Runner's Guide to OFSAA Cross Country Ages 14-18 2026-27

Each association may enter two teams and five individuals (who are not members of one of its representative teams) in each of the three divisions (Novice, Junior, Senior) and in each para category (V.I., I.I., Ambulatory). The host association (region) gets a complete second field of teams (2) and individuals (5) in each age category.

A team has no more than six runners in boys' events and six in girls' events, and only five of them may run on race day. Entries are accepted from association convenors or designates only.

To represent your school you must:

• Be eligible under the rules of your association and be certified as eligible by your principal.
• Be in Grades 9 to 12 and eligible for no more than five consecutive years from entry into Grade 9.
• Be eligible under the OFSAA Transfer Policy.
• Have signed the Rules of Behaviour Policy signature form for the competition.
• Have been a member of a bona fide high school program (a minimum of 16 practices in the Sept.-Nov. season under a teacher certified by the principal) and attended the majority of practices and competitions.
• Have taken part in your Association Championship or qualifying event, and compete in the same age classification as at that meet.
• Not have competed in both the OFSAA Championship and any other event in the same sport on the same day.
• Be able to complete the race in 45 minutes or less.

Suspensions or disciplinary actions in association play carry forward into OFSAA.

From the OFSAA entries page for the 2026 championship (Monday 9 November 2026):

• Association convenors enter athletes online at trackdatabase.com by Saturday 31 October at 6:00 PM.
• Athletic Directors and the cross country teacher-coach must upload the required paperwork to the OFSAA HUB by Tuesday 3 November at 11:59 PM.
• The courier package (fees and a hard copy of the association's OFSAA Supervision Sheet) is due by Thursday 5 November 2026.
• Fees per student-athlete: $15.00 OFSAA Entry Fee (cheque to École secondaire Macdonald-Cartier) and $3.00 OFSAA Participation Fee (cheque to OFSAA).
• Every registered athlete must pay the entry fee, even if they do not run.

Only association convenors or designates can enter athletes.

Runners must compete in their school uniforms. A school uniform is one with the school name, team name or team crest on it. The uniform tops of all team members must be identical, and runners must report to the start so the start official can check their uniform. The OFSAA General Uniform Policy also applies on and near the competitive area and during awards ceremonies, and non-compliance goes to the Protest Committee.

Per the OFSAA race protocol (page dated 2025) and the 2026 playing regulations:

• Report to your association's start box at least 15 minutes before your start, wearing your number plate. Officials check your uniform, that the plate matches the start list, whether you are a team member or individual, and that no team has more than 5 athletes. Only athletes in correct uniform are allowed in the start area.
• Five minutes out, everyone must be in their box and sort out start positions. At three minutes, the team starter (or top-qualifying individual) goes to the start line, teammates line up single file behind in team-chosen rank order, and individuals line up behind the top-ranked individual.
• Once officials raise a white flag, nobody may enter, leave or change position in the box.
• Before the start athletes must stay silent and still. About 60 seconds after the final signal, the gun is fired or the horn sounds.
• Portable audio devices (except hearing devices) are not permitted during competition, and drones are not permitted near the course from the day before the championship until it finishes.
• World Athletics Rules (as of 1 September of the school year) govern the competition.

A team can register up to six runners in each of the boys' and girls' events, but only five may run on race day. The scores of four of the five team runners count towards the team score. A tie is resolved in favour of the team whose fourth runner finishes nearest to first place.

Runners who are not on one of the two representative teams enter as individuals (up to five per association per division).

It is based on team place finishes in the divisional races (girls and boys, all three divisions). Points per team place:

1st 20, 2nd 18, 3rd 16, 4th 14, 5th 12, 6th 10, 7th 9, 8th 8, 9th 7, 10th 6, 11th 5, 12th 4, 13th 3, 14th 2, 15th 1.

The school with the most points from all three divisions wins. Ties are broken in this order: (1) the school whose top scoring team finished closer to first; (2) the school whose second scoring team finished closer to first; (3) the lowest total of team scores from all races, not including the para race; (4) if still tied, both schools are awarded the championship.

The Para Race (Open) is 4 km and has three categories, each for boys and girls:

• Visual Impairment (V.I.): athletes with a visual impairment that influences athletic performance. Student guides receive the same award as the athlete they guide.
• Ambulatory (Amb): athletes who compete standing, including athletes with amputations or limb deficiencies, cerebral palsy, acquired brain injuries or neurological disorders that influence athletic performance. Ambulatory A is for athletes with a lower limb deficiency who use a high-performance prosthetic running blade; Ambulatory B is all other athletes who compete standing with a physical impairment.
• Intellectual Impairment (I.I.): athletes with cognitive impairments that influence athletic performance.

Para athletes must compete at their association meet either in a Para event (if the association has one) or in one of the other age classification events. Para athletes with a T/F 20 classification may compete until age 21 and are eligible for no more than seven consecutive years from entering Grade 9. Each association may enter two teams and five individuals in each para category.

Individual: OFSAA gold, silver and bronze medallions go to the first three finishers in each race in each classification, and ribbons to the fourth to tenth finishers. Student guides receive the same award as the athlete they guided.

Team: gold, silver and bronze medallions go to each member of the top three teams in each classification, and ribbons to members of the fourth to tenth place teams. The school of each championship team receives an OFSAA banner to keep, and the school with the Overall champion (highest point total across all three divisions, boys and girls) also receives an OFSAA banner.

Athletes who were not OFSAA-eligible but were allowed to compete at the local or association level do not receive OFSAA medals, either at the championship or afterwards.

All disputes go to the Protest Committee (three people: the chair of the Sport Advisory Committee or designate, a tournament committee member, and one more appointed by the convenor).

• A protest must be in writing to the championship convenor or designate, fully describe the incident, and come with a $100.00 fee (refundable if the protest is upheld).
• It must be submitted within 30 minutes of the end of the event, or within 30 minutes of the occurrence if the incident was outside the field of play.
• Officials' decisions and the eligibility of transfer students cannot be protested.
• Disputes about tournament structure and procedure must be raised no later than the coaches' meeting.
• Protest Committee decisions are final.

Under the OFSAA playing regulations for supervision of individual sports (athletes who qualify as individuals):

• The principal may designate an adult who is not a teacher to accompany athletes.
• A teacher (a member of the Ontario College of Teachers or holder of an Ontario Teacher's Certificate or equivalent) or a retired teacher must also be present on site, designated by the principal as responsible for the athletes.
• If that teacher is not the same sex as the athletes and they may stay overnight, a supervisory adult of the same sex, approved by the principal, must be present and available at the accommodation for the whole stay.

For the cross country championship specifically:

• The teacher-coach or supervisor must attend the coaches' meeting. If the coach is not a teacher, both the teacher-supervisor and the coach must attend.
• Schools arrange and pay for their own travel, meals and accommodation.