What is Little Athletics?

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Little Athletics is a uniquely Australian sport for children aged 5-16 years. Many centres also offer a Tiny Tots program for children aged 3 and 4 yeas of age. As the name suggests, Little Athletics is based upon the sport of athletics (track and field) and the events are specially modified to suit the ages and abilities of children. A wide range of running, jumping, throwing and walking events are conducted.

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Little Athletics is the foundation for all sports . It offers young people activities and skills that will stand them in good stead for their sporting future.

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Each year across New South Wales, approximately 40,000 boys and girls enjoy the activities that Little Athletics has to offer. Little Athletics is predominantly known for its summer season (September to March) of track and field events but also offers a winter season (April to August) of cross country and race walking.

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The track and field based competitions are conducted throughout the summer sports season (September through to March). Events are conducted on a weekly basis at over 200 individual centres across the state. Events include;

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Track:
Sprints – 70m, 100m, 200m
Distance – 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3km
Hurdles – 60mh, 80mh, 90mh, 100mh, 110mh , 200mh, 300mh
Walks – 700m, 1100m, 1500m

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Field:
Jumps – Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump
Throws – Shot Put, Discus, Javelin

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Centres may offer the Tiny Tots Program for children between the ages of 3 and 5. Tiny Tots will participate in games and activities designed to develop gross motor skills. They will not engage in competition.

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The cross country and race walking events and competitions are conducted throughout the winter sports season (April to August). Events vary and are conducted by only some centres across the state. Little Athletics NSW and Athletics NSW host many events and championships all over NSW through the Waratah Run Series and Fun Run NSW Series.

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Philosophy

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The philosophy of the Little Athletics movement is summed up in the slogan:

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“LITTLE ATHLETICS … FOR … FAMILY … FUN … and … FITNESS”.

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Family

One of the basic reasons for the continued development and enthusiasm generated by Little Athletics, has been the attempt to meet the needs of children as part of the family unit. Little Athletics is more than a sport. It is a community-oriented organisation which enables the entire family to do something together. Parents are involved in the program as voluntary helpers or officials. They share in many experiences with the children. Little Athletics provides a vital communication bridge between parent and child. This link can have benefits far beyond the years spent in the centre. Society has, increasingly, produced subtle and damaging pressures on family and community relationships. The FAMILY CONCEPT approach to programming counteracts those pressures.

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Fun

All children like fun…all children need fun. The weekly competition provides fun through participation in an enjoyable sport, with friends in the same age group.

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Fitness

The community has become increasingly aware of the value of physical fitness, particularly in the fight against obesity. A fit body can mean an alert mind and a decrease in the incidence of many physical ailments.

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Combined with FAMILY involvement… FITNESS can be…FUN in the happy environment of a Little Athletics centre.