Track news for the week of March 8

War Path Recap
I hope everyone had fun on Saturday, and feels a little more familiar with track meets in general. The YVH athletes and boosters appreciate your support and our team's support. About half of our team were able to make it for a morning of fun in the sun.

Our meets are conducted much the same way, but results are recorded on paper, typed into the computer afterward, and then posted online. The paper feathers are a War Path exclusive.

Training Monday March 9, 6-7pm

If you're able to make it back to YVH, the head coach from their program has offered to take parents around the field to see how to officiate a track meet.

For field events, this is primarily using measuring tapes and copying down names. For running events, there's a bit of paperwork. It may help you be more comfortable working at next weekend's meet.

Remember: practice time and place updates!

Now that we're in daylight savings time, all practices will go from 5:00-6:30pm until the end of the season.

Starting this week, we will meet at Pleasant Hill Middle on Tuesdays

This is across the street from the baseball fields at Pleasant Oaks Park, behind the library. Here's a map:
 
https://goo.gl/maps/6W1uI

We will continue to meet at College Park on Thursdays

Coaches certification on Tuesday, March 10

And remember to be on time especially for pick-up on Tuesday at PH Middle so the coaches and I can get to our certification session.

Uniform pickup at practice

If you need to pick up a uniform shirt or a team sweatshirt, watch for these being handed out at practice this week.

We'll hand out the ordered sizes first, and then we can make swaps for unworn items (trying it on is fine.) Parish assignments are fixed, so we can't swap one parish's shirt for a different one.

Why is our shirt red/yellow/blue? Shouldn't it be blue/red/yellow?

Our team is technically three teams: Christ the King, St. Catherine, and St. Stephen. Parish assignments are done according to a sacred trinity of CYO rules:

1. Athlete's school, if they attend the parish school, otherwise
2. Athlete's parish, if they attend religious ed/faith formation classes, otherwise
3. Athlete's home address

You let me know if your athlete fell under rule #1 or #2 on your registration forms. Those who aren't attending school or RE at a parish are assigned by rule #3.

It is entirely possible for athletes to run for different parishes as a classmate, solely based on geography.  

Nothing has changed. We are still one team made of three parishes: we practice and hold meets together. Only at the end-of-season championships does it matter, and only then when we're forming relay teams.

I'm happy to relate the Legend of the Blended Teams to you at practice if you wonder why we have a tripartite program. (Short answer: not enough volunteers to make three distinct teams.)

Meet on Sunday, March 15, Granada High in Livermore

• Setup starts: 11:00am
• First shift starts/athletes check in with coaches: 11:30am
• First event starts: 12:00pm*

* Optimistically. It's our first meet. Some settling of contents may occur.

It's time for our first CYO meet of the season! I will have a brutally long post about this, since this is the first meet for many of you. Timeliness is the most important thing. Leave extra time to get to Livermore, and if you are unable to make a first shift assignment due to morning commitments, let Gina know now.

http://ctktrack.org/volunteers.html

The volunteer schedule for this meet should go online soon. The other teams we're running with also provide volunteers, so our volunteer list needs to get locked in.

On the day of the meet, we will certainly have openings available. Come to the volunteer sign-in/finish line at the start of the meet and we'll get you placed somewhere.

Looking ahead to this season

We're starting to hit our stride. Practice times are now 5:00-6:30pm, and you should expect a meet every weekend except Easter.

We have two meets next week: one on Sunday, and a second next Saturday the 21st at YVH.

Remember our team schedule page:

http://ctktrack.org/schedule.html

Looking ahead to next season, and beyond

I know we've barely begun, but we're already looking ahead to 2016. If your athlete likes CYO track and you enjoy running, please consider joining up as an assistant coach next season.

Most coaches follow their own kids through CYO, and move on to greener pastures after eighth grade. Our three parishes have been very lucky to have parents willing to volunteer their time as coaches, but we can only continue as long as we keep bringing in new ones to help out. A good loud mom/dad voice is a benefit, as are senses of humor and perspective.

Team coordinators also follow their kids through CYO, and in two short years I'll have my second eighth grader. Our team needs someone to step up and start shadowing me in the 2016 season as an assistant coordinator, to ascend to power in 2017 when I'll abdicate and become an assistant. Awesome headgear is not required, and spreadsheet skills are a plus.

