Te Atatu Athletics Club

Start time
Children and families should arrive at Ramlea Park before 6pm. At 6pm children line up in age groups and will participate in their age group. Ages are as at 31 Dec.

Parent help
Parents are assigned to various tasks on club night. It may be at the discus or long jump or it may be marshalling children at the run start. One of the key tasks is being an age group co coordinator. This involves checking off the attendance for a particular age, and then taking responsibility in leading the children to their events and getting them ready to participate. Many parents are needed to make each club night successful. Committee members are at the work stations to give instructions on how to run the event and teach the kids new skills.

Activities for 4-5 year olds
Children 4-5 years participate in 50m then GET SET GO activities/games in the centre field . They finish around 7pm.

Children who learn fundamental running, jumping and throwing movement skills acquire a strong foundation for participation in all sports and physical activities.

To help prepare your child for an active life, Te Atatu Athletics provide GET, SET, GO activites and games that will make it more fun and build good athletic skills

Activities for 6 years

We run a modified READY SET GO for 6 year olds. This is building on the event in GET SET GO and putting them into practice.

Activities for 7 years +
Children 7 years + participate in 3 or 4 events, plus a skill drill/activity. The 3-4 events differ each week and can be found on the notice board on the shed wall. Children will also participate in a range of game-based fun activities designed to develop fundamental movement skills.

7 yrs : 3-4 events each night from 60m,100m,long jump,high jump, shot put,discus,hurdles,relays, plus a skills drill/activity
8 and 9 yrs: 3 -4 events each night from 60m,100m,200m,300m,long jump,high jump,shot put,discus,hurdles, relays, plus a skills drill/activity
10 yrs + : 3 -4 events each night from 60m,100m,200m,300m,800m,1500,long jump,high jump,shot put,discus,hurdles, relays, plus a skills drill/activity

The skills drill/activity is when children learn and practice techniques such as crouch start for sprinting, or scissors technique for high jump, and they get lots of intensive practice with all the wonderful gear we have. Practising these skills enables the children to develop their body awareness, balance, and strength, such as jumping off one foot over ropes for long jump, or pushing a ball for shot put.

The skills drill/activity usually comes before one of the events which uses that skill, so the children go to that part of the field where the following event is. For example,the jumping skills are before the high jump; the throwing skills are before the discus event, and running skills are before the sprints.

Each group of children has an age group co-ordinator who takes the group to each event or skills session. Each age group co-ordinator carries around a clipboard with the children's names and results sheet.

Age group co ordinators are encouraged to engage the children in "follow the leader" hopping or a quick game or relay nearby which will reinforce their skills.We want the children to be involved and active throughout their time, with maximum participation and learning and fun.

We appreciate the help from parents and family members and the enthusiasm shown! Our club is run by some keen parents who may or may not have had any athletics experience.

Getting involved in community events and fully participating in your child's activity is enriching and rewarding. It is a chance to meet others in the community and help make the event more enjoyable for your child.

There a number or roles that parents and whanau are expected to help with each club night. At registration we will be asking how you can help.

Discipline
Please keep an eye on your children and step in when you see behaviour that is not acceptable. Event co-ordinators may ask your child to step aside or even leave if we see unacceptable behaviour.