Competition and Sportsmanship

A Message for Parents, Teachers, and Coaches

We kindly ask parents, teachers, and coaches to speak with their children and athletes before the races and remind them of the importance of respect, fair play, and good sportsmanship on the course.

Event volunteers and officials will be monitoring participants throughout the race and will report any intentional actions aimed at harming, obstructing, or intimidating another participant.

Together, we can ensure that the Cross-Country Series remains a safe, fair, and enjoyable experience for everyone.

Crowded Starts, Course Awareness, and Sportsmanship

Cross-country is a non-contact sport; however, with hundreds of runners sharing narrow trails, some incidental contact is inevitable. Minor bumping, brushing elbows, or having your heels clipped can occur, particularly during the first few hundred metres of a race and around tight turns.

Here’s what participants can expect and how to prepare for running in crowded races.

Expect the squeeze.
The start line can be crowded. Maintain good balance, be aware of your surroundings, and focus on your footing as runners settle into position.
Stay calm.
If accidental contact occurs, do not let it disrupt your focus or race plan. Keep your eyes forward, stay composed, and continue running safely.
Run with integrity.
Accidental contact is part of racing, but intentional pushing, shoving, elbowing, tripping, or any other aggressive behaviour is not permitted and may result in disqualification.
Anticipate narrow sections.
When the course narrows, look ahead and be aware of potential bottlenecks. Position yourself safely and avoid making sudden movements that could affect other runners.

Competition and Sportsmanship

The Cross-Country Series is highly competitive and generates a great deal of excitement. We encourage all participants to compete hard while demonstrating respect, sportsmanship, and support for fellow runners.

While light accidental contact is a normal part of crowded races, deliberate actions such as shoving, tripping, elbowing, blocking another runner's path, running across another athlete, or extending your arms to prevent someone from passing are not permitted and may result in disqualification.

The following behaviours are unacceptable:

  • Pushing or shoving another participant
  • Forcing a runner off the trail or into bushes
  • Tripping or deliberately impeding another runner
  • Elbowing or striking another participant
  • Intentionally kicking or throwing a runner’s shoe
  • Any other aggressive or unsportsmanlike conduct

Participants who engage in these behaviours may be disqualified and, where appropriate, the incident may be reported to their school.