Bonus track news: War Path meet at YVH, March 7

Hi all -- a bonus newsletter as we approach our first team event of the season, the Ygnacio Valley "War Path Invitational"

Here's the flyer for the event:

http://ctktrack.org/2015_warpath.pdf

If you're not already committed to baseball opening day or other morning activities, please come out and give it a try.

Adults: there are no volunteer jobs at this meet. You have my blessing to lounge in the bleachers.

Remember to bring:

• Cash for gate admission ($2 per spectator) and some extra in case there's a snack table
• Appropriate weather protection: sun hats and/or jackets, sunblock, sunglasses
• Something soft to sit on, like a stadium cushion or old blanket
• Optionally: a cooler of healthy snacks like fruit, yogurt tubes, pretzels: nothing too heavy

If you plan to bring a pop-up tent or umbrella for shade, please set up in the back row of the bleachers so you don't block anyone's view. Pack bungee cords or tie-downs, as Ygnacio Valley can be windy, especially in the morning.

There is no smoking or alcohol permitted at this or any CYO event.

Athletes should:

• Have a good breakfast
• Wear sunscreen and running shoes
• Be on time to warm-up with the team
• Be willing to try events and have fun

We want to get the team together on the basketball court no later than 8:45am.  The courts are between the stadium and the school. Coaches will warm the team up and get a head count. I plan to be there around 8:30 or a bit before.

The team is paying admission for our coaches and registered athletes.

Find a seat when the gate opens, and we'll bring the team in when we're warmed up. They'll find you in the stands.

New to track meets?

Don't worry: meets are pretty predictable, even if they don't look it.

Field events start when the meet begins. There will be announcements over a PA system or bullhorn calling different age groups down to participate. Events at this meet are:

High Jump
Long Jump
Shot Put

In CYO, we limit shot put and high jump to 5th graders and older, for safety.

Athletes check in at the event when their age group is called, provided they're not already lined up for a race (or are on the track!) High jump and long jump will be visible from the stands, but the shot put ring is tucked out of the way outside the main stadium fence.

Running events follow an order, usually done from youngest athletes to oldest.

These stage (line up) on the field. Last year there were hurdles with signs attached per age group. The same PA or bullhorn should be used for calls for these events.

The event order is:

1. 1600m  (4 laps, "the mile")
2. 4x100 Relay   (every runner carries the baton 1/4 of a lap)
3. 400m   (1 lap)
4. 100m   (a short dash along the straight)
5. 800m   (2 laps = 1/2 mile)
6. 200m   (1/2 lap)
7. 4x400m Relay  (every runner carries the baton 1 full lap)

This is a shorter form of the order we use at CYO meets. (PDF)

A key tip: if an athlete is waiting at a field event when their desired race is called, they should leave the field event to go run.

Running events determine the pace of the meet, and won't stop if an athlete is busy at long jump or in the bathroom. Paying attention to the calls is a track meet survival skill. If you miss your call, you miss the race. Oops!

Which event?

That's pretty much up to the athletes and their coaches. This week is a little looser, just to get everyone to see how it all fits together. Unless the coaches have something specific in mind, I'd encourage a go ahead and try it attitude. Cross country athletes especially should not be scared of the distance events.

Everything will look a little rough this weekend. That's OK. Think of this as a practice, not the Olympic tryouts.

Uniforms update

They are due to arrive at my house this week. I plan to bring at least the uniform shirts with me to hand out on Saturday.

If you're at the meet, come find me during down time between your events to pick up your shirt. If you aren't there: no big deal, we'll have them at practice next week. I don't plan to bring the sweatshirts to YVH, but they will show up at practice, too.

You do not need a uniform for this Saturday's event. Practice clothes are fine, or even old uniforms if you feel nostalgic.

Track news for the week of March 1

Practice this week: 5:00-6:05ish at College Park

It's our last week of winter daylight, so we'll go as long as possible on the track this week. Expect practices to wind up a bit after 6:00pm both days, weather willing.

Safety reminder for hill-climbers and fence-jumpers

All athletes need to stay off the hillsides at College Park, and should not be climbing over or through any of the fences, especially taking the not-really-a-shortcut over the back corner of the parking lot fence. It's not a gate, and yes, we can see you.

This is wildly unsafe, don't do it. It's a sure way to get our practice permit revoked, too.

