Who can participate in Little Athletics?
What age group will my child be in?
What level of ability do children have to be to join?
Can we try out before registering?
At what time of year does Little Athletics take place?
When do you hold your home meet events?
How many events do you run at each meet?
What is the expected code of behaviour for officials, parents & athletes?
What if I have two or more children in different age groups?
Will my child be taught the correct technique or have access to coaching?
What incentives do you provide for the athletes?
What is your hot weather policy?
What is your wet weather policy?
What is Little Athletics?
Little Athletics is a uniquely Australian modified athletics program for children from 3 to 17 years based upon the sport of athletics (track and field). There is a wide range of events from running, jumping, throwing and walking and events are modified to suit the age, developmental stage and ability of the children.
Little Athletics promotes that it is important to “Be your Best” ®. The emphasis is on fun, participation, performance, technique and getting involved with your family in physical and healthy activity. The motto of Little Athletics is ‘Family, Fun and Fitness”.
Across Australia, more than 100,000 girls and boys enjoy the activities of Little Athletics. Little Athletics is the “Foundation for all Sports”. All sports use the skills developed at Little Athletics.
Who can participate in Little Athletics?
The Tiny Tots program is for children aged 3 to 5 years old. Individual Age Groups are held for Under 6 to Under 17 year olds. Parents, grandparents and friends are encouraged to be involved by helping with the various events.
What age group will my child be in?
Athletes must participate in groups determined by their age at the 31st of December. Age groups range from Tiny Tots (3 to 5 years olds) and Under 6 to Under 17 in both boys and girls. Athletes cannot go up or down an age group for any reason – proof of age may be requested.
What level of ability do children have to be to join?
Our emphasis is on Family, Fun & Fitness. Children can join with any level of skill or fitness. Children are given plenty of encouragement to achieve personal bests (PB’s). Little Athletics recognises that children vary widely in shape, size and athletic ability, and thus is one of few sports that successfully caters for all.
What are the costs?
Registration, covering a full year’s membership is:
Age Groups u6-u17 Membership:
- $215 1st Child
- $210 2nd Child
- $200 3rd Child
- $180 4th Child
- Request pricing for more than 4 children
Tiny Tots Membership:
- $200 1st Child
- $195 2nd Child
- $185 3rd Child
- $165 4th Child
SALAA Family Rebates available to families who register 3 or more athletes in the same season. Families will need to submit a form to apply for the rebate. Payment of the Rebate to the original payment method to be processed within 10 business days of approval. The Rebates provided are:
- $30 rebate for 3rd athlete only.
- $60 rebate for the 4th athlete.
This registration also covers the winter season.
This registration does not cover the costs of SALAA hosted events.
Note: Hills LAC has a NO CANCELLATION fee policy.
Can we try out before registering?
Provided your child(ren) have not participated in Little Athletics previously, you may elect a “Come and Try” option before they register. Results and attendance are not recorded until athletes are registered members.
If you are looking to Come and Try, register online for a Come and Try , you are required to set up a family profile and then you can click on the come and option in the top heading.
How do I register my child?
All registrations are to be completed via the resultsHQ site for all South Australian Little Athletic Clubs.
Start by creating a family profile. Add your athlete’s season registration to your cart and continue through to payment.
Payment is completed online at the time of registering.
Little Athletics South Australia (LASA) is a registered provider for sports activities and accepts Sports Vouchers. You will be prompted for the sports voucher discount during the online registration.
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At what time of year does Little Athletics take place?
Little Athletics is primarily a summer activity, generally running from October through to end of March. Our first Sunday meet is on October 13th, commencing 9am. Please refer to our Season Calendar for a schedule of meets.
Cross Country is held during the winter months, taking place from May to the end of July.
Where are the meets held?
Hills LAC home meetings are held at Heathfield High School Oval, Hender Road, Heathfield.
When do you hold your home meet events?
Hills LAC home meetings are held Sunday mornings, commencing at 9:00am for approximately 2 hours, depending on the age group and program. The season typically runs from the October through to the end of March.
Please refer to our Season Calendar for a schedule of meets.
How many events do you run at each meet?
Depending on the age group, 5 to 6 events are run at each meet, covering a variety of both track and field events. Athletes need to complete 3 events at each meet to qualify as an attendance.
