RUN FOR FUN

Special Edition 2015

KATRINA WEBB OAM

A Word from the President Choice Hotel Discount Editorial

SILVER 2 GOLD TIPS FOR SUCCESS!

Championship News Coaches Corner License to Skill

As an Australian sporting legend, Katrina Webb is no stranger to a gold medal podium or a star-lit stage. She has received awards and medals most athletes only dream about. Despite this success, her journey hasn’t always been easy. Born into a family of sporting stars, it was no surprise that a young Katrina Webb was born with natural athleticism. By the age of eighteen, she had already secured a netball scholarship at The Australian Institute of Sport. What she didn’t realise at this time was that her sporting career was about to take an unexpected turn. During training at the Institute of Sport, Katrina was informed that she had a weakness in her right-hand side, which turned out to be a case of Cerebral Palsy. Katrina’s ability to pursue netball at a national level was now in jeopardy. Despite this, a twist of fate presented a previously unseen opportunity. Katrina was now eligible for the Paralympic Games. Her weakness had become her greatest strength. Over the years Katrina had tried to conceal her disability, so making the decision to compete at the very public Paralympics was not easy. In time, she realised that through self-acceptance and determination she could tackle her disability head on. This decision paid off when she won two athletics Gold medals (100 & 200m) and a Silver medal (Long Jump) in Atlanta 1996, and at Sydney 2000 went on to win two Silver medals (100m & 400m) and Bronze medal (200m). While the Sydney Paralympics were successful for Katrina, her competitive spirit still left her with a desire to win Gold again. She knew that to do this she needed to take ‘conscious action’ and become a ‘Gold’ level performer in every aspect of her life. In the four years between the Sydney and Athens Paralympics, Katrina mastered the alchemy of performance with a clear focus on understanding mindset, and the results speak for themselves. At Athens in 2004 she won another Gold Medal in the 400-metre sprint and set a new Paralympic record. Today, Katrina’s running career is in the past, but her passion for helping others perform at their best continues to be her greatest inspiration. Katrina is the founding Director of Silver 2 Gold High-Performance Solutions, and as a professional speaker she has impressed audiences at an International level. This includes speaking at the United Nations International Year of Sport in New York 2006. Due to her own experience in dealing with a disability and a desire to help others, Katrina is a passionate humanitarian. She is currently an ambassador for Childreach in Nepal who devises programmes for the Health, Education and Protection of children. In this role, she has formed strategic partnerships with various Australian organisations collectively raising over $25,000 to support aid in the wake of the devastating Nepalese earthquake in April 2015.

My Time at Little Athletics

3 4 5 6 8 10 12

Jetstar Winners 13 Letter Summer Holidays 14 Coaching Clinics Centre News 15 Find a Word 17 Special Points of Interest... •

Upcoming championships

•

What is a foam roller and how do you use it

•

Introducing Event Specific Skills Activities

Here are a few of Katrina’s tips to help perform at your best: 1. Aim for a PB in all that you do. 2. Set CLEAR & SPECIFIC GOALS. Develop a PROCESS to achieve your goals and follow it. 3. Using the 4 D’s can help you stay focused on your goals. Do the things that are important (your process), Delay, Delegate and Delete the things that are not important and that Distract you from your goals. 4. LEARN TO SAY ‘no’ to activities that are not in line with your goals. Find the time to do the little things that make the difference between silver and gold. 5. LEARN TO SAY YES to the opportunities that are aligned with your goals that put you out of your comfort zone. 6. When faced with an obstacle, assess the risks and challenges but focus on finding solutions and opportunities. 7. FOCUS on one task at a time, multi-tasking will lead to poorer performance. 8. SURROUND YOURSELF with a team of positive people that can give you honest and constructive feedback. 9. YOUR mind is a POWERFUL TOOL - learn how to use it well and you will achieve PB’s. 10. SCHEDULE ‘YOU’ TIME in each week to renew physically and mentally. Aim for 3 x 30 minute sessions. (1% of you time) 11. CELEBRATE DIFFERENCE - A current perceived weakness could become your next POINT OF DIFFERENCE AND STRENGTH.

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A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT...