Stay on the paved path to walk all the way to get to and from the parking lot stairs. It's not that far, honest.

Cross-country signups are in the fall, and that's the perfect sport for running up and down hills.

Lost & Found

Our perfect record is ruined! Three water bottles left behind last week, and a few articles of unmarked clothing that the athlete luckily remembered to come back for.

http://ctktrack.org/lost.html

Please label everything. Unlabeled items rarely make it back to their owners, and get donated to Goodwill after spending the season on my front porch.

Practice change next week

We move to Daylight Savings next Sunday, which is good news for sun-lovers and bad news for sleep-lovers. It also marks the annual clash of the lacrosse games and track practices. So, for half the week, we're going to relocate.

On Tuesdays starting March 10: we will meet at Pleasant Hill Middle School. We'll be going old school on the dirt track that's on your right as you come into the parking lot.

Starting March 10, every Tuesday practice will be at Pleasant Hill Middle until further notice.

On Thursdays, we will practice at College Park.

We will still meet at College Park for both of this week's practices, March 3rd & 5th.

I'll try to remind you a dozen more times between now and then.

Coaches meeting after practice March 10

As if the day wasn't complicated enough, the coaches and I have our certification meeting right after that practice at Pleasant Hill Middle.

We surely don't want to miss a second of it, so please be on time or even a bit early to pick up your athletes that day. (And at the right place, too.)

March meet schedule

The league posted schedules for practice meets 1-3. I've put up a copy on the team site:

http://ctktrack.org/schedule.html

The short version:

• Saturday, March 7: Ygnacio Valley's "War Path" invitational. Uniforms not required: regular running clothes are fine
• Sunday, March 8: Spring forward to Daylight Savings
• Monday, March 9: Volunteer training at Ygnacio Valley High in Concord, 6pm-7pm (optional)
• Sunday March 15: practice meet #1 at Granada High in Livermore
• Saturday March 21: practice meet #2 at Ygnacio Valley High in Concord
• Saturday March 28: practice meet #3 at Ygnacio Valley High in Concord
• Thursday April 2 - April 5 is our Easter break, and we have no activities

The Sunday meet is a rare beast, but it looks like every team is running at least one of these this season.

By CYO rules, Sunday meets may start no earlier than noon. Our two Saturday meets at YVH will start at 9:30am, due to a neighborhood noise rule that frowns on early-morning pistol- and PA-usage. Go figure!

Times for setup, first shift, and the meet start are on the team schedule page.

Volunteer time: got changes?

Obviously I did not predict the change in meet days at signups, so if the 15th is a bad day for you to volunteer, or is suddenly a good day, now is the time to let Gina our volunteer coordinator know.

http://ctktrack.org/volunteers.html

Otherwise we will assume that the shifts you signed up for are still your preference. We have to work with all the other teams who also must provide volunteers to the meet. It's quite a production, so the sooner we know, the less drama for everyone.

Uniforms

They may get delivered to my house as soon as this week. Look for them to be distributed at future practices.

Refunds are 50% now through March 14

Hopefully, track is working out for your family, but if not, you can still withdraw with a 50% fees refund if you alert me in an email by the 14th.

Once you have picked up the uniform/sweatshirt, they are yours to keep, regardless of your future with the program.

Track news for the week of February 22

Practice this week, 5:00-6:00pm

We'll practice from 5:00 until 6:00pm this week. High school sports are starting up, so don't cross the track or field areas when you arrive. Please resist the urge to climb or jump hurdles, fences, bleachers, or each other while you wait for announcements. Our first aid kit is not that good.

Check @ctktrack on Twitter or the front page of the web site by 4pm on practice days if the forecast looks ominous.

The Golden (Track) Rule

The number one rule in CYO is the Golden Rule: treat others as you want to be treated.

This means being quiet during announcements, listening to the coaches during practice, and respecting all your teammates. Our practice groups are large, and track is very social, but there's never a good time to tease or belittle anyone else.

CYO publishes a code of conduct (PDF) that everyone is expected to read and follow. You can add "teammates" anywhere that you see the word "opponents."

Athletes: if you're having problems during practice, please tell your coach as it happens. They're in the best position to correct it, and to let me know the names of who was involved.

Anyone who finds that they cannot follow the Code of Conduct will be asked to leave the team, with their fees forfeited. That would be unfortunate, so please be kind.

