GCAA Stallions Cross Country Program
ABOUT THE GCAA CROSS COUNTRY PROGRAM
The Greater Cabarrus Athletic Association’s (GCAA) primary function is to provide a competitive sports venue for homeschool students. It is an environment that promotes a Christian approach to sports and teaches the student athlete the importance of bringing their faith into their athletics. GCAA is based in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, but serves athletes from all areas surrounding, reaching into Mecklenburg, Rowan & Stanly counties as well as others. GCAA is a safe place for a student to honor God and play his or her sport to their highest ability. Teams are developed for the purpose of developing the character, skill, and teamwork of each student with the hope that a properly placed passion for their sport will serve them and their walk with God for the rest of their lives.
Greater Cabarrus Athletic Association is a non-profit, 501(C)3 organization that relies entirely on the membership of each family and the donations of gracious people outside of the GCAA family. GCAA is a member of the larger North Carolina Home Educators Athletic Conference (NCHEAC). As a 501 (C)3, we operate within the guidelines provided by law and all monies collected are intended to cover known expenses of both the team and parent organization.
The GCAA Cross Country program has both mens & ladies teams at the Middle School, JV, & Varsity levels and they compete against other Homeschool teams, Public Schools, Charter Schools, and Private Schools.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE:
AGE REQUIREMENTS: To participate in the Cross Country program, a child must be 10 years old by December 31st of the current program year. (PLEASE NOTE that there are a limited number of meets that 5th graders are allowed to participate in AND they must have an older sibling currently involved in cross country and a parent present at practices for supervision and safety reasons. Coaches cannot be responsible for 5th graders and they are not covered by the fees and GCAA insurance.)
Runners must be no older than 18 by September 1st of the current program year.
Middle School consists of 6th-8th grades. In some meets, 5th graders may run as middle school. In some meets, 7th grade and up will be eligible for JV/Varsity. In some meets, JV and Varsity team divisions will be determined by speed rather than by grade/age.
PARTICIPANT REQUIREMENTS: Within the conference of NCHEAC, there are specific requirements that each team member must meet. First and foremost, the family must have a homeschool registered with the NC Department of Non-Public Education (DNPE) that can be verified for the conference meet. (www.ncdnpe.org)
Outside of the conference meet, the eligibility of the student is much more flexible. It is the primary purpose of GCAA to provide for the homeschool community but we also maintain a desire to include non-homeschool students when opportunities are not afforded to them and the opening exists on a given team. It is determined on a case by case basis. Therefore, if a non-homeschooled student does not have a Cross Country team at their school, they may be considered eligible.
Public or private school athletes who have the opportunity to participate on a team at their school are NOT considered eligible for GCAA teams.
PRACTICES:
For the convenience of our families, we offer practices in two different locations but have intermittent joint practices and we all run meets together. Runners may attend practices in either or both locations.
- FRANK LISKE PARK (CABBARRUS COUNTY) 4001 Stough Road, Concord, NC 28027
Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 7:30 AM and Tuesdays at 3:30 PM **meet at the amphitheater near the tennis courts that are off the first road on the left after entering the park
- OAKBORO DISTRICT PARK (STANLY COUNTY) 423 S. Main Street, Oakboro, NC 28129
Tuesdays, and Thursdays at 5:30 PM
**meet at the bathhouse area on the left after entering the park
COACHES:
Cabarrus practices:
Head Coach – Steven Patton
Assistant Coach – Jed Price
Stanly practices:
Head Coach – Larry Hill
Assistant Coach – Mike Hadnagy
OUR SEASON:
Meets start at the end of August and run through the first part of October. Practices are at the discretion of the coaches but typically start in July and run through October.
FEES:
As previously stated, the team is part of a non-profit organization and its fees are based on the expected costs of the season. The registration fee covers insurance, meet fees, administrative costs & supplies, as well as miscellaneous expenses that might arise. Uniforms must be purchased separately but can usually be worn for more than one season. We strive to keep the cost to you to a minimum.
Fees will not be refunded for runners who choose to leave before the end of the season. Fees also do not cover any travel expenses that may occur with out of town meets such as food or hotel accommodations.
If you are interested in joining, or would like more information, we would love to hear from you! Please contact the head coaches by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We also have a Facebook page! Please like & follow us at https://www.facebook.com/GCAACrossCountry/
