MIDDLE SCHOOL COED

CROSS COUNTRY

Coaches Meeting

September 15th, 2026

Christian Danson • Youth Sports Supervisor

Ways to Sign-In

Preferred:

• SCAN the QR code
• Visit https://tinyurl.com/bdem9n7w

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HOUSEKEEPING & COMMUNICATION

• Please save questions for the end.

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• For any questions throughout the season please reach out to your schools Sports Director first.

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• The Youth Sports team is located at Central Services Room 56B. An ID is required to enter the facility.

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• Office Hours 8:00am-5:00pm M-F

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Today’s Game Plan

A quick roadmap for the season

MKE REC Youth Sports • Middle School Coed Cross Country

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• Introductions & Contacts
• Coach Responsibilities & Expectations,
• Hiring Pay & Credentials
• League Operations & Key Deadlines
• Safety, Eligibility & Sportsmanship
• Rosters, eligibility & Athletic.net
• Awards, team confirmations & questions
• Questions & Discussion

Youth Sports Staff

Your primary contacts for the season

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Alex Brown

Youth Sports Manager�

Christian Danson

Youth Sports Supervisor�Cross Country • Soccer • Volleyball

Emilly Wammer

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Youth Sports Supervisor�Flag football •Soccer

Randy Hall

Youth Sports Supervisor�Girls Basketball

Amalia Soto

Administrative Assistant�Youth Sports Office

Youth Sports Resources

Rick Knack , Emmitt McGee ,Marilyn McNeil�Program support across weekdays & Saturdays

Martin Bathke

Youth Sports Supervisor�Flag football

Department Chain of Command

Commissioner of Athletics & Academics

Coach

Sports Director

Youth Sports Supervisor

Youth Sports Manager

Recreation Director

Hiring: You Must Be Cleared Before Coaching

Paid and volunteer coaches follow the hiring process

MKE REC Youth Sports • Middle School Coed Cross Country

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1 Apply

New coaches apply online.�Volunteers complete the Volunteer Application.

2 Complete Requirements

Background check + required forms

Assignment & Information (A&I) Form Immigration Verification (2 forms of ID, in person)

PT Employee Acknowledgement

3 Get Your Credential

Once designated “Hired – Good To Work,” you must register for your digital credentials

NON-NEGOTIABLE

Do not host practices or begin coaching until you are completely hired by MKE REC Youth Sports.

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Non-MPS schools are responsible for running their own background checks / Hiring process

• Will receive an email invite from ID123 to your MPS email address
• Download the App and follow the onscreen directions to claim your new ID
• A professional photo must be uploaded for your ID
• You must be able to show your credential at all leagues, as will all of your coaches.
• Please reach out if you have any questions.

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CREDENTIALS ID123

Pay Rates & Payroll

Middle school cross country has a special two-coach exception

MKE REC Youth Sports • Middle School Coed Cross Country

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Middle School Coaches

$17 per hour.

$425 per season

Elementary Coaches

$15 per hour

$375 per season �

MS Cross Country: 2 Paid Coaches

Teams need 25+ participating athletes, 25 registered on Athletic.net, and 25 actively participating at each meet to receive compensation for 2 coaches.

Fall Payroll Cycle

Paysheets due October : October 21st, 2026

Fall Pay date : November 20th, 2026�Paysheets must be submitted and approved by Sports Director

Schedule E

Milwaukee Recreation no longer assists with Schedule E. School Principals must work with the MPS Compensation Department to hire and pay Sports Director and/or Coaches through the Schedule E budget.

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• Fall Pay Sheets due: October 21st, 2026
• Fall Pay Date: November 20th, 2026
• Pay sheets will be submitted and approved by your Sports Director
• Late submissions = Delayed payment

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PAYROLL TIMELINE

Protect the Program

Money handling & non-MPS events

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Money Handling

• Coaches may not handle team money.�• Team money goes to the school bookkeeper/secretary through the Sports Director.�• Fundraisers require School Principal approval.�• Coaches may not order uniforms or equipment; the Sports Director or Principal handles those purchases.

Non-MPS Sporting Events

• MPS High School Athletics and Youth Sports Office permission is required.�• The Principal cannot authorize participation alone.�• Teams may not wear school-name/likeness garments at unauthorized non-MPS events.�• Coaches/Sports Directors may be held liable if an accident occurs without permission.

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• Teams registered for leagues without a hired coach by September 14th, 2026, will be removed from the league and added to the waitlist.
• Drop Deadline for teams is September 14th, 2026
• Coaches may not coach or host practices until fully hired.
• Only communicate with families through MKE REC approved communications such as email or SportsYou.
• Please do not communicate with players via text message, or any other communication/social media platform outside of SportsYou.
• Failure to follow policies and procedures may result in disciplinary action.

