Welcome to Matamata Athletic Club Building confidence, friendships and lifelong skills through athletics Matamata Athletic Club welcomes our athletes and families back for the 2026/2027 season! We are a community-focused, social athletics club run by a dedicated committee, volunteers, coaches and student leaders. Our goal is to create a welcoming environment where children can learn, develop and have fun — without putting pressure on parents to keep the club running.

Since the 2024/2025 season, we have operated as a non-affiliated club with Athletics New Zealand, allowing us to focus on creating a sustainable, community-based model that works for our athletes and families. Our focus is simple: Give it a go. Build confidence. Be active. Have fun.

Our Programmes Mini Club | Ages 2–5 5:30pm – 6:05pm

Our Mini Club is all about learning through movement and play. Our Run, Jump, Throw programme helps our youngest athletes develop:

• Coordination and balance
• Agility and movement skills
• Confidence and independence
• Social skills and friendships
• Listening and participation skills
• A sense of belonging

Most importantly, our Minis get to have fun, try new things and enjoy being active in a supportive environment.

Athletics | Ages 6–14 6:10pm – 7:30pm

Our 6+ programme provides a structured introduction to a range of athletics events, including:

• Sprints
• Long-distance running
• Shot put
• Discus
• Long jump
• High jump

Athletes are supported to learn, practise and develop their technique, while building endurance, consistent and confidence. We encourage our athletes to step outside their comfort zones, try new experiences and challenge themselves — with the focus on beating their own personal best rather than competing against others.

Athletics provides an excellent foundation for almost every sport, developing speed, strength, coordination, agility and endurance, while also teaching children valuable life skills such as perseverance, confidence and resilience.

NEW FOR 2026/2027

This year we are excited to introduce an optional development session for our 6+ athletes.

While Mini Club is running from 5:30pm, Ethan Wallace will lead our 6+ athletes through a dedicated development session focusing on:

• Strength and agility
• Stamina and running drills
• Athletic development

The session is optional, included in your registration and has no additional cost.

It is designed for athletes who are comfortable listening, participating and learning within a larger group.

Club Champions Are Back!

We are excited to bring back Club Champions for our 6+ athletes!

Term 4 2026 — Training & Development

Term 4 will focus on learning and developing skills across:

• Track events
• Shot put
• Discus
• High jump
• Long jump

We will also recognise the things that make a great athlete and club member, including attendance, sportsmanship and mana.

Term 1 2027 — Championship Time!

Official measurements will be recorded for throws and jumps, and races will be timed. At our end-of-season prize giving, 1st, 2nd and 3rd place medals will be awarded in each age group based on overall performances.

Our Club Champions programme is about more than winning — it is about setting goals, seeing improvement and celebrating what each athlete can achieve.

More Than Athletics

At Matamata Athletic Club, we believe athletics is about much more than running, jumping and throwing. It’s about watching a child try something they’ve never done before. It’s about seeing them discover they can jump further, run faster or throw further than they thought possible. It’s about learning to keep going when something is difficult. It’s about building confidence, friendships, independence, resilience and a sense of belonging along the way.

Every athlete has their own starting point. Every personal best is worth celebrating. Every child deserves the opportunity to give it a go.

Thank you, Matamata! Our club wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of our athletes, families, volunteers, student leaders, coaches, sponsors and committee members.

Thank you for continuing to support community athletics and for helping us create opportunities for our tamariki. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to the field for another season of running, jumping, throwing, learning, growing and having fun! Bring on the 2026/2027 season!

Ngā mihi,

Matamata Athletic Club Committee