Parent Meeting, Wednesday 6:30pm, CTK School Room 222

New families and forgetful returning families are encouraged to send an adult to the parent information meeting this coming Wednesday at Christ the King School in Pleasant Hill. Room 222 is the middle classroom on the right as you come down the driveway from the Gregory Lane parking lot, where we held signups.

I'll warn you now: it's me, droning on about meets and events, schedules and volunteering, awards, shoes, CYO philosophy, and fielding "stump Mr. Coordinator" questions from the room. Athletes may attend if they have no other options, but bring something quiet or homework-ish to amuse them.

League schedule soon

The first few meets of the season are getting scheduled now: when the powers-that-be let me know, I'll post them on our site.

http://ctktrack.org/schedule.html

There's a possibility that some meets may fall on Sunday afternoons. This is allowed by CYO, but not typically done in our section. Facility scheduling is forcing the league's hand here. Being in track means your flexibility and sense of humor gets a workout. Stay tuned!

Shoes & Uniforms

Is your athlete in a good pair of running shoes? No? Get their feet to Fleet Feet in Pleasant Hill, Athletic Outpost in Walnut Creek, or Road Runner in Concord and into a pair of running shoes. Athletes put a lot of distance on them at practices and meets. Track shoes ("spikes") are not necessary or required.

We don't have an official team uniform short or pant. If your athlete can still fit into one of their many pairs of leftover soccer shorts, those are fine. On cold meet mornings, a warm layer of running pants and a jacket or sweats should fit over everything. The shirt is the important piece.

I've placed the order with the printer, and pulled out the remaining sweatshirts from previous seasons. Once everything comes in, I'll send an announcement around.

Lost and Found

None yet! Unbelievable!

If your athlete is missing something, then it either didn't get left at practice, or was well-hidden.

Volunteer Training: March 9, 6:00pm-7:00pm at YVH

Something new this year: coach George Francis at Ygnacio Valley High is holding "Meet Officiating Training for Parent Volunteers" at the YVH track in two weeks.

In his words: "We will walk the track and visit each event, and present what you need to know for officiating each event." This sounds fantastic, as some of the events can be a little esoteric to run. It took me a few years to wrap my brain around how to score high jump.

Events

Make sure these appear on your calendar somewhere:

• Wednesday Feb 25: Family Meeting at CTK, 6:30pm (6:00pm for late signups)
• Saturday March 7: War Path Invitational meet at Ygnacio Valley High, 9:00am
• Monday March 9: Officiating training, 6:00pm at Ygnacio Valley High
• Saturday March 14 or Sunday March 15: CYO meet #1, location and date TBA

Your first volunteer opportunity is CYO meet #1: make sure to email Gina to get scheduled if you know your weekend availability. If a shifting meet date disrupts your plans to help, let her know that, too.

Track news for the week of February 15

Hello families, it's time again for this week's news...

Practice this week: 5:00-5:55pm

Five more minutes of daylight is plenty of time for an extra lap! If we're sending the kids home tired, then we've done our job.

If rain is forecast, check @ctktrack on Twitter or the team web site for practice status.

Safety at College Park

Winter sports are ending at College Park, and spring sports are beginning. When you arrive at practice, please walk around the outside of track fence to get to the stands. Don't cut across the field during games or other teams' practices.

During lacrosse practice, we get to add obstacle-dodging to our list of skills. Please make sure your athletes keep their eyes open for the occasional missed pass.

Uniform Last Call

I need to get our order in for this season's uniforms and sweatshirts. This is your last call for size changes or for adding on anything to your order. I am ordering a limited number of extras for the inevitable size swaps.

Please check the team roster to make sure I have the sizes correct for your athlete:

http://ctktrack.org/2015_roster.pdf

Uniform shirts are required for meets, but not practices. Our first official meet is March 14, and we'll hand the uniforms out at practice once they come in.

Family Meeting February 25, CTK school, 6:30pm Room 222

If your family is new to CYO track this season -- or if you forgot everything from last year -- please try to send an adult to our family information session next Wednesday at Christ the King school in Pleasant Hill, room 222. This is the same room where we had signups. It's off the lower parking lot, on the right as you come down the drive from the upper lot.

I'll be there around 6:00pm for late signups and general questions. We'll come to order around 6:30, and I'll try to have you out in an hour or less. Details about meets, shoes, events, practices, ribbons... all shall be revealed.

