Eastern Athletic & Harrier Club

Parents make the difference

A reminder that we need all parents to stay at Club nights please, and to help at every event. We know it can be a bit daunting, so here are some handy tips that are also very important for the safety of our young athletes.

Juniors

Mini-hurdles - 2-3 parents each side to pick up the hurdles, plus 2-3 at each end to help the kids head back in the right direction, and in their lines ready to take another turn
Obstacle course - a parent at each mat to help with the forward-rolls and keep an eye out for safety, parents along the course helping with the equipment and encouraging the children to hop on the moon hoppers, slalom round the cones, and step into each space in the ladder rope
Sprints - help keep the kids in their lines, or be at the finish and get them heading back to the start
Jumping - raking the sand, keeping everyone lined up and moving through their jumps
Throws - every line needs a ‘line helper’, keeping space for the thrower and the kids ready to go, plus help the thrower. We also need 2-3 parents to pick up the equipment and return to the thrower.
Egg & spoon and relays - parents with each line helping keep the event moving through and not having the children crowd up too much.

Seniors

Discus and shot-put - we must have 2-3 parents in the field picking up the discus and shotputs. This is really important for safety
Long-jump - grab a rake or help with measuring
High-jump - 1 parent each side of the high jump to lift the bar back on or move it up
Running events - keeping the athletes lined up, quiet for the start, and not crowding the start line

If you’re on duty, check in with a Committee member who’ll assign you a specific task such as handing out ribbons, or helping with an Age Group.

Age Group Leaders

Every age group requires 1-2 parent leaders to look after the group for the season. Thanks to the wonderful parents who help out with these important roles.

Juniors

Children to be seated behind age number.

Tick off roll and record handicap on hand.

Look at the map for the night and see which event you’re starting at.

The hooter will sound at 4.45pm for Club messages. Please try and keep the children quiet so parents can hear everything.

Carry the folder with you from event to event. There are instructions for each event in your folder.

Move quickly to each event when you hear the hooter/ whistle – just follow the numbers on your map.

One ‘Athlete of the Week/Day’ ribbon is to be awarded at each event, other than the track. These are to be awarded for things like good behavior, sportsmanship, helpfulness, effort etc. Please try to share these round week to week.

Format at the track

When you get to the track, sort your group into heats of equal numbers.
Seat the athletes behind the cones approx. 2m back from the track.
When called by the starter, position each child in their lane at the line appropriate to their handicap. Each square marked on the track counts for a 11 handicap – eg Scratch (Sc) is at the beginning, a 2 handicap is 2 square up, a 4 handicap is 4 squares up etc.
After the handicap race, athletes need to come back down outside the track and be seated ready for their scratch race.

At the end of your last event, please collect all the gear at your events and bring it back to the Club shed.

Seniors

Your age group folder will have the Club night programme, and a recording sheet for results/ places. Early in the season the focus is on coaching and improvement.

There is extra help provided during the Senior Club champs which run over a number of Club nights at the end of the season.