Practice Schedule Week of 9/28/20

 Hi Everyone.

Our first day of practice will be Tuesday 9/29.   As mentioned in the previous post, you are not permitted to practice if your physical is not current or if you have a school obligation.  We will be taking and recording temperatures at the beginning of every practice.  Please do not come to practice if you answer yes to any of the following questions:

In the past 14 days, have you been near (within 6 feet for at least 15 minutes) a person who has a lab-confirmed case of COVID-19, or have you had direct contact with their mucus or saliva?

In the last 48 hours, have you had any of the following symptoms?

• Fever of 100.4 F or above (or symptoms like alternating shivering and sweating)
• New cough
• New trouble breathing, shortness of breath or severe wheezing
• New chills of shaking with chills
• New muscle aches
• Sore throat
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• New loss of smell or taste, or a change in taste
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Headache, congestion or runny nose (with no known other cause such as allergies)

All athletes must wear a mask to practice,  bring a towel and their own water bottle. I recommend purchasing a 32 ounce water bottle and label it with your name.  We will not be bringing the big jug of water to practices to prevent the spread of any germs.  Athletes will sit in the center of towels during stretching to assure social distance protocols.

Masks must be worn during stretching and drills.  Per Gov. Carney's directive, XC Athletes are permitted to remove masks once we start running.  They can wear them on their wrists during workouts and put them back on after the running portion of practice ends.

See below for practice locations and times for the coming week:

Tuesday 9/29:  Bellevue State Park 3:30PM-5:15PM

We meet at the picnic tables next to the bathrooms on the side of the track

Wednesday 9/30:  Bellevue State Park 3:30PM-5:15PM

Thursday 10/1:  Bellevue State Park 3:30PM-5:15PM

Friday 10/2:  Bellevue State Park 3:30PM-5:15PM

Saturday 10/3:  BRANDYWINE CREEK STATE PARK  8:30AM-10:15 AM

Use the main entrance off of Adams Dam Road.  Click HERE for directions.  Make the first right after passing toll booth (Hawk Watch parking lot).  We will meet near the picnic tables.

Please be prompt when picking up athletes from practice.  

We will be practicing at State Parks several days a week during the season.  There is a daily $4 charge for cars entering the park.  I highly recommend all parents or student drivers to purchase an annual pass.  Click HERE for more info on where to purchase.

For those returning runners who are using last year's physical or for any runners who used the OLD form, click HERE to get the new DIAA form.  All the pages concerning COVID must be signed by the parent.  Please bring to practice. Thanks!

That's all for now.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  You can text me via the REMIND App or email me.

See you soon!

Coach Flanagan

michelleluceyflanagan@gmail.com

BHSXC Update

 Hi everyone.

Last night BSD approved the plan to move forward with Fall sports.  Right now, we are looking to start practices on Tuesday 9/29, since Monday is a Jewish holiday.

I have a DIAA meeting tonight where we will discuss the safety protocols that must be followed in practices and meets.  This will include social distancing, mask protocols, and athletes' daily health assessments.  Later this week, I have a Brandywine Coaches' meeting to go over district protocols as well.  I will keep you all updated on the outcome of those meetings.

Last week, I sent out a list of athletes who needed to obtain a physical, turn in a COVID form (if using last year's physical) or fulfill a school obligation (see previous post).  Athletes will not be able to participate until these items are turned in.  I suggest making a copy of all forms.  Keep one for your records and turn in the other to the school nurse.  

I have put together a Google Doc to assess our transportation needs.  We are limited to 23 people on a school bus.  Buses would be starting routes after 2:30 PM.  If bus transportation is needed by some athletes, they will need to get to a designated bus stop each day. The form is below:

Click HERE to access the form.

I have heard from a few parents who are concerned with their athlete's safety.  We understand completely if you decide to have your athlete sit this season out.  Please let me know if you would like me to remove your athlete from this year's roster.  Know that we will welcome them back next year if they decide to return.  

That's all for now!

Coach Flanagan

Cross Country 2020

 Hi Everyone.

It looks like Fall Sports are happening.  DOE and BSD still need to give their stamp of approval but our AD is confident we will be moving forward.  Click HERE for all the details regarding DIAA's reversal. Preseason starts on 9/28.  That's 17 days away.  If you haven't been running consistently, please lace up your sneaks and put in some miles so you have a base when we begin practices.  If you've been running all along, keep it up!

DIAA is allowing returning FALL athletes to use their physical from last year.  If you are a multi-sport athlete, you will need an updated physical for the Winter season.  If you scroll down the page on Bulldog Sports you will find clinics that are offering sports physicals.  If you are using last year's physical for this season, you will need to sign the COVID question on page 2.  Click HERE to print out the new DIAA form which has that page.

Mr. Shea (our Athletic Director) sent out our roster this morning with everyone's status.  Please see below for explanation.  Anyone highlighted in YELLOW needs to either fill out COVID form, get a new physical, or fulfill an obligation:

A – Athlete has used the 2020-21 physical form and is good to go.

B – Athlete has used the 2019-20 physical form and the parent and athlete have signed off on the COVID question on  page 2 of the 2020-21 physical form.

