Little Athletics

Little Athletics is an Australian sporting event comprising a subset of athletic events, specially modified to suit the abilities of children (aged 5 to 14 (or 16 in SA)).

Little A's, as it is affectionately referred to by those who enjoy it, is not just about winning, but also about having fun, making friends and getting families involved in healthy activities. It is little surprise, then, that the motto of Little Athletics is: "Family, Fun and Fitness".

Little Athletics recognises that children vary widely in shape, size and athletic ability, and is thus one of few sports that successfully caters for them all.

Little Athletics Events

Available Little Athletics events vary between age groups and from state to state. The following represents the breadth of events available, but not all are available in any given state.

* Sprints: 70 m, 100 m,200 m, 300 m, 60 m Hurdles, 80 m Hurdles, 90 m Hurdles, 100 m Hurdles, 200 m Hurdles, 300 m Hurdles
* Distance: 400 m, 800 m, 1500 m, 3000 m, 700 m Walk, 1100 m Walk, 1500 m Walk
* Relays: 4x100 m Relay, 4x200 m Relay, 4x400 m Relay
* Throws: Shot Put, Discus,Javelin
* Jumps: Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump
* Multi-Event (pentathlon)
* Cross-Country: 1000 m, 1500 m, 2000 m, 3000 m

In addition, some states hold learning programs designed to develop the skills of young athletes in the U/6-U/7 age groups.

Some states (NSW, SA) also provide activities for younger siblings 3 to 5 years of age known as 'Tiny Tots'. Tiny Tots consists of games and activities that have an emphasis on learning the skills of running, jumping and throwing that are important parts of the athletic events in the older age groups.

Hierarchy

Under Australian Little Athletics (ALA), the governing body for Little Athletics in Australia, each mainland state and territory has its own Association, each responsible for running Little Athletics in its respective state. In turn, each of these Associations is composed of one or more geographical regions. These regions contain numerous localised Centres where normal weekly competition takes place. Each centre consists of one or more clubs with which each athlete is associated with at centre competition level.

Individual athletes and centre teams progress from localised competition to state competition as determined by the state Association. In Victoria, for example, each athlete or team must compete at a Regional Championship prior to being selected to compete in the State Championship. In Tasmania, on the other hand, there are only two regions (North and South) and no Regional Championships, and athletes must meet predetermined qualifying standards in order to compete in the State Championship.

History

In October 1963, three young boys went to a senior athletics meet held in Geelong, Victoria. Much to their disappointment, they were turned away by an official, Trevor Billingham, who told them that they were too young to compete.

It was later observed that the majority of children at a local coaching clinic designed for secondary school students were in fact of primary school age. Reminded of the three young boys, Billingham came up with the simple yet original idea of holding a Saturday morning competition for these children.

On Saturday, 3rd October 1964, the first Little Athletics meet was held at a Geelong oval, where a small group of children took part in a short program of running events. From then on, Little Athletics grew at a phenomenal rate across the country.

In 1967, the Victorian Little Athletics Association (VLAA) of numerous Centres was formed. Other states also began to hold competition, and on the 31st March 1972, the Australian Little Athletics Union (ALAU) was formed in Perth by the Victorian, New South Wales, Northern Territory and Western Australian associations, later to be joined by new associations in Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania.

The first executive members of the ALAU were Bruce McKenzie (president) and Alan Triscott (secretary/treasurer).

During the 1992/1993 season, the ALAU's name was shortened to ALA.

Since peaking in the 1970s, registration numbers have declined significantly. Whilst this is in large part due to a growing number of alternative sports catering for young children, this represents a serious challenge for today's Little Athletics Associations. Nonetheless, Little Athletics remains a very popular Australian sport.

External links

* [http://www.littleathletics.com.au Australian Little Athletics]

* [http://www.wlac.coolrunning.com.au Werribee Little Athletics Centre]
* [http://www.hclac.org.au Hallett Cove Little Athletics Centre]
* [http://www.redla.com.au Reynella East and Districts Little Athletics Centre]
* [http://www.magill-lac.org Magill Little Athletics Centre] Eastern Adelaide
* [http://www.mountdruittlac.com.au Mount Druitt Little Athletics Centre]

http://www.bayswater.klac23.org.au/pdf/VLAA%20early%20history-draft.pdf