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School Sport Unit

NSW Primary Schools Sports Association – Handbook

Section 5.6 – Cross Country State Championship

Amended June 2026

5.6.1 General rules

Refer to General State Championship Rules.

5.6.2 Championship Pathways

Events within the NSWPSSA Cross Country Championships are conducted across two (2) pathways: Open and Multi-class.

For the purposes of these Championships, Open and multi-class are considered the same event. Therefore, athletes cannot compete in open class and multi-class events of the same distance or type.

The open pathway is for athletes who do not meet the minimum impairment criteria for a multi-class sporting classification or choose to compete without adaptations or disability-specific classifications.

The multi-class pathway is for athletes with an autism, deaf and hard of hearing, intellectual, physical, transplant or vision classification, who choose to compete against others with eligible sporting classifications.

For more information on classification see Rule B - 5.6

(a) Open class events

Each Association may enter a maximum of six (6) competitors per open class event as follows:

      • Girls 8/9 years – 2000 metres

      • Boys 8/9 years – 2000 metres

      • Girls 10 years – 2000 metres

      • Boys 10 years – 2000 metres

      • Girls 11 years – 3000 metres

      • Boys 11 years – 3000 metres

      • Girls 12/13 years – 3000 metres

      • Boys 12/13 years – 3000 metres

The distances run are to remain in accordance with School Sport Australia distances/standards.

(b) Multi-class events

(i) Each Association may enter a maximum of three (3) competitors per multi-class event as follows:

            • Girls 8/9 years 

            • Boys 8/9 years 

            • Girls 10 years 

            • Boys 10 years

            • Girls 11 years

            • Boys 11 years 

            • Girls 12/13 years

            • Boys 12/13 years 

All multi-class races are conducted over a 2000 metre course.

The distances run are to remain in accordance with School Sport Australia distances/standards.

(ii) Eligible Classifications

Class Impairment Notes
T01 Deaf and hard of hearing Athletes competing with T01 classification must remove hearing devices prior to the commencement of the race or once final instructions have been given by the starter.
T11 - T13 Vision

T11 must run with a guide runner.

T12 & T13 can elect to have a guide runner.

See School Sport Australia Cross Country Rules and Guidelines—Orientation Runner Guidelines (Item B - 5.9)
T20 Intellectual  
T21 More significant intellectual impairment Medical clearance is required prior to competing.
T35 - T38 Physical—Cerebral Palsy  
T40 - T41 Physical—Short Stature Medical clearance is required prior to competing.
T42 - T46 Physical—Amputee & other Medical clearance is required prior to competing.
T60 Transplant recipient Medical clearance is required prior to competing.
T62 - T64 Physical—Amputee (with prostheses) Medical clearance is required prior to competing.
ii-3 Autism  


Note: Medical clearance documentation to be provided to the convener 14 days prior to the NSWPSSA State Cross Country Championships.

(iii) Each athlete in multi-class events must have a current sporting classification (national, provisional or review status). 

The verification of classifications will be done against the Australian Athletics Classification Masterlist and in conjunction with Deaf Sports Australia, Paralympics Australia, Sports Inclusion Australia and Transplant Australia. 

Athletes who do not have a classification prior to competition will be ineligible to compete. 

(iv) Orientation Runner

  • An orientation runner must only be used as a precautionary measure where there is a significant concern regarding an athlete’s ability to safely navigate the course. This measure is intended to support athlete safety and ensure compliance with the designated course.
  • Associations are required to submit an application using the ‘Orientation
    Runner Submission Form’ and provide to the Championship Convener no later than 72 hours prior to the commencement of the NSWPSSA State Cross Country Championship.
  • Approval of the orientation runner is at the discretion of the Championship Convener and will be determined based on the information provided in the submission form.

(v) Multi-class Event Structure

  • Primary multi-class events run over a distance of 2km for all ages (i.e. 8/9, 10, 11, 12/13 yrs). The Championship convener can combine and/or separate Athletes in multi-class events based on the number of entries in age groups and gender.

(vi) Suggested Qualifying Standards

  • Suggested qualifying standards are provided to assist associations in determining athlete progression in multi-class events to the NSWPSSA State Cross Country Championship. NSWPSSA State Cross Country Championship suggested qualifying standards are adapted from the School Sport Australia (SSA) qualifying standards.
  • 12/13 years age category is provided a 10% addition to the SSA qualifying standards
  • 11 years age category is provided a 10% addition to the SSA qualifying standards
  • 10 years age category is provided a 10% addition to the SSA qualifying standards
  • 8/9 years age category is provided a 20% addition to the SSA qualifying standards for the 10 years age category

(vii) Placings

Placings for primary events will be determined using baseline performance data, comparing the athlete’s time to the School Sport Australia Cross Country Baseline for their classification to create a percentage. The highest percentage wins, second highest second etc.

(viii) State Selections

Maximum of 3 competitors per event will be selected provided they meet the School Sport Australia National Cross Country Championships selection/entry criteria.

(c) All competitors must compete in designated association uniform. N.B. The wearing of compression garments should be under such designated uniform. If the association does not have shorts as part of their official uniform and compression garments are worn in place, they must match the colour of their association uniform.