NEIL SANDALL

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate four former LANSW (Little Athletics NSW) members and one current volunteer, on being inducted to the Jetstar Little Athletics Australia Roll of Excellence, at a gala dinner held on Saturday, 24 October at The Establishment Ballroom, Sydney. The master of ceremonies for the night was another former LANSW member, fellow Roll of Excellence inductee, coach, and now Little Athletics mum, Melinda Gainsford-Taylor. Congratulations to the well-deserved inductees for 2015: Maria McConville (volunteer); Nicole BoegmanStewart (track & field - long jump); Len & John Pearce (achievers - Justice Crew); and Sally Fitzgibbon (sportsperson - surfing). In November we held one of our major events for the season, the 2015 LANSW State Relay Championships. This event was held at Campbelltown Athletics Stadium, with approximately over 500 teams competing on each day of the junior and senior championships. As usual my thanks go to all LANSW officials and the centre helpers whose contributions made both days go smoothly, and a very special thank you to the team from the host centre, Campbelltown Collegians Little Athletics Centre. The move to Campbelltown from our regular State Relays venue at SOPAC (Sydney Olympic Park) was required due to the resurfacing of the tracks at SOPAC. With the warm-up track in dire need of a new surface and the main track scheduled to host the Rio Olympic Trials in April 2016, SOPAC took the decision to replace both tracks simultaneously starting in October 2015, with the work due to be completed by 31 January

2016. The new surface will be Rekortan M99, in a brand new colour scheme (blue), which is consistent with some of the best stadiums in the world. We look forward to holding our State Championships in March on the new blue track! As this newsletter is being circulated, all zones will also have been completed and the qualifiers for notified via the LANSW website. I wish the best of luck to everyone for their respective Region Championships in January/ February. To the 86 athletes (U11 and U12) travelling to Auckland in January for the Trans Tasman Tour, I also wish you the best of luck for the competition, but more importantly I hope that you enjoy the overall experience. Let me close by wishing all of our NSW Little Athletics family the compliments of the Season and continuing success in the remaining half of the 2015/2016 season. Till next time, Neil Sandall President

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With over 270 locations across Australasia, Choice Hotels are giving Little Athletics NSW Members 15% off their accommodation. Quote ID: 00231100 when booking your next stay.

For reservations call 1800 182 794 or visit choicehotels.com.au 4

editorial

The LANSW Member Connection Forum was held on Wednesday, 26 August at Parramatta RSL. As well as a chance for centres to question decisions, the Member Connection Forum is designed to further the knowledge of those in centre committees, similar to professional updating. Representatives of the Office of Sport and Recreation delivered a thought-provoking presentation entitled ‘Strategies for Future Growth’. This covered a centre health check, planning for the future and issues facing volunteers, beginning with the premise that “it is impossible to move forward if you have no idea where you are now”. The speakers identified common governance problems, the importance of an up-to-date centre constitution and rules, risk management obligations, and compliance obligations. Has your centre looked at their constitution since the change in the Associations Incorporation Act? If not now is the time to ensure that you comply with the Act and the model constitution developed by LANSW is a great place to begin. The advice was to keep the constitution simple and put all operational issues into by-laws or regulations. If your centre needs assistance please contact the office. The key risk management message was to identify, assess, act, develop a policy then communicate, monitor and review regularly. Remember that your centre committee has legal obligations under

the Act and to NSW Fair Trading, with which they must comply. Each centre should also be planning for their future to ensure that they are able to increase membership, raise funds, attract and retain volunteers and develop coaches and officials. Remember the KISS principle (keep it simple stupid) when planning and keep the plan relevant. A budget will allow you to see the financial consequences of your plan and will assist you in ensuring funds are available when needed. Volunteering increases people’s skills, self confidence/ esteem, health and happiness so…. why do many centres have difficulty attracting and keeping volunteers? Remember that volunteers like to be recognised and rewarded and so you need to develop systems within your centre that are appropriate for your customer base. Make volunteering easy by an induction system, welcome and clear position descriptions. Use social media, be open to breaking existing jobs into smaller jobs and reach out to sections of your community that are not involved, like those from different cultural backgrounds or people with a disability. All too often we keep our centres running ‘the way it has always been’ because it has worked in the past, however, planning for the future is the best insurance that your centre will continue growing and serving their community for the years to come.