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IMPORTANT COACH REMINDERS

SPORTSYOU – MILWAUKEE RECREATION

• Must be on team roster form to play in any youth sports league.
• Schools may add up to three athletes from a non-attending school to their roster. Youth Sports Office must receive and approve a non-attending student form (Prior to the given roster deadlines) before the student(s) may participate in practice or a game.
• K4 and K5 kids cannot participate in any sports leagues.
• 1^st & 2^nd Graders cannot play in 4-5^th Grade leagues.
• Coaches must ensure that all student-athletes play the minimum playing time required in each sport.

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PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

• For inclement weather updates, call the Weather Hotline at:

414-475-8068

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• The weather hotline is updated throughout the day as weather changes.

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• Hotline is updated by 8:00 AM on Saturdays and 1:00 PM on weekdays �ONLY when inclement weather is expected

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• The hotline is available in English and Spanish.

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• Weather Hotline Phone Number should be provided to �Sports Directors, Coaches, Parents and Players.�(do not call the youth sports office)

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WEATHER HOTLINE

• Teams should arrive no earlier than 30 min before their scheduled game.
• Coaches should arrive before the team and leave after the last player has been picked up.
• NO pets allowed in MPS/MKE REC Playfields or Stadiums. Spectators with pets will be asked to leave or denied entry.
• NO grilling or smoking (Cigarettes, E-Cigarettes, etc.) allowed in MPS/MKE REC Playfields or Stadiums.
• All spectators must remain in the designated spectator area at all times, and may not enter the playing field or team bench area.
• Once your game has ended, please remind your team to clean up all trash from the team bench area. This will allow the next team to have a clean space.
• Please remind spectators to throw away all trash in the designated trash cans.

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LEAGUE REMINDERS

• The Team Roster and Submission form can be found on the Youth Sports website under information for school personnel
• PDF Rosters must be typed and submitted online by:
• Friday, September 18th 11:59 PM
• Atheltic.net meet registration opens September 8th and must be submitted the tuesday of the meets by 4 pm NO Exceptions!
• To participate, all students must be listed on the team roster.
• Coaches and Assistant Coaches must be listed on the official team roster to be in the bench area, and receive a coaches credential. Three is maximum number of coaches allowed on the team roster.
• Do not alter form.
• Rosters must be typed and submitted online.
• Updated rosters will be accepted until:
• Wednesday September 30th at 5:00 PM

ROSTERS

Team Formation & Team Drop Deadline

The Sports Director determines the team-formation method

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Everyone Plays

First Come – First Serve

Lottery System

Tryouts & Cuts

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Drop Deadline

Schools had until Thursday, September 14th , 2026 at 5:00 PM to drop teams for a full refund and without penalty. Review the Youth Sports Forfeit Policy for additional requirements.

• Sports Director & school leader should select the best method they see fit for their schools

Athletic.net: Weekly Meet Registration

Entries are submitted separately for girls and boys

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Weekly Timing

Registration opens Friday at 1:00 AM, one week before the meet.��Entries are due Monday by 5:00 PM.

School Accounts

Youth Sports created accounts for participating schools.��The head coach receives an invite from Athletic.net.

Entry Limits

No per-team or per-race meet entry limit.��Girls and boys registrations must be entered separately.

• All school-based youth sports league rules are located under “League Information” at www.mkerec.net.
• Coaches' responsibilities – submitting meet entries on www.Athletic.net,
• Hosting awards ceremony.
• Meet Start Time / Walkthroughs.
• Meet Volunteers (UWM) / Staff / Coaches.
• Team Scoring.

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RULES

Awards & Recognition

Celebrate individual effort and team success

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Weekly Medals

Top 10 finishers no longer receive medals at each meet. Only Final Conference meet

Weekly Team Champion

School with the most combined girls + boys points at a meet receives the traveling first-place trophy.

League Champion

First-place team at the Oct. 17 conference championship receives championship Trophy and

• Golda Meir
• MSL
• Burdick
• DMA
• Wedgwood
• Clement
• Maryland Ave
• MacDowell
• Doerfler
• Bay View
• Fernwood
• Victory
• Manitoba
• Vieau
• NDSM
• Parkside
• Hartford
• ALBA
• Cass Street
• New testament
• Humboldt Park
• SALAM
• Barbee
• Woodlands
• UCC
• Riley

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Team Confirmations

QUESTIONS?

Thank you for coaching Middle School Cross Country.

Let’s make it a safe, competitive, and positive season.