Q1: HOW OLD DOES MY CHILD HAVE TO BE TO PARTICIPATE?
A: Your child must be at least 3 years before they can register with Little Athletics NSW. Our season commences Saturday 16th September. If your child turns 3 after this date then you will have to wait until their birthday before you can register.
Q2: HOW LONG IS THE SEASON?
A: The season starts in September 2023 and concludes in March 2024. We break for a few weeks over the Christmas / New Year period.
Q3: WHERE IS THE ATHLETICS TRACK
A: Our track is on the oval at the rear of Dapto High School. Facilities are well maintained by Committee members. We have new synthetic long jump runways for all athletes to use.
Q4: DO ATHLETES HAVE TO WEAR UNIFORM?
A: Yes, athletes must wear the Centre uniform to compete on competition days. Registration costs and uniform costs will be placed on our Facebook page and our website www.daptolittleathletics.org.au once they are known.
Q5: WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK DO ATHLETES COMPETE?
A: Weekly competition is on Saturdays at 1:30pm until November. Competition then moves to 5pm on Thursday evenings from November to March.
Q6: WHAT DOES WEEKLY COMPETITION MEAN?
A: Athletes participate in 4 events each week against other Dapto athletes. They compete against athletes in their age group. Officials at every event area will demonstrate how to do an event.
Q7: WHAT EVENTS WILL THE ATHLETES COMPETE IN?
A: Our Centre has a set “4 event” program for each age group. This program can be found at www.daptolittleathletics.org.au under the tab “Event Program”.
Q8: IS THERE ANY TRAINING FOR THE ATHLETES?
A: Training is not compulsory for Little Athletics. It is not like winter sports such as soccer or netball where training is a necessary part of the season. Athletes can still participate at weekly competition without training. At our Centre, training depends on volunteer availability. The Centre will try and provide regular training to Dapto athletes throughout the season. This training will be free of charge and will involve teaching athletes the correct technique for an event. If an athlete wants a harder training regime with a personal coach, please visit www.athletics.com.au/Coaches/Find-A-Coach
or alternatively speak with a Dapto Little Athletics Committee member who may be able to recommend a coach.
Q9: IS THERE A POINT SCORE?
A: Yes, athletes in the Under 6’s and above compete for competition points in every event. The athletes are also rewarded with bonus points for bettering their “personal best” performance in an event. Points are tallied at the end of the season and every eligible athlete will receive a trophy. Tiny Tots do not have their performances recorded. They do the events and learn how to run, jump and throw. Every Tiny Tot receives a trophy on Presentation Day. Eligibility is determined by attendance criteria and parent helper attendance.
Q10: ARE THERE ANY OTHER AWARDS?
A: There is a wide array of awards at the end of season Presentation Day. In addition to point score awards, athletes will also receive awards for 100% attendance and for achieving a set level of “personal best” performances. So we recognise great achievement in a range of areas.
Q11: DO PARENTS HAVE TO DO A JOB AT WEEKLY COMPETITION?
A: Yes. It is a mandatory requirement that every family provides an adult representative to do a job at weekly competition. This family representative will assist at an area allocated by the Officer For Officials (member of the Dapto Little Athletics Committee). Athletes are not allowed to compete unless there is an adult family representative working at an event area. This includes Tiny Tots. It is not possible to run weekly competition without adult helpers.
Q12: I’M A PARENT & WANT TO DO A JOB, BUT I’M WORRIED BECAUSE I WON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
A: The allocated jobs are quite simple. Some involve simply retrieving a thrown discus or shot put. Some involve simply writing down measurements of an athlete’s throw or jump. The Chief Official at an event area will demonstrate how to do to the job.
Q13: I CAN’T ATTEND EVERY WEEK DUE TO WORK COMMITMENTS. CAN MY CHILD STILL COMPETE?
A: As above. An athlete can only compete with an adult family representative present at the track and assisting at an event area. This can be a friend of the family or a member of the extended family (eg grandparent).
Q14: I CAN’T STAND FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME SO I CAN’T DO A JOB.
A: Most event areas require a recorder. The recorder sits (chair provided) and records measurements of throws or jumps. Please speak with the Officer For Officials (member of the Dapto Little Athletics Committee) if you would like to request a recorder job.
Q15: I HAVE OTHER YOUNGER CHILDREN WITH ME SO I CAN’T DO A JOB.
A: This issue affects many parents during the season but does not excuse them from doing a job. To overcome this issue, you may want to request a recorder job (like the question above) or a time keeping job.
Q16: WILL I BE ABLE TO FOLLOW MY CHILD AROUND?
A: If you are not doing a job, then all parents/relatives/friends can follow the athlete around to event areas. The adult family helper will not be able to follow their child around at events as they will be stationed at the one event area for the duration of afternoon or evening.
Q17: WHAT IS AN AGE PATRON?
A: An Age Patron is an adult who supervises athletes in an age group for the duration of the afternoon/evening. Generally there are two (2) Age Patrons rostered per age group for athletes in the Tiny Tots through to the Under 10 athletes. Age Patrons are generally a very popular request by parent helpers. If there are numerous parents of an age group requesting to be an Age Patron, then attempts will be made to roster the parents as Age Patrons on an even basis throughout the season.
Q18: DO I NEED A WORKING WITH CHILDREN CHECK?
A: If you have a child competing at the venue, then we encourage you to complete a Working With Children Check. We are asking that one adult from each family have a WWCC as our helpers roster will have you following your children to their events and helping committee members whilst watching your child compete. If you want to be an Age Patron, then you MUST have a Working With Children Check before you are able to be rostered as an Age Patron.
Working With Children Checks are free for volunteers. Visit www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/child-safe-organisations/working-with-children-check/apply for more information.
In addition to Age Patrons, our Centre requires all Committee members and coaches to have a Working with Children Check clearance or a Police Check. Once you have your Working With Children Check number, please see a Committee member in the canteen.
Q19: I CAN’T DO A JOB BECAUSE MY CHILD WON’T STAY WITH THEIR AGE GROUP WITHOUT ME.
A: As per Q10, all families must provide an adult family helper. Tiny Tots right through to the under 10 age groups have adult age patrons. Please see Q11 for further information about being an Age Patron. Alternatively, you may wish to bring another adult friend who can do a job for the family whilst you stay with your child.
Q20: CAN I REGISTER ONLINE?
A: Yes. All registrations must be done online. The online registration page will be displayed at www.daptolittleathletics.org.au closer to the start of the season. The registration system usually opens 1st August. Once you register online, you simply need to attend a Registration Pack Collection Day to collect your registration pack and to purchase centre uniforms.
Q21: MY CHILD CAN’T ATTEND ON SATURDAYS. IS IT OK IF WE START ATTENDING ON THURSDAY COMPETITION NIGHTS?
A: Yes. Just let the Committee know by sending an email to secretary@daptolittleathletics.org.au. Obviously the athlete will miss out competition points by not competing Saturdays, but the athlete will still be eligible for a participation trophy/medal at the end of the season providing officiating requirements have been met.
Q22: CAN MY CHILD TRIAL LITTLE ATHLETICS IN CASE HE/SHE DOESN’T LIKE IT?
A: Yes. Our Centre offers a “Come and Try” program where the athlete can participate for a fee of $20. Should the athlete want to register, the $20 is deducted from the cost of uniforms. Our “Come and Try” program is only available for Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th August 2023.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, visit www.daptolittleathletics.org.au or www.lansw.com.au or "like" us on Facebook, or email our Secretary – secretary@daptolittleathletics.org.au