5.6.3 List of events
  • Girls 8/9 years – 2000 metres
  • Boys 8/9 years – 2000 metres
  • Girls 10 years – 2000 metres
  • Boys 10 years – 2000 metres
  • Girls 11 years – 3000 metres
  • Boys 11 years – 3000 metres
  • Girls 12/13 years – 3000 metres
  • Boys 12/13 years – 3000 metres
  • All Athletes in multi-class events – 2000 metres

The distances run are to remain in accordance with School Sport Australia distances/standards.

5.6.4 Judging/recording

If electronic timing is in use:

(a) Results of all races will be determined by electronic timing (providing it is in use at the Championship).

(b) The first eight (8) placegetters will be determined at the conclusion of the race and progress to the selection area.

(c) The first eight (8) placegetters in the 10, 11 and 12 years divisions will be retained by the "two (2) outfitters" to be measured for State team apparel.

Note:

(i) The first six (6) placegetters in open class events qualify as State team members. The seventh and eighth placegetters (7-8) are reserves and measured in case of withdrawals.

The first three (3) placegetters in multi-class events qualify as State team members, provided they meet the School Sport Australia National Cross Country Championships selection/entry criteria

(ii) There is no 8/9 year division at the National level. Children are not permitted to compete out of their age group.

If electronic timing is not in use:

(a) Judges give a place card to each competitor as they finish.

(b) Competitors line up in finishing order and proceed to the recorders.

(c) Recorder one (1) records the place of each competitor (in his/her association column on "the point score sheet"). The best four (4) places for each association are totalled to arrive at the team point score (and hence place) for each age division 

Age division point scores are totalled to determine overall point scores and championship placings.

(d) Recorder two (2) records the name and association of the 1st seven (7) placegetters on "the major placings sheet".

(e) Competitors retain their own place card as a record of their finishing position. Team managers will be given participation certificates to hand on to team members.

(f) The first eight (8) placegetters in open class 10, 11, and 12 divisions will be retained by the "two (2) outfitters" to be measured for state team apparel.

Note:

(i) The first six (6) placegetters qualify as state team members. The seventh and eighth placegetters (7 – 8) are reserves and are measured in case of withdrawals.

(ii) There is no 8/9 year division at the interstate level. Children are not permitted to compete out of their age group.

5.6.5 Scoring

If manual recording system is used:

(a) Points are scored against each team for positions finished.

Note: The best (lowest) four (4) places only are counted towards the team point score.

(b) The association with the lowest aggregate in each division will be Champion Association in that Division.

(c) The Association with the lowest aggregate over all divisions will be the Overall Champion Association

(d) Competitors who fail to finish receive last place plus one (1).

If electronic timing is used:

Each association will be eligible to compete for the team event championship.

(a) When electronic timing is used then the four fastest finishing times will be used to gain a combined time for the four fast finishers in each event. The team with the lowest combined time will be awarded 15 points, the second fastest team 14 points, decreasing by one point for each place.

(b) Competitors who fail to finish receive last time plus one (1) minute.

(c) Gold, Silver and Bronze medals will be awarded for the placegetters.

(d) The association with the highest number of points over all events will be declared the Champion Association .

5.6.6 Program

Program and Timetable to be at the Convener's discretion.

5.6.7 Medallions

Medallions are to be given as follows:

  • Individual Events: 1st, 2nd, 3rd
  • Team Events, 1st, 2nd, 3rd (to all six (6) team members)

Note: Where a tie occurs in a teams event placing, the team that has all their four (4) runners in first shall be used to decide the placings.

5.6.8 Rules

(a) Footwear must be worn by all competitors. Spiked Footwear is not permitted due to safety reasons related to a pack start.

(b) Any competing athlete who jostles or obstructs another athlete, so as to impede his/her progress, shall be liable to disqualification from the event.

(c) No competitor is to receive assistance or refreshments during the race.

(d) All competitors must compete in association uniforms.

(e) The Championship Manager retains the right to alter the program if need be.

(f) The NSWPSSA retains the right to include additional entries.

(g) Protests must be made in writing by the Team Manager and handed to the Championship Manager within fifteen (15) minutes of the first runner crossing the finishing line of the relevant event.

(h) Asthma medication is permitted to be taken during the course of the competitor's event.

(i) Pacing in races by persons not participating in the same race should be warned by the referee. If there is any repetition, the athlete will be disqualified from the event.

(j) MP3, Ipods and similar technology devices should not be used by any athlete. Also any device able to transmit and receive information should not be worn.

Protests will be heard by the Protest Committee consisting of the PSSA Convener, CHS Convener and the Cross Country Assistant Convener (Primary).

5.6.9 The start

The announcer shall call competitors to the marshals who shall line competitors across a single line.

Starting command shall be:

'On Your Marks' followed by a firing of the starter's gun and for multi-class events only, a White flag is to be raised to signal ‘On Your Marks’, and dropped when the gun is fired.

A second firing shall indicate a recall and for multi-class events only a Red flag is to be waved signalling a recall.

 

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