Powerful CultureBuilding and Maintaining a High Performance Cross Country Team

School & Community Information• Carmel, Indiana• Nearly 90,000 living in our community• Growth of parks, bike lanes, and greenway paths• Very supportive running community; growing across the county

• Carmel Clay Schools• One high school with ~4800-5000 total students (9-12 grade)• Three middle schools with 1100 – 1500 students each (6-8 grade)• Eleven elementary buildings – wide variety of populations• 121 IHSAA State Titles since 1970 (133; soccer and cheerleading)• Our athletes expect great outcomes

**We acknowledge our population size is an advantage

Our History

• Chuck Koeppen• Arrived at CHS in 1972 as boys’ track and cross country coach• Took a program that was essentially pre-season conditioning for basketball

and led it to a state title in 1976.• IHSAA introduced girls’ cross country in 1981. Carmel was runner-up that

year.• He led both programs through 2008 and retired with 11 state titles on both

sides (along with 1 boys’ state track title)• He set the tone at CHS from the beginning and for 38 years.

• Since Chuck’s departure• The girl’s program has one runner-up and five consecutive state titles• Five consecutive appearances at NXN

Our Athletes

•Motivated Academically• Expect to attend larger Division I schools for the most part

• Engaged in numerous student organization• Bring all kinds of activities and events to our team

• High Focus and Commitment

What is culture?

•A way of thinking, behaving, or working that exists in a place or organization (Merriam-Webster dictionary)

• The customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group (Oxford)

Importance of Culture

Know your audience:Teenagers have hundreds of options to occupy their time, and your group needs to stand out as “worthy” of their time.

They want to be part of something that is bigger than themselves and they want to feel part of the accomplishments.

A positive culture will spread quickly among the school population and encourage huge numbers to join.

Importance of Culture

Provide a safe environment in which students can take risks (try something new).

Encourage personal growth through goal setting.

Help students to connect with others in a large population.

Building Carmel Culture

• Early, continuous opportunities in the community

• Set high expectations and hold athletes accountable

• Student ownership in the program

• Provide leadership opportunities

Feeder Programs

Pup Running

Middle school programs

USATF Junior Olympics

Pup Running

• Elementary School program• 11 elementary buildings in the district – each with a team• Partnership with the schools and organized with each building’s PTO• Cross country in the fall; Track in the spring• Volunteer coaches – 2 or 3 “practices” per week held after school• Targets 4th and 5th grade students (CC: 2k, Track: 100, 400)• 3 meet schedule each season• Nearly 800 participants in Fall 2014

Middle School Programs

• Three Middle Schools (Carmel, Clay, Creekside)• Participation ranges from 70 – 140 athletes at each school•MS Coaches coordinate and collaborate summer training• Highly competitive athletes mixed with interested athletes• Great opportunity for students to “try it out”.• Indiana MS Cross Country Championships• City Championships

USATF Junior Olympics

• Pulls together all age groups (elementary – high school) into one club team (Indiana All Star Running Club)• Coaches include high school staff, middle school staff, parents, and

even high school athletes• Three practices at the high school per week.• Athletes are instructed what to do on their off days.• FUN is emphasized while getting quality training• Most athletes are from Carmel, but some are from the surrounding

area.

What Carmel Cross Country Offers

Opportunity to be part of a team• Looking for a group to identify themselves• Limited cuts (28:40/27:25)

Physical fitness• Stay in shape for self or other sports (Lacrosse, Track)

School credit (PE II)• Complete a season, earn the credit, avoid PE during the

school year.

What Carmel Cross Country OffersSocial connections• Keep connected with friends and make new ones• Loads of travel together on weekends• Gatherings after meets

Informed training• Learn about what is being trained and why it’s a focus• Shared among teammates

Long Standing Tradition• Chance to compete at a high level, travel, and experience high

levels of success

Activities

• Summer popsicles• Canoe Trip• Summer Movie Night• Senior Leadership Meetings

(Team Camp)• Lincoln State Park – Team Camp• Holiday World• Friday Breakfast• Friday Dinner

• Locker signs• Shoe Collection• Tailgate for Life• Secret Buddies• Pumpkin Carving• Skipping State• Tournament Dinners• Fake, Bake, Shake• End of Season Banquet

Leadership Opportunities• Lead warm-up/dynamic routines

• Demonstrate and hold teammates accountable

• Part of schedule discussion in the spring/summer• Set designs for practice pack• Part of planning for team camp• Lead a group through a workout• Work with younger athletes in JO, Pup Running, and/or Greyhound Mile• Coordinate spirit days• Coordinate Friday breakfast/dinner• Organize secret buddies

Building Your Team’s Culture

Start with a couple of small, easy to repeat activities.

Support reasonable ideas from your athletes.

Take ideas from others.

Give it time to let it grow…some of our activities have been around for decades.

Questions???