A WORD ABOUT OUR CENTRE

This is a new venture in our district started in 2003, and is still a learning experience for all concerned. In particular we will be striving to keep each competition night within a time limit of two to two and half hours. Fun and learning through the participation of many is our objective.

To achieve this we will employ the following strategies and seek your co-operation and understanding at all times:

• Volunteers will be appointed to supervise small groups within an age group
• Volunteers will be appointed to a group that includes their own child
• The same volunteers will not be required to supervise each week
• For the first 3 or 4 weeks the programme of events will remain largely the same until all are comfortable with the overall routines
• We will consult with parents to make any suggested improvements in the methods of operation
• We do not intend to burden you with fund raising through a multitude of raffles. Please support the canteen so that additional fund raising is kept to a minimum. Prices at the canteen will be less than normal shop prices.

Most centres charge a refundable volunteer fee ranging from $20 to $50. We have chosen not to do this and trust that the required voluntary assistance will be forthcoming.

SAFETY AND DUTY OF CARE

We all have responsibility not to endanger others by our actions. Whilst your child is competing they will be in the care of the appointed officials. Encourage your child to be attentive to instructions. You should also ensure that they have an adequate supply of water to avoid heat stress and to observe sun safe practices. Read more about this on page 42 of the QLAA Year Book. A first aid kit will be available in case of injury.

Groups of children will be constantly moving between event stations. Younger siblings and children temporarily not competing remain your responsibility and should be in your control at all times.

• No one is to enter the track or field event locations unless requested to do so by an appointed official
• Please read the codes of conduct at page 10 of the QLAA Year Book issued to you at registration

COACHING

As soon as we have settled in to our Friday evening routines we will organise coaching times suitable to all concerned for the various age groups. Grants are available to finance the full cost of coaching courses and parents who are interested in gaining a qualification will be fully supported at no cost to themselves.

HOW WILL IT ALL WORK?

OUR AIM IS TO INVOLVE AS MANY PARENTS AS POSSIBLE TO REDUCE WAITING TIMES AND TO ACHIEVE OUR GOAL OF “FUN THROUGH LEARNING AND PARTICIPATION”.

To your committee participation means being involved with your child rather than standing in one place performing a tedious task whilst your child is performing elsewhere. How will this be achieved?

• Within each age bracket, groups of 12 athletes will be accompanied by 2 marshals. Marshal No. 1 will accompany the group to the start area of each event. Marshall No. 2 will go to the finish area to record performances.
• 6 timekeepers will accompany each age bracket to time/measure performances and will pass these to Marshall No. 2 to be recorded on each athletes record.
• When each group of 12 in an age group has completed the first event, all competitors together with the 2 marshals and the 6 timekeepers will move to the next event start area.
• If we assume that an age bracket (say under 8s) has 33 competitors, they will be formed into groups as follows:
  · Group 1 x 12 athletes with 2 marshals
  · Group 2 x 12 athletes with 2 marshals
  · Group 3 x 9 athletes with 2 marshals
  · 6 timekeepers for the 3 groups

Note that the groups will contain boys and girls but they will run in separate races.

So a group of 33 athletes will be accompanied by 12 officials. It should not be difficult to have 12 parents volunteering from a group of 33 children. Other parents following the group can interchange with the first volunteers as each event is completed. Normally, there would not be more than 5 events per meeting and each event should be completed in 20 to 30 minutes.

Now let’s look at the 70 metre sprint and put our theory into practice. If we assume that the track has 6 lanes each group will need two races to complete the event. That’s a total of 6 races for the age bracket. Since the third group only has 9 competitors the start marshal will send 5 athletes in the first race and 4 in the second. Groups 1 and 2 would have 6 starters for each of the two races. Allowing 3 minutes for each race means that the whole group will complete the event in less than 20 minutes.

Athletes who wish to leave a group (perhaps for a toilet break or a drink) should be accompanied by another parent and returned as quickly as possible to the marshals in charge.

Now let’s follow the group to a field event, the shot put. We will provide two shot put areas. So our group of 33 becomes two groups of 17 and 16. Each child will have two consecutive throws. The first throw will be marked and the longest throw only will be measured. We estimate that this will take approximately 20 to 25 minutes to complete all throws. The two marshals will escort each child to and from the throwing areas and the timekeepers will peg and measure the throws and return the shot put to the throwing lines. The long jump and discus areas will also accommodate two groups at one time.

The voluntary tasks outlined above are not onerous and are easily shared. We will teach you how to use a stop watch and the correct methods of measuring distances and heights.

Finally, if you would like to volunteer as a committee member, if only for a couple of months, please step forward. Your help would be appreciated.