C – Athlete has the 2019-20 physical form on file but has not handed in the 2020-21 COVID signed by the parent and student.

N – New student in our building and needs the 2020-21 physical form on file.

 

Also obligations need to be satisfied to participate. Let anyone know who has one.

I will also send out this image in REMIND if you can't see it clearly on this page.

I noticed a few of our new athletes are NOT on this roster.  I emailed Mr. Shea so he can add the missing names.

I'm excited to see everyone in a few weeks!  Please, please, please, get out the door and do some running on your own until we see each other on the 28th!

Any questions, let me know!

Take care,

Coach Flanagan

michelleluceyflanagan@gmail.com

Another Fall Sports Update

 Hi Everyone.

Not sure who is actually following this saga on Facebook and in the news, so I thought I would fill you in.  We are still in Limbo.  Even with Gov. Carney's announcement on Monday, sports are still in a holding pattern. 

DIAA is polling Superintendents and Athletic Directors, and the DIAA medical advisory committee is meeting next week to discuss protocols and cost.  Click HERE to read about that meeting. I sit on the DIAA XC committee, and we were sent this video this morning.  It gives you a picture of the protocols that have to be in place for a large meet to run successfully:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnMqApmhpTE&feature=youtu.be

If DIAA gives the green light for sports to move forward, each District has to decide if they will be having sports. Then we will await BSD to make the final decision.

It's exhausting. I'll keep you posted.

In the meantime, stay safe, keep running, and enjoy this Labor Day Weekend.  

Take care,

Coach Flanagan

P.S.  I reread my previous post and saw my egregious grammatical error. It's been fixed.  I type too fast, and sometimes my old brain can't keep up  :)

End of August Update

 Hi Everyone.

Just wanted to check in with you as we near the end of August.  We are still in a "holding pattern" regarding cross country.  DIAA approved "off season" coaching; however, we are awaiting final word from the district.  I will let everyone know our plans once I know them myself!

There is also a glimmer of hope for this fall season.  And I emphasize a "glimmer."  There is a very vocal parent group on Facebook who are petitioning DIAA to reverse their decision and allow sports to go on this Fall.  Since NJ and PA are going forward with fall sports, there is hope that DIAA may reconsider. They have a rally planned for this Saturday at Legislative Hall in Dover at 11AM.

I will update you as soon as I have more information.  In the mean time, please continue running.  The Delaware Sports club is planning on sponsoring three races this fall if sports are not allowed.  One in September (festival of miles), one in October (XC course at Bellevue), and one in November (XC course at BCSP).  Their hope is to keep everyone's spirits up as we navigated this unprecedented time.

Take care,

Coach Flanagan

Brandywine Cross Country Update

Hi Everyone.

Just a few announcements as we near the end of July.  DIAA has updated their sports physical form.  You must use the UPDATED form.  Click HERE for the new form. All athletes must have a physical on file at the nurse's office before the first day of practice.  You cannot attend practice if you physical is not updated and on file with the nurse.  

In case you haven't noticed, we are in the midst of a heat wave ;)  Please exercise caution when running.  Early morning or evening hours are the best time to run.  If you have access to a treadmill, you may want to run indoors until this heat wave breaks.

I'm excited that we have new runners joining our team this year.  Welcome to Ethan, Finn, Morgan, Hannah, Lilah, Lauren,  and Meg (if I missed anyone, please let me know!!!)  If you know of anyone who may be interested in joining our team, please have them contact me.


If you haven't started your XC training, lace up those sneaks and start logging some miles.  See previous post for Summer Training Guide.

We are also in a holding pattern regarding our first date of preseason.  Below is an announcement from the head of DIAA:

DIAA Updates:

·         Fall Sports Decision Update – During the Governor’s press conference on Tuesday, July 14, DDOE released guidance for Delaware School Reopening Plan and the Governor shared the School Return Plan will be released in early August.  With that said, a decision for fall sports will be made in August; hopefully, at the August 13 Board meeting.  We understand the release date will be close to the current start date of August 17 but we ask for your patience and understanding during the time.  We will keep you posted as information is shared and confirmed. 

I will let you know as soon as a decision is made.  

Stay cool!

Coach Flanagan

michelleluceyflanagan@gmail.com

BHSXC End of June Update

Hi Everyone!
I hope by now everyone has started training for the upcoming season.  If you haven't started, there's no time like the present!  Click HERE for your summer training guidelines.  We are still hopeful that we will be able to start XC practices on August 17th.  That's in 7 weeks :)

The Wellness Center will be open for appointments in August.  Click HERE for more information.  You must have an updated sports physical in order to practice.  The DIAA Form  can be found HERE.

I am still not allowed to hold any summer workouts; however, there is an independent  group that meets at BHS on Monday nights at 6pm for paced 200's.    It's a great workout and a chance to meet runners from other high schools.  The group is run by Paul Olivere (father of three former All State runners).

Don't hesitate to contact me with any questions.  My email address is below:

michelleluceyflanagan@gmail.com

If you have any friends who are interested in XC, have them contact me!  No experience necessary.


Happy Running!!

Coach Flanagan :)