Frequently Asked Questions for Prospective Subscribers
- What are the primary features?
- How does the data get into XCStats?
- How much time is required?
- Who is XCStats intended for?
- Are there any promotions for 2010?
- I already use an email system (or training logs) for my team. Why should I use XCStats?
- I do my own stats. Why should I use XCStats?
- Do you also provide features for track?
- Who are you guys anyway?
What are the primary features?
The Walk-Thru is the best place to get an overview, but in a nutshell: 25 different reports designed to reward improvement over speed, an email system, goal setting tools, training logs, a team management system, a complete team website, a private discussion forum and access to our massive California cross country database.
How does the data get into XCStats?
For cross country, we load it! That's right. Coaches don't need to load their own data. Instead, the XCStats gathers, loads and computes all your statistics. For track, coaches load their own data via a simple process.
How much time is required?
XCStats is designed to save you time and lots of it! According to a recent survey, less than half of available coaching time is spend on administrative activites. The most time-consuming was calculating stats followed by collecting runner and parent email addresses and soliciting and tracking the return of forms and money. XCStats automates all of these functions, saving you loads and loads of time. And for cross country, coaches don’t need to enter results data, rosters or personal records. That is all done by the XCStats team.
Who is XCStats intended for?
Coaches, althletes and parents of high school cross country and track participants. Besides keeping stats and providing tools to motivate and engage runners, the site is designed to increase the involvement of parents in your program.
Are there any promotions for 2010?
Yes, we have an absolutely fantastic offer for new subscribers! XCStats is nearly free for new subscribers! New subscribers can use all the features of XCStats for the entire cross country season for only $20! That's it! In addition, the XCStats team will load all your cross country data from 2009, so runners can immediately see their performances relative to last year. But hurry, the offer expires on September 17th.
I already use an email system (or training logs) for my team. Why should I use XCStats?
There are already some wonderful tools on the web for cross country and track coaches and many of them are free! However, XCStats does offer significant value: 1) Nobody has the number and type of reports and graphs like XCStats! And you don't have to work hard to get them, since we load your data! We keep all team and individual stats for cross country. 2) It's all integrated. With XCStats, the email system is integrated with training logs and goal setting and the team management system. With the click of a mouse a coach can send reminders to those who are late on a task, or to runners who haven't completed their training logs or to those who improved in a given race. 3) You can use XCStats as your team's web site. We have all the features to have a basic site - discussion forum, file uploads, email system and more! 4) XCStats is designed for high school teams. No cumbersome navigation from runner to runner that many adverstising-driven sites have. Since XCStats is subscribed by the school, every runner has their stats and improvements, not just those who sign up to a free site.
I do my own statistics. Why should I use XCStats?
We certainly understand why some coaches enjoy calculating their own stats. It's exactly this joy that created XCStats in the first place! So for fellow stats-lovers we'll offer the following reasons anyway: 1) XCStats is so much more than stats. It includes training logs, a team management system, email, a discussion forum, a goal setting and 25 different reports. 2) Cross country is a team sport, so we keep all team stats as well as individual. We even keep records for all groups of 5 runners, not just the first 5. So, for example, the 2nd group of 5 in JV will compete against the 2nd group of 5 from other schools; 3) We compare a runners effort against their past performance on a given course in 3 ways: their most recent running of that course, their race a year ago (if applicable) and against their PR. This way we have many ways to identify and recognize accomplishments; 4) Our reports include all teams in the race, not just yours; 5) We have about 10 different charts to display the data visually and 6) We allow you to search our massive California database of cross country team and individual results.
Do you also provide features for track?
Yes! For 2011 we also offer track! Of course it comes with our email system, team management, training logs and includes a bevy of reports and graphs of runners performances.
Who are you guys anyway?
XCStats was created by Mike Sherwood, a parent of some cross country runners at Mitty High School in San Jose. It was first available to other high schools in 2007. In three full years in operation it has grown from 9 subscribing schools in 2007 to 47 in 2009. It is a labor of love!