Please refer to our Program page for listing of events per age group.
What events are offered?
Little Athletes will generally do a range of athletic (track and field) events in any given weekly program. Some of the events include: Sprints, Hurdles, Middle Distance, Race Walking, Relays, Shot Put, Discus, Javelin, Long Jump, Triple Jump, and High Jump. Please note that some events have age restrictions on them.
Safety and fun are of the utmost importance at Little Athletics; hence equipment is modified to suit the age and developmental stage of the athletes. For example, it may be lighter (e.g. discus), made from modified materials (e.g. foam javelins, or elastic high jump bar), or of a smaller height (e.g. hurdles), to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our Little Athletes.
Click for details on the Rules and Regulations.
What is the expected code of behaviour for officials, parents & athletes?
As an affiliated member of the LASA, the Hills LAC is bound by the association Codes of Behaviour.
What is expected of parents?
Firstly, it is expected a parent or guardian is in attendance at each meet.
The main roles for parents are Cheer Squad (positive, realistic supporter) and Manager (organising the athlete to be present at the correct time and place with the appropriate clothing, drinks, etc.).
Little Athletics is a totally voluntary sport, Hills LAC cannot operate without the assistance of parents and other adult volunteers each week in fulfilling the many and varied duties required. These include officiating at an event; managing an age group; recording results; working in the canteen; just to name a few. Additional assistance is always required on the Committees and all parents are encouraged to become involved. Little Athletics is one of the few sports where parents can become fully involved in their child’s sporting interests.
To ensure new parents or individuals feel confident to help at their Centre, Little Athletics SA have produced a Parent Handbook. The handbook aims to provide basic information about all the events that make up the weekly program at most Centres.
Please refer to the Assistance page for further details.
What if I have two or more children in different age groups?
The first week is a good time to have a look and to help with both groups, by going from one group to the other. Each age group has a chaperone parent each week plus at least two or three parents helping with putting children in order, measuring, raking, collecting discus and shot-puts, adjusting the high jump bar etc.
What coaching do you provide?
Coaching is held Tuesday nights, Field 4:30 – 5:30pm and Running 5:30 – 6:30pm.
Please refer to our Development page for further details.
Will my child be taught the correct technique or have access to coaching?
Hills LAC provides weekly coaching sessions to assist athletes with the development of their athletic skills.
For the older athlete that wishes to take their athletics to the next level there is opportunity through the Junior Development Squads held by LASA (Squad LA and Star Squad).
For the parent or older athlete, a wide range of coaching and officials courses, at all levels, are offered around the State to help advance your knowledge and skills.
Please refer to pages under our Development page for further details.
What uniform should be worn?
Hills LAC requires ALL registered athletes to wear correct uniform to all events held by the Centre and when competing at inter-club or Association events.
Uniforms are available to be purchased at home meets during the summer season. Uniforms are able to be purchased by completing the Uniform Order Form, making payment via EFT and emailing a copy of the completed form to: info@hlac.org.au. Uniforms will then be available to be collected at a home meet as soon as possible, after confirmation of payment. You will be advised of any issue with payment and/or stock availability.
Please note that correct uniform is most important at LASA run events where disqualification may occur if incorrect uniform is worn.
For more uniform detail please visit our Uniform page.
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What incentives do you provide for the athletes?
Hills LAC has awards for personal bests, attendance, centre best performances, most improved, centre best champions, cross country champion and life memberships.
For further details please refer Awards page.
What is your hot weather policy?
Sunday meetings will commence at 8.00am when the Bureau of Meteorology forecast at 6:00pm on the Saturday for the Sunday is 38⁰C or above at Mt Barker. Coaching will be cancelled when the Bureau of Meteorology forecast at 6:00pm on the Monday for the Tuesday is 38⁰C or above at Mt Barker.
What is your wet weather policy?
Sunday morning meetings at Heathfield will RARELY be cancelled due to inclement weather; a modified program will be run. Meetings will be cancelled due to Thunderstorm activity. Please note that it is up to parents and athletes to decide if they want to compete in the rain.
Who are you affiliated with?
We run under the umbrella of the South Australian Little Athletics Association.
How do we contact you?
Email info@hlac.org.au
Who is on the committee?
Please refer to our Committee page.