Is there a doctor in the house?

Or a nurse, or any EMTs? Since we host most of the practice meets, we like to staff a first aid station with a trained volunteer. The majority of the issues are scrapes, muscle pulls and mild dehydration.

If you're in the medical field and available on Saturdays, please let Gina know about spending your meet volunteer shifts in the comfort of the first aid station. Her contact details are on the volunteers page:

http://ctktrack.org/volunteers.html

Track not working out?

Hopefully things are starting to get a little smoother for your athletes. The first few practices can be chaotic until the groups settle in.

Sometimes track isn't a good fit, though, and that's OK. You may drop from the program with a full refund if you notify me via email by February 28. Your deposit check will be shredded, and we'll remove you from the volunteer sheets.

Starting March 1, the fees refund drops to 50%, with the deposit check shredded.

Dropping on or after our first meet on March 14 means a forfeit of both your fees and deposit.

Uniform costs are refunded at 100% or 50% as above, provided you haven't picked them up yet. Once handed to you, the uniforms and sweatshirts are yours to keep.

Don't just vanish. Let me know if you need to withdraw an athlete from the team so we can update our records and handle any refunds you're entitled to.

Upcoming Event: "War Path" Invitational, March 7

It's hard to believe, but we're halfway through February already. That means our first event is coming up.

Ygnacio Valley High School holds a special all-comers track meet each year to help raise funds for their track team and for new equipment. Provided we have good weather, we'll attend this meet as a team again this year. The team will pay the admission fee for our registered athletes and coaches.

I highly encourage everyone to come out if they can. It's a very low-key event, with no volunteer requirements. It gives everyone a chance to see how meets work. Think of it like a special Saturday practice.

We don't need our uniforms for this meet since it's not a CYO function. Regular running clothes are fine.

The flyer is on our web site: http://ctktrack.org/2015_warpath.pdf

I'll send more reminders as we get closer to the event.

Track news for the week of February 8

Hello again families -- here's your track news for the week.

Practices Tuesday and Thursday this week, 5:00-5:50pm

As long as the weather holds, practices will continue at College Park from 5:00pm until dusk. We pick up about 5 minutes of daylight each week, so we'll end at 5:50 pm this week.

Please continue to escort your athletes to the track before practice, and gather them up trackside at the end.

Weather Watch

If the forecast calls for rain, I post about the status of practice by 4:00pm on the team Twitter account (@ctktrack). Those tweets appear on the front page of our web site, too.

If you have doubts about my prognosticating powers, you're free to keep your athlete home from practice, but unless we're being doused in liquid sunshine, plan to run.

Sharing at College Park

Although we have permits for practice, the stadium belongs to College Park, and we sometimes need to wait patiently for high school games to complete, or will practice at the same time as other teams. College Park track team will be starting up soon, too, which include some CYO alums.

We aim to meet in the second section of the bleachers, leaving the end closest to the parking lot open for the high school team. Please be respectful as we wait our turn, and listen to the coach announcements.

Shoes

Your athlete should wear running shoes to practice. They do not need track shoes -- "spikes" -- for practice, though that won't stop them from asking.

Area stores can help you get fitted properly -- try Fleet Feet in Pleasant Hill, Athletic Outpost in Walnut Creek, or Road Runner in Concord.

Fleet Feet and Athletic Output usually offer a discount if you mention you're buying for CYO. Road Runner has their own discount program for members.

Lost & Found

I'm pleased to say that lost and found is still empty after our first week of practice: a team record!

New Family Meeting

I'll be scheduling our annual family information meeting soon at Christ the King in Pleasant Hill. New families are encouraged to send an adult to attend, armed with questions.

Late Signups Still Accepted

I'll still take signups at practice, and at the family meeting, too. Please help spread the word about track to friends and classmates.

Meet Volunteers

We can conduct track meets only with the help of family volunteers. Gina Marks is our team's volunteer coordinator, and she'll be happy to pencil your family in for shifts during the season, or to change a date if you give her ample advance notice.

Did you join the team after signup nights? Chances are you need to contact Gina and sign up for some volunteer shifts.

Gina's email address in on the "Volunteers" page:

http://ctktrack.org/volunteers.html

Meet-specific assignments will be posted online before the meet. Adult family members sign in at the meet to earn credit. We also take walk-up volunteers on meet days, to help fill in the inevitable gaps.

