STORY: DANEKA HILL
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HOP, STEP AND JUMP INTO LITTLE ATHLETICS FOR FUN AND FITNESS. AND NOW YOU CAN SPEND ANOTHER YEAR ON THE TRACK AND IN THE FIELD.
This year Little Athletics is expanding to include the under-17s age group.
For decades, the popular weekend program stopped at the under-16s, but it was becoming obvious there was a cohort of kids who didn’t want to move into senior athletics right at the end of their school years.
Shepparton Little Athletics president Aileen Zanelli said many kids preferred the friendly, family environment of Little Athletics.
“Little Aths concentrates on personal bests. We don’t say ‘you came first’ or ‘you came second’, it’s about their PB,” Aileen said.
“Whereas the senior clubs have the adults to compete against.”
The focus on personal bests allows Little Athletics to easily accommodate all fitness and commitment levels.
“It’s not like team sports. If you can’t come one week you don’t have to advise us, just show up when you can,” Aileen said.
“Some kids want to go further with sport while other are just enjoying being out there.”
Little Athletics events include sprints, hurdles, long jump, shot put, javelin and other track and field disciplines.
Aileen said there was always a lot of excitement around the javelin event.
“For the younger kids we use vortex toys instead of the javelin so they can learn the throwing motion.”
She said her favourite event was the 200-metre race.
“I just love it. They have to come around the bend and there’s so much excitement.
“I love the little kids when they first start off in the under-6s.
“They wander out of their lanes and the parents have to guide them, but when you tell them they’ve got a PB they run off like they won Tattslotto. All the age groups do.”
Aileen said inclusion was an important part of Little Athletics.
“I’ve already had a query from someone with a disabled child looking to join this season,” she said.
“Kids with disabilities are quite welcome. In a team sport they’d be left behind, but at Little Athletics it’s you against yourself.”
While Little Athletics focuses on the running, jumping and throwing skills, there is another extremely important skill kids get to exercise — their social skills.
“I’ve seen kids start really timid and shy, but they come out of their shells,” Aileen said.
“A lot of friendships are made between kids who never would’ve met each other because they all go to different schools.”
At Little Athletics parents are expected to stick around and lend a hand.
“It’s never been a ‘drop and leave’ event,” Aileen said.
“As you can understand, you can’t run it without parental help. So mum and dad are helping run things and record scores.
“From my point of view the kids are really happy mum and dad are there.”
Little Athletics runs on Saturday mornings from October to March — minus a Christmas break.
After March there is also a cross-country season on Sunday mornings at the Australian Botanic Gardens Shepparton.
“That’s included in the membership,” Aileen said.
“If people want to join just for cross-country they can.
“We also offer two free ‘come and try’ days and you can join anytime through the season. Those two free days don’t need to be two weeks in a row either.”
You can register for the two free days at: www.lavic.gov.au
Journalist