About Us 

East Derwent Little Athletics Centre is based at Weily Park Sports Centre, Bridgewater in Tasmania. Weily Park can be found first left past Midlands Highway/East Derwent Highway roundabout, if heading in a northerly direction behind the Midlands Highway Fruit & Vegetable Market.



What Areas Do We Cover?

The East Derwent Little Athletics Centre's membership comes from an extensive area including Old Beach, Gagebrook, Bridgewater, New Norfolk, Kempton, Brighton, Oatlands, Campania, Tea Tree, Pontville, Dromedary, Honeywood, Austins Ferry, Granton & Bagdad. We have had a steady growth in membership over the past several seasons with 229 registered children last season.



Centre Uniform?

Our centre uniform consists of a green and gold polo top (which can be purchased from the centre) and plain black shorts. We also have a number of other clothing items available for purchase, however these are optional. These include a green and gold spray jacket and a white printed t-shirt. For all prices and images of these items please visit the 'shop' tab.



When Do We Compete?

Little Athletics commences the first weekend in October and concludes mid March. We conduct weekly meets on a Saturday morning between 8:30am - 12.30pm. We also conduct the occasional twilight meet on a Friday night between 5:15pm - 8.30pm. Opportunities are also available throughout the season to compete against athletes from other Little Athletic Centres from all around Tasmania, bringing everyone together for a fun day of competition. If you are unable to attend a weekly meet, it doesn't matter because you don't compete in a team so you won't be letting anyone down.



What Is Little Athletics About?

Little athletics is all about "BEING YOUR BEST" & "FAMILY FUN & FITNESS".Little athletes are involved in running, jumping, throwing and walking events with the emphasis on improving their own personal best performances. Modified events ensure that all children can participate in the wide range of events that are available. Children must be between the ages of 5 & 14 as of the 1st October to be eligable to compete. East Derwent Little Athletics Centre also offers a Tiny Tots program for siblings of athletes who are between the ages of 3 - 4 as of the 1st October.



Age Groups?

There are ten different Age Groups for Little Athletics in Tasmania + a Tiny Tots program for children between the ages of 3 & 4. Below is a guide to which age group children will be in dependant on the year and month they were born in.

This is a guide for the 2011/2012 season.

Is It Expensive?

Athletes are permitted to compete in two meets before being required to register. Fees are small in comparison to many other sports and children receive a manual, ticketbook, badges, weekly tickets for the events they compete in, certificates, ribbons and provided they compete in Centre Championships at the end of the season, a trophy.



Parent Involvement!

Little athletics is unique in that the whole family can get involved. Parent help is always encouraged and required in order for Little Athletics to work. Tasks are simple and the Officials are always more than willing to show what has to be done. Simply look out for one of the many officials in yellow jackets or listen for announcements throughout the day.



History Of Little Athlics In Australia

Little Athletics evolved, like most voluntary community or organisations, through the mind and conscience of one man. Trevor Billingham following the pattern set by many pioneers in the field of community service, recognised a need and introduced an idea designed to meet that need. On an October day in 1963 three boys turned up at an athletics meeting in Geelong. They were ready to compete. On approaching an official they were told that they were too young to take part. The official was Trevor Billingham. The disappointment, evident in the boys, left a marked impression on his mind. The thought was temporarily forgotten. It came alive again several months later. At a coaching clinic designed for secondary school students it was noted that the majority of children were of primary school age.

Reminded of his earlier experience, Trevor Billingham had the gem of an idea. The answer to the need expressed in the children could be a simple Saturday morning competition. On the first Saturday of October 1964 … he met with a small group of children on a Geelong oval. They took part in a short program of running events. From that simple beginning, athletics for boys and girls developed at a phenomenal rate …. LITTLE ATHLETICS WAS BORN … AND ON THE MOVE.

Little Athletics created tremendous interest. By 1973 the Tasmanian Little Athletics Association was formed. Within five (5) years there was an Australian Little Athletics Union. Today, more than 80,000 children regularly participate at Little Athletics Centres in every State in Australia. This represents over 4 million children who have experienced the sport since its inception.



Aims & Objectives

The primary aim of Little Athletics is “the development of children, with emphasis on positive attitudes and a healthy lifestyle through family involvement in athletic activities”. It is an active recreation for children up to the age of 15 years. A wide range of running, jumping, throwing and walking events is conducted. Competition is graded so that children of similar age and ability compete with each other, and the emphasis is placed on participation and personal improvement rather than winning. The children and their parents belong to Little Athletics Centres which are affiliated with a State/Territory Association. Parents are involved in all aspects of the activity, as coaches, officials, administrators and spectators. They form the committees which administer Centres and conduct the weekly competition.

By encouraging children to participate in regular physical activity, Little Athletics helps them to lay the foundation for a healthy lifestyle; by involving the parents in all aspects of its activities, it provides opportunities for families to participate together and to share experiences; and by bringing so many children and parents together in an atmosphere of friendly co-operation it can benefit the whole community.



Philosophy

The philosophy of the Little Athletics movement is summed up in the slogan
“LITTLE ATHLETICS FOR…FAMILY...FUN...and…FITNESS”

The Family
One of the basic reasons for the continued development and enthusiasm generated by Little Athletics, has been the attempt to meet the needs of children as part of the family unit. Little Athletics is more than a sport. It is a community orientated organisation which enables the entire family to do something together. Parents are involved in the program as voluntary helpers or officials. They share in many experiences with the children. Little Athletics provides a vital communication bridge between parent and child. This link can have benefits far beyond the years spent in the Centre. Society has, increasingly, produced subtle and damaging pressures on family and community relationships. The FAMILY CONCEPT approach to programming counteracts those pressures.

Fun
All Children like fun … all children need fun. The weekly competition provides fun through participation, in an enjoyable sport, with friends in the same age group. There are special activity and novelty events; particularly for the younger children. A wide range of interesting and enjoyable FUN programmes are presented in the form of trips, camps and carnival events.

Fitness
The community has become increasingly aware of the value of physical fitness. A fit body can mean an alert mind and a decrease in the incidence of many physical ailments. Combined with FAMILY involvement…FITNESS can be … FUN in the happy environment of a Little Athletics Centre.



Australian Little Athletics (ALA)

Little Athletics is organised nationally through ALA. The policy making body of ALA is the committee which consists of two delegates from each affiliated State or Territory, together with an Executive comprising of a President, an Administration and Finance Director, a Competition and Standards Director and a Public Relations Director.

The Executive are elected every two years from nominations received from the affiliated Associations and voted on by each of the affiliated Associations. Affiliation with the ALA brings the following benefits to State/Territory Association (and hence to its members - the little athletes).

* ALA can negotiate with national sponsors and thus bring financial benefits to its member associations.

* ALA can make submissions to the Federal Government on behalf of all States and assist member associations for the betterment of Little Athletics.

* ALA provides a forum for member Associations to exchange ideas and information relation to administration, education, development, coaching etc.

* Membership of ALA enables a team from each State/Territory to represent it in the Australian Teams Championships.

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