When can I join Little Athletics Sandringham?

The Little Athletics season begins in early October and runs through to the following September (this includes the summer season to March as well as the winter Cross Country season). You can register at any time during the athletic season providing you are between the ages of 5 and 15. Registrations should be made online at http://www.sandringhamlittleaths.org.

Registration days are also held in September where you can collect your Registration Pack and number. Registration days are held at the Sandringham Athletics Centre, corner Thomas St and Glamis Ave, Hampton.

Please Note: All new registrations must provide a copy of their birth certificate.

When does Little Athletics start?

The first week of competition is usually the Saturday following Grand Final Day. Competition is on Saturdays depending on your age group - U6-U9 8.15am-10.30am and U10-U15 10.30am-12.45pm. Please refer to the Season Calendar for the full list of competition dates and times.

How much does Little Athletics cost?

Registration fees are set by Little Athletics Sandringham each year and are $125 for one child in 2010-2011, with discounts for two or more children, U13+ and Healthcare Card holders. As Little Athletics is wholly run by volunteers, costs are kept to a minimum and for a season that runs from October to March, the registration fee is extremely good value. As well as the registration fee there is a small charge to participate in additional events such as Region Relays and Region Track and Field Events.

When does Cross Country start?

Registered Little Athletes can also participate in Cross Country from April to July for a small additional fee. Children who have not registered for the summer season may still participate in Cross Country but the full fee is applicable.

How do I know what age group I will compete in?

Age groups are determined by the year and month of birth as detailed in the following Little Athletics Victoria's (VLAA) Registrars Ready Reckoner - for the 2010/2011 season.

What do the children do?

Each competition day, usually Saturday, the children participate in a selection of events that rotate through 3 different weekly programs. A full list of events is included below.

Throughout the season athletes have an opportunity to participate in additional competitive events including Regional Relays, Regional Track and Field, State Multi Event competition and Open Days run by other Little Athletics Centres.

Regional events are open to all athletes from Under 9 - Under 15. Regional Track & Field is also open to Under 8 children, however they cannot progress through to State Championships. The State Multi Event is open to any child from Under 9 - Under 15; there is no qualifying round for eligibility.

The Under 6 age group will participate in a modified program, which consists of a combination of track and field events, and skills training called the "On Track" program. During the Cross Country season, the athletes run a single race of a particular distance, which is between 1 and 3 km, depending on their age. Regional and State Championships are held each year for Cross Country and is open to all athletes Under 9 - Under 15.

How do I know what age group I will compete in?

Age groups are determined by the year and month of birth as detailed in the following Little Athletics Victoria's (VLAA) Registrars Ready Reckoner - for the 2010/2011 season.

Age group by month and year of birth:

Note: Shaded areas children are either too old or too young to compete at little athletics

What are the weekly events?

Athletes compete in a series of events on a rotational basis of 3 programs.

Track:
   Sprints (70 m, 100 m, 200 m)
   Middle Distance (400 m) depending on age
   Long Distance (800 m 11yo) depending on age
   Hurdles (60 m, 80 m, 90 m, 100 m, 300 m) depending on age & gender

Field:
   Long Jump / Triple Jump / High Jump
   Shot Put / Discus
   Javelin (U12-U15 only)

Where are the events held?

During the summer Track & Field Season, events are held at the Sandringham Athletics Track, corner Thomas St and Glamis Ave, Hampton.

What time does the program start and finish?

The summer program for U6-U9 begins at 8:15 am sharp (for a warm up) unless otherwise advised in the fixture and finishes around 10.15 - 10.30 am. The U10-U15 program starts at 10:30am (for a warm up) and finishes around 1.00pm, depending on the events being offered on the day.

During the winter Cross Country Season, competition starts at 9.00 am and finishes around 11:00 am.

What level of ability do children have to have to join?

Little Athletics Sandringham promotes family, fun and fitness. Little Athletics is for the whole family to enjoy. Children can join with any level of skill or fitness. Children are given plenty of encouragement to achieve personal bests and to enjoy making friends.

Can children try Little Athletics before joining?

Yes, you are welcome to come and try little athletics for 2 free sessions held during our regular Saturday program. You still need to complete a registration form at our IT desk. Just come down to the track on a Saturday and make yourself known to our IT coordinator who will then introduce you to an Age Group Manager. You will then be given the opportunity to see if Little Athletics is for you.

How long is the season?

The summer Track and Field Season consists of about 18 weeks of competition, beginning in October and running through to our last day of competition in March the following year concluding with a Family Fun day. We have a break from just before Christmas to mid January. NB the season will start later in 2011 due to the resurfacing of the Sandringham Athletics track which will commence in December 2010 and finish by the end of January 2011.

