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Little Athletics
Little Athletics is an Australian activity program that involves modified athletics events for children aged 3 to 16 in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia 3 to 15 in Victoria; and 3 to 14 in Tasmania. According to Little Athletics' 2021–2022 annual report regarding the 2021–2022 financial year, it was estimated that more than 150,000 kids participated in the program for that financial year.
The competitions were founded by Trevor Billingham, a young Australian athletics enthusiast from Geelong, Victoria, in 1964. By 1967, there were more than 35 Little Athletics clubs in Victoria, and the decision was made to start the Victorian Little Athletics Association (VLAA).
Soon after the formation of the VLAA, other states expressed interest in Little Athletics. In February 1968, a year after the formation of the VLAA, Western Australia held its first Little Athletics meet at Perry Lakes Stadium. In 1972, the states of Victoria, New South Wales, Northern Territory and Western Australia became the founding members of The Australian Little Athletics Union (ALAU), which was formed in Perth. By 1974, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and Queensland had all joined the ALAU.
Available Little Athletics events vary between age groups and from state to state. The following represents the range of events available.
Under the independent governing body, Little Athletics Australia (LAA), each state and territory has its own association which is responsible for running Little Athletics in that state. Each state body controls the relevant centres and events in their state or territory. Clubs are the base level of the Little Athletics structure. Centres might house just one Little Athletics club or a number of clubs, with each club informing their own members of upcoming events. Training areas and facilities might be shared or separate.
In October 1963, three young boys turned up at a senior athletics meet in Geelong, Victoria. They approached official Trevor Billingham, but Billingham turned them away citing their youth as a reason for them not to be allowed to compete. A few months later, Billingham held a coaching camp for secondary school students. His camp had a lot of primary school students in attendance.
Billingham decided to set up a Saturday competition for younger children. The first competition was on 3 October 1964, in Geelong. Billingham had advertised the event in the Geelong Advertiser by saying:
"Also starting this Saturday, will be the special morning meeting for boys and girls. These will commence at 10:30 a.m. each Saturday and will be open to any school age competitor. It is intended that boys and girls not old enough to compete in the afternoon will take part in these special meetings. Anyone interested in the sport may attend, including parents, while the one-hour of athletics is conducted. All of the standard athletic events will be conducted and boys and girls will be graded in each event."
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Little Athletics
Little Athletics is an Australian activity program that involves modified athletics events for children aged 3 to 16 in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia 3 to 15 in Victoria; and 3 to 14 in Tasmania. According to Little Athletics' 2021–2022 annual report regarding the 2021–2022 financial year, it was estimated that more than 150,000 kids participated in the program for that financial year.
The competitions were founded by Trevor Billingham, a young Australian athletics enthusiast from Geelong, Victoria, in 1964. By 1967, there were more than 35 Little Athletics clubs in Victoria, and the decision was made to start the Victorian Little Athletics Association (VLAA).
Soon after the formation of the VLAA, other states expressed interest in Little Athletics. In February 1968, a year after the formation of the VLAA, Western Australia held its first Little Athletics meet at Perry Lakes Stadium. In 1972, the states of Victoria, New South Wales, Northern Territory and Western Australia became the founding members of The Australian Little Athletics Union (ALAU), which was formed in Perth. By 1974, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and Queensland had all joined the ALAU.
Available Little Athletics events vary between age groups and from state to state. The following represents the range of events available.
Under the independent governing body, Little Athletics Australia (LAA), each state and territory has its own association which is responsible for running Little Athletics in that state. Each state body controls the relevant centres and events in their state or territory. Clubs are the base level of the Little Athletics structure. Centres might house just one Little Athletics club or a number of clubs, with each club informing their own members of upcoming events. Training areas and facilities might be shared or separate.
In October 1963, three young boys turned up at a senior athletics meet in Geelong, Victoria. They approached official Trevor Billingham, but Billingham turned them away citing their youth as a reason for them not to be allowed to compete. A few months later, Billingham held a coaching camp for secondary school students. His camp had a lot of primary school students in attendance.
Billingham decided to set up a Saturday competition for younger children. The first competition was on 3 October 1964, in Geelong. Billingham had advertised the event in the Geelong Advertiser by saying:
"Also starting this Saturday, will be the special morning meeting for boys and girls. These will commence at 10:30 a.m. each Saturday and will be open to any school age competitor. It is intended that boys and girls not old enough to compete in the afternoon will take part in these special meetings. Anyone interested in the sport may attend, including parents, while the one-hour of athletics is conducted. All of the standard athletic events will be conducted and boys and girls will be graded in each event."