A Note from the Committee
Dear Athletic Families,
Welcome to the 2023/2024 season of Tamworth Little Athletics Club.
We are looking forward to another great season last season saw outstanding results, countless PB’s and personal achievements.
Little A’s is about fun, family, and fitness. Tamworth Little Athletics is one club under the Little Athletics Association of NSW Inc (LAANSW). Throughout NSW there are around 40,000 registered athletes with LAANSW and around 100,000 nationally.
Tamworth Little Athletics is operated on a non-profit basis and is entirely run by volunteers who have their children competing. It is important that our families volunteer to help run our competition afternoons raking a sandpit, or assisting one of our age divisions.
Thank you to the continued support from the Tamworth Little Athletics committee, who work tirelessly behind the scenes the club would not survive without their efforts and dedication. If you have any queries or need further information about Little Athletics please contact a committee member Tamworth Little Athletics (tamworthlac.org.au)
Operational Procedure for Friday Nights
Season commences Friday 13th October 2023 at 5:30pm. (excluding tiny tots)
***Athletes must bring a drink***
On arrival, parents and guardians are to bring their athletes to their age tub where they will be able to sign their children in for the night with their age manager (if a parent or guardian fails to sign their child/ren in they are not covered by insurance and therefore not permitted on the field) and parents and guardians are encouraged to offer their assistance within the age group or in another role on the night.
Please Note: Athletes can only take the field if they have their current year registration number attached to their uniform.
All volunteers inside the fence must wear a yellow hi-vis vest. Age Managers will wear orange vests.
Depending on which week rotation we are up to, the athletes complete their set events in order to assist in the night running smoother.
Please Note: During our Friday nights parents and guardians must stay at the ground with their child/ren. DO NOT drop your child/ren off and leave. Unsupervised child/ren can, and will, be excluded from competition.
Volunteer Roles
Because Little Athletics is a totally voluntary organisation, centres cannot operate without the assistance of parents each week in fulfilling the many and varied duties required. These include officiating at an event; managing an age group; recording results; working in the canteen; to name just a few. Additional assistance is always required on the centre committees and all parents are encouraged to become involved. Little Athletics is one of the few sports where parents can become fully involved in their child’s sporting interests.
At Little Athletics NSW we understand that just like our athletes, our parents come from a diverse range of backgrounds and as such have different talents and experience. There is a place for everyone at Little Athletics and there are a number of ways that you can become involved. You may have skills that the centre doesn’t even know they need. So if you think you can help with something, let the committee know.
Whatever your experience, don’t feel scared about putting your hand up and ‘giving it a go’. After all, isn’t that what we ask our kids to do?
Parental Role
Regardless of whether or not this is your first involvement as a Little Athletics parent, it is always worthwhile, at the start of each season, to consider what your role will be over the next six months or so.
Your child is in a sport that provides an opportunity for immediate and long term benefits. The benefits include: higher levels of fitness; better health; a pleasurable social environment and the satisfaction derived from skilled performances. Little Athletics can provide a launching pad for a life-long involvement in sport, whether it be elite or purely recreational.
Just as important as any of the above benefits is that Little Athletics provides children with the chance to have fun – TO PLAY. Please do not ever lose sight of this!
Unfortunately, all of the potential benefits of involving a child in a sport can be quickly lost due to one very important factor – ADULTS.
Do not underestimate the effect that you can have on your child’s long term participation in and enjoyment of sport.
By taking a considered, understanding approach, a parent can be their child’s most valuable asset.
On the other hand, parents who bribe, threaten punishment, push their children, or hang over the fence screaming, have totally lost a true understanding of Little Athletics. Fortunately, these ‘clowns’ as Denis Baker in his book, ‘Winning is Kids’ Stuff’ terms them, are few and far between.
You must realise, however, that you don’t have to be a ‘screamer’ to have a subtle negative effect on your child in sport.
All too often, adults attempt to impose their own values on children’s’ sport. Do not assume that children play sport for the same reason that adults do. For example, when surveyed, a large number of children list ‘beating opponents’ and ‘receiving medals and trophies’ as last on a ranking of ten enjoyment factors in sport. Children are not little adults and their sport should be free from adult pressures and demands.
Denis Baker has some valuable advice about putting childrens’ sport into perspective:-
Remember, when kids play sport – they are not a team of professionals – don’t deprive them of the opportunity to be kids. When you start getting too serious about a kid’s game, for heaven’s sake walk away. You will inevitably be more worried about what is happening than the kids.
Age Managers
Each group will be appointed an Age Manager. Age Managers are parents like yourself and play a vital role in the smooth running of our centre nights. So that the Age Manager can provide athletes with their attention to assist them it is essential for other volunteers to help run each event.
Canteen – BBQ & Drinks
Please take advantage of these facilities. Funds from canteen and BBQ sales go towards the purchase of new equipment –