Cross Country begins in April and runs through to August.

How are the children's performances monitored?

You will receive a sheet detailing your performance, the week after you compete. Personal best performances are highlighted and you can present your PB Sheet to the Canteen for an icy pole reward. Results are posted on the website, soon after the day of competition. PB Sheets can then be placed in a scrap book to give you an ongoing record of your performances. The PB Sheets are a great way to see if you have improved your performance from week to week.

During the summer season LAS holds 3 Club Championship Days. These days are run according to our 3 weekly programs and athletes are awarded points for their performance on each day. Results are calculated at the end of the season to determine Club Champions in each event.

Note: To qualify for points you need to have competed at least 50% of the season and you need to wear correct uniform displaying your registration tag. Anyone who has not competed for 50% can still compete in the Club Championship, but they will not be eligible for prizes.

What other forms of competition are there?

During the season, there are:

Open Days: Competition held at other Centres that provide LAS athletes with the opportunity to compete against other athletes in Victoria. More information is available on our website.

Region Competitions: (for Under 9 to Under 15) - Competition with other Centres within the Southern Metropolitan Region.

State Championships: (for Under 9 to Under 15) - LAS athletes may progress from Region to State Championships and compete against all Regions in Victoria.

Is there a Code of Conduct at LAS?

There are a series of Codes of Conduct and Behaviour within Little Athletics Sandringham.

• Parent Code of Behaviour
• Little Athletes Code of Behaviour
• Spectator Code of Behaviour

Please refer to our Handbook or our website for the Little Athletics Sandringham Codes of Behaviour. In addition LAS adheres to a fair sporting ethic which includes:

The Essence of Sport: Sport in Australia is held as a positive influence that enriches the lives of all who are involved. Sport performs a major role in shaping the Australian identity and is seen as a vital component in the continuing prosperity of our nation. By committing the Essence of Sport to all roles and decisions, athletics in Australia can ensure the benefits it has to offer are realised. Little Athletics Sandringham strives to uphold the principles of:

• Fairness - Fairness is about making informed and honourable decisions. LAS believes that everyone should be given the opportunity to pursue their goals and aspirations in a fair environment.
• Safety - LAS believes that everyone has the right to participate in an environment that is physically and emotionally safe.
• Respect - LAS believes that respect involves recognising the contribution of every person and treating him or her with dignity and courtesy. It also incorporates taking care of the environment, equipment and property.

What is expected of Parents?

Parents are expected to assist with the operation of Little Athletics Sandringham by participating in the duty roster. The number of times that this is required varies, but generally every third or fourth week you will be expected to fill one of our duty roles.

All parents of U/6 - U/10 athletes must be in attendance for the time their children are competing each week.

There are several types of duty possible with most parents enjoying 'officiating' at an event. Other typical club type activities include Marshal roles, canteen, club administration, data entry etc. Additional assistance is always needed on LAS Committees and all parents are invited to help here.

What is expected of the Children?

Children must behave in a proper manner with their fellow competitors, officials and parents and uphold our motto 'Family, Fun, Fitness'.

Is there any Coaching provided?

Coaching is an important part of the program at Little Athletics Sandringham. We provide coaching during our weekly events to help athletes learn how to perform each event. LAS also provides mid week coaching sessions free of charge to all LAS athletes during the summer and winter seasons. All of our coaches are fully trained, qualified, and hold current working with children checks and are really enthusiastic about helping our athletes achieve their best performance.

If you are interested in coaching we'd love to have you at Little Athletics Sandringham. All you need to do is complete an Introduction to Coaching Course run by Little Athletics Victoria and have a current working with children. A number of these sessions are held during the year. For more details go to our Coaching page or the LAV website.

If LAS athletes are keen to be involved in Relay competition during the summer season, there will be relay training sessions held during the week, usually on a Wednesday night from 6-7pm in the lead up to the event. More information on this will be provided when you register to compete.

What about Safety, Insurance and First Aid?

Little Athletics Sandringham has a strict safety policy and all athletes are covered by Insurance provided by the Little Athletics Victoria. First Aid trained Committee are in attendance at each session of Little Athletics as well as a qualified First aider on duty. Parents must sign on as ordinary members to be covered by the insurance.

What types of awards / trophies are presented?

At the end of each season, presentations are made to children based on:

• The child's performance
• The child's improvement
• Club Championships
• Breaking Centre Records
• Breaking Outside Records
• Regional and State performers

Trophies, Medals and certificates are typically awarded.