WHAT IS LITTLE ATHLETICS
Little Athletics Queensland (LAQ) offers a variety of Track and Field events to athletes in the U6 – U17 age groups. Events, distances and equipment specifications are graduated to match the growth of the athletes and to encourage skill development.
LAQ tries to strike a balance between the development, competitive and fun aspects of Little Athletics, through weekly activities organised at affiliated Centres, and Regional and State level Carnivals and Championships for registered athletes.
Centres are required to provide play-training activities for the U6, U7 and U8 age groups. Where appropriate, Centres can incorporate play-training activities for other age groups as well. These activities are recognised as the best way of introducing young children to the sport. The limited number of events considered appropriate by athletics authorities for the younger age groups, plus the requirement to teach them adequate motor skills in a ‘fun’ way means “Play Training” has become a large part of Little Athletics, and a limited but definite flow-on to older ages should also become evident.
TRACK
SPRINTS
Sprinting essentially involves running at full speed over the full race distance. Little Athletics sprint distances are 70, 100, 200 and 400 metres, however U6’s do not run more than 100 metres, and U7 & 8’s do not run more than 200 metres. Technically 400 metres is a sprint for older athletes, but perhaps best considered a middle distance race for most Little Athletes.
DISTANCE
In Little Athletics these are events run over 800m (U9 and older) and 1500m (U11 and older). U6 – U8 athletes run middle-distances between 300 and 700 metres. Greater endurance levels are required, and the running style must be considerably less vigorous than for the sprints. At Centre meets, they are generally run from a pack start in an anticlockwise direction on the circular track.
HURDLES
U6’s to U17’s are offered Hurdle events at Centre and LAQ competitions. Hurdles are built to tumble easily, when knocked, provided they are hurdled from the correct direction. Hurdles must never be jumped from the reverse direction as they will not tumble and could cause serious injury.
RELAYS
Two types may be run – circular and shuttle. In the circular relay, all children run in the same direction around the track with the baton. In the shuttle, runners face each other from opposite ends of the straight and pass the baton as they reach their partner waiting at the other end of the straight.
WALKS
Race Walking is a progression of steps, so taken that the walker makes contact with the ground, so that no visible (to the human eye) loss of contact occurs. The advancing leg shall be straightened (i.e. not bent at the knee) from the moment of first contact with the ground until the vertical upright position.
FIELD
SHOT PUT
The Shot is put from the shoulder with one hand only. At the time an athlete, takes a stance in the circle to commence a put, the shot shall touch or be in close proximity to the neck or chin and the hand shall not be dropped below this position during the action of putting. The shot shall not be taken behind the line of the shoulders. The shot is PUSHED out to land within the marked angle. When the shot has landed, the athlete must leave so that their first step outside the circle is behind the line extending from the sides of the circle.
DISCUS
In Little Athletics, a moulded rubber disk is used for all ages, however the U13’s and older may use a metal rimmed discus at most LAQ competitions. The discus must be thrown from within the circle and land within the marked area. When the implement has landed, the athlete must leave so that their first step outside the circle is behind the line extending from the sides of the circle.
JAVELIN
The javelin is a spear like implement that is thrown from a runway 4 metres in width into a sector area marked by two lines. The event is only offered to athletes in the U11 to U17 age groups. The throw must be completed from within the confines of the runway and the javelin nose must be the first part to hit the ground within the throwing sector. The competitor may then leave the runway from behind the arc and lines on the runway. All throwing implements must be carried back to the throwing area, not thrown. These events are strictly supervised but all must appreciate the dangers of flying implements.
HIGH JUMP
The athlete’s task is to run up from an approach area and jump over a crossbar supported between two uprights. The crossbar is raised after each round and competitors remain in the competition until eliminated by three consecutive failures. Athletes must take off from one foot only. Note, that up to the U10 age group only the Scissors technique onto scissor mats can be used. LAQ recommended high jump mat specifications are listed in the Competition Rules and Regulations.
LONG JUMP
Little Athletics uses a 1 x 1/2 metre take-off mat for the U7 to U10 age groups. Children simply run in and jump from the mat into a sand pit. The distance is measured point to point from the front of the take off point to the nearest break in the landing area. The U11 to U17 age groups use a conventional 20cm take-off board and measurements are taken in the conventional way – i.e. from the FRONT of the board – and at right angles to the front of the board (or half metre “square”) to the nearest break in the landing area.
TRIPLE JUMP
Is a field event where the athlete runs along the runway and completes a hop, step, and jump sequence before landing in the sandpit. The rest of the rules are basically the same as for Long Jump. This event is only offered and conducted for athletes in the U11 – U17 age groups.
OUR HISTORY
Originating in Victoria during the early 1960’s, little Athletics was developed for children too young for senior athletics. Co-founder Alan Triscott’s idea in 1973, to bring Little Athletics to Queensland, began with several public meetings in Brisbane.
As a result of these meeting, Redcliffe Little Athletics was established.
The Association has 84 Centres located throughout Queensland. Athletes participate in weekly competitions at their local Centre across a range of events.
The Little Athletics motto of ‘Family, Fun and Fitness’ highlights that it is a community Activity involving the whole family on a weekly basis.
Athletes are encouraged to improve their own performances, sportsmanship and social skills, throughout the season.
Each of the events offered is age appropriate according to motor development and a gradual process of skill learning.
Discover the story of Little Athletics in Queensland, documented by Don Yourell.