Families who go above and beyond the minimum requirement are entered into a prize raffle held at the picnic.

Families who fall short of the required amount both forfeit their deposit and risk disqualifying their athlete for the late-season championship meets. Don't do this! Meet jobs are not complicated, and will make the day pass quickly.

Track news for the week of February 1

Hello everyone, and welcome to the start of our 2015 season. There's a lot of start-of-season business here this week.

Late Signups & Missing Paperwork

We'll accept new signups for a while. Bring the paperwork listed on the signups page to practice and hand it to me, along with your checks. I'll be wearing a battered brown hat and wielding the Whistle of Power.

Adults must stay at practice until you have turned in a completed health release form for all participating athletes.

If you need to turn in a missing birth certificate or finish off your health forms, see me at practice.

Roster Check

I've posted a copy of the roster from the first two registration nights. Please take a moment and check:

• Spelling of your athlete's name and adults' names
• Your athlete's grade and gender
• Uniform and sweatshirt sizes

The current roster is online here:

http://ctktrack.org/2015_roster.pdf

If your athlete prefers going by another name ("Katie" instead of "Katherine") let me know: this roster will be used for all ribbons and awards.

Parish assignments are done following CYO rules: if the athlete attends a parish school or religious education program, that is their parish. Otherwise, it's based on their home address. It is not based on which parish church your family attends if any, so (for example) you could attend services at Christ the King, but live in the St. Stephen's area.

All these assignments are taken from your registration forms. If I have something wrong, please email me!

Uniforms

Remember that we have all-new uniform shirts this year. If you did not order one, I made a "need" note on the roster. If I have questions about your order -- maybe you ordered double, or I can't tell sizing -- I have indicated that with a question mark. I'll go through and contact families where I have questions.

You do not need to wear uniforms at practice. Comfortable running clothes are all you'll require.

If you change your mind about uniform sizing, please let me know soon. I will put in the order in the next few weeks.

It's my experience that the youth sweatshirts tend to run a little snug -- I usually recommend ordering up a size. If you bought a sweatshirt and want to change the size, let me know that, too and I'll make the change.

Once uniforms arrive, we can swap new, unworn shirts for another size, provided we have spares on-hand. Once washed or worn, the shirts and sweats are your souvenirs to keep and cherish.

First practice Tuesday, Feb 3, 5pm
 
First practice starts at 5pm at College Park High School. Meet in the center section of the stands if they are open. Athletes should not play in the press box or run in the stands like crazed billy goats.

Late-signup athletes are welcome to join practice. Parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, and general well-wishers need to stay off the track and infield areas.

Practices continue every Tuesday and Thursday, starting at 5pm and going until dusk.

All athletes!

• Go to the bathroom at home:  facilities at College Park are limited
• Bring a water bottle with your name on it
• Wear running shoes (plain running shoes, not "spikes")
• Dress for the weather: running pants or sweats and a jacket or sweatshirt -- be warm!
• Listen to the coaches, and be ready to run and have fun

Returning athletes! 

• Half the team is brand new this year: be friendly and introduce yourselves

Adults!

• Be on time to practice, and escort your athletes to the track
• Label everything with your athlete's name: water bottles, jackets, pants, etc.
• Dress for the weather if you're staying: the track is sometimes windy and cool
• Be on time to pickup, if you're leaving. We should be all done by 5:45

The first few practices always seem a little chaotic and rushed, but they do settle down as we all get more experienced and enjoy more daylight.

Missing practice?

If you need to miss a practice here and there for some reason, we generally do not need to know. Life happens, and piano recitals, a big homework night, or a visit from Aunt Marge can take priority over track.

If you have to leave practice early, definitely let the coach know at practice. Adults must come to claim athletes in person. For their safety and ours, we can never dismiss athletes under their own supervision.

Rain, Lacrosse, and Other Acts of God

If the forecast calls for rain, I will post practice status to our team Twitter feed (@ctktrack) by 4pm. This should also appear on the front page of the team web site, if you do not have a 13-year-old handy to set up Twitter for you. Assume practice is happening unless Twitter or the web site says otherwise.

Sometimes College Park has sports that conflict with our practice times, like soccer or lacrosse games. If we know about them in advance, we'll get information out about it early and may make alternate practice plans.