2/Blue: Meet Administration, Athletic Trainers, Coaches
  • Tier 3/Red: Team Access Only (Student-Athletes, Athletic Trainers, Coaches, SIDs)

GLVCSN
  • GLVCSN will provide both live and tape-delayed coverage of GLVC Championship.
  • Live coverage will be limited to the finish line and may lack enhanced production.
  • Tape-delayed coverage will consist of one-hour post-produced show (similar to past years) within 7-10 days of the Championship.