Coaching High School Cross Country with Respect, Humor, and Heart

I’ve been around running long enough to know this: very few kids who run high school cross country are destined to become professional athletes. And that’s okay. In fact, it’s more than okay, it’s what makes coaching at this level so meaningful.

For most athletes, cross country isn’t about running collegiate, or one day getting shoe contracts. It’s about learning discipline, building resilience, making lifelong friends, and finding joy and belonging in a sport they can carry into adulthood. As coaches, our responsibility goes far beyond mile splits and finish times. It’s about guiding young runners with respect, humor, grace, and genuine care.

Why Respect Matters

Teenagers can spot inauthenticity a mile away. Seriously, bruh. When we treat them with respect, listen to their concerns, and value their input, we create an environment where they want to show up and work hard. Respect builds trust, and trust builds teams.

Keeping Running Fun

Not every runner cares about winning races, and that’s not a failure. Some kids are there to stay in shape, to be social, or simply because they enjoy the rhythm of running. If we make cross country only about medals and rankings, we risk burning them out or making them resent the sport. Instead, keep practices engaging. Make them fun...I have been known to pull up with tons of water guns! Ha! Laugh with the kids. Celebrate small victories, like personal bests, consistent attendance, or being a supportive teammate. All of these are important to your kids leaving practice feeling like they had a meaningful time.

Discipline and Consistency with Balance

By defaut, running does teach valuable life lessons in discipline and consistency. Yes, we should encourage kids to stick to the plan, push through challenges, and give their best effort. But balance this with grace and flexibility. Stress hits the body equally, so a kid who’s exhausted from exams or struggling emotionally may need encouragement, not a lecture. The goal is to teach discipline without crushing their spirit.

Building Teammates, Not Just Runners

Cross country is both an individual and a team sport. Athletes should be encouraged to support one another, cheer for each other, and share in both the struggles and the successes. A runner may never remember their 5K time from sophomore year, but they’ll remember the bus rides, the friendships, and the coaches who believed in them.

The Bigger Picture

Ultimately, coaching high school cross country is about developing healthy, happy young adults. Very few will go on to compete at an elite level, but many will carry the lessons of running into their future, whether that’s discipline in their career, resilience in personal challenges, or joy in lacing up their shoes decades later.

If we can inspire a lifelong love for running, foster healthy habits, and remind kids that sport is about joy as much as it is about competition, then we’ve done our job well.