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Championship News Trans Tasman

Congratulations to the athletes who have gained selection in the LANSW Trans Tasman Team. The Trans Tasman Challenge Match will be held in Auckland on Sunday, 17 January 2016. The touring party will leave for Auckland on Thursday, 7 January. Good luck to all of the U11 and U12 athletes.

State Relay Championships

Almost 1100 teams competed at the 2015 State Relay Championships. The junior day had 561 teams and the senior day 522. Due to the resurfacing at SOPAC (Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre), we held the carnival at Campbelltown Athletics Track. We were a little worried on the Friday whilst we were setting up in 40 degree heat, but following a cool change we were happy that the temperature dropped to the mid 20’s on both days. This was a very successful relay weekend, thanks to Campbelltown City Council and the hardworking Campbelltown Collegians Little Athletics personnel. A huge thanks is extended to them all. No calls worked really well with the program being fully timed. Athletes knew exactly when they needed to be at the call room and when their event would commence. All track events other than the 4 x 100m were conducted as timed finals which worked well again. Thank you to all of our officials who continue to do a great job. We received numerous positive comments from the many parents and spectators on the way in which the carnival was organised and run over the weekend. Congratulations to all of the athletes who were in teams that broke the current State Record. 12 team records were broken, with 6 being on the track and 6 in the field. These are: U8 Girls

Shot/Discus

Bankstown Sports

2503 pts

U10 Girls

Shot/Discus

Bankstown Sports

2548 pts

U11 Girls

Shot/Discus

Bankstown Sports

2692 pts

U11 Girls

4 x 100m

Manly Warringah

55.01s

Junior Boys

Middle Distance

Mosman

10:33.41

U12 Boys

Long/High

Wollongong City

3264 pts

U13 Boys

4 x 100m

Campbelltown Collegians

48.89s

U17 Boys

Shot/Discus

Parramatta

2946 pts

U17 Girls

Shot/Discus

Campbelltown Collegians

2556 pts

U17 Girls

4 x 100m

Manly Warringah

48.54s

Zone Championships

All 24 zone championships have now been held, with the majority held on the weekend of 11-13 December. We hope that all athletes had “FUN” at their zones, and achieved the results they were hoping for! The results have all now been posted in the Competition section of our website, as have the region qualifiers. For your information, the progression from zone to region is as follows: Regions with three zones will have four automatic places progress; regions with four zones will have three automatic places progress; and regions with two zones will have six automatic places progress through to their respective regions. Then a maximum of four next best qualifiers from each region will also be taken through to the respective regions, making a total of up to 16 athletes in each event at each region.

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Championship News State Multi-Event Championships

Entries for the State Multi-Event for athletes in the U7 to U17 age groups (to be held at DCL Park, Dubbo on Saturday & Sunday, 5 & 6 March 2016 are now open on our website. Entries will close on 3 February. Athletes can only enter online. Please click HERE to go directly to the ONLINE registration page. More information regarding this event will be updated and posted on the State Multi-Event page of our website as it comes to hand.

RoC (Rules of Competition)

The updated RoC has been posted on our website. Please click HERE to view and/or print.

State Championships Qualifying Standards – 1500m Walks, 3000m & High Jump A maximum qualifying time for 1500m walk events for boys and girls are as follows: U12 11.00min U13 10.45min U14 10.30min U15 10.15min U17 10.00min A maximum qualifying time for 3000m races for boys and girls are as follows: U13 13.30min U14 13.00min U15 12.30min U17 12.00min Athletes who cannot complete their 1500m walk or 3000m run within these time limits, at regional carnivals, irrespective of placings (including any auto qualifiers), will not be considered for progression to the State Track & Field Championships. Athletes who cannot attain the state minimum starting height for high jump in the relevant age group (see Rules of Competition, Section D) at regional carnivals, irrespective of placings (including any auto qualifiers), will not be considered for progression to the State Track & Field Championships.

Qualification to Zone, Region & State • • • • •

In age groups up to U12, no competitor will compete in more than four events (excluding relays). In age groups U13 - U17, no competitor will compete in more than six events (excluding relays). Zones to regions – automatic qualifiers vary and are based on the number of zones in the region. Region to state – two automatic qualifiers per region = 16, then LANSW selects the next best eight clear final performances from all regions, to a maximum of 24 athletes in each event. One Relay team per region.

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Coaches Corner What Is a Foam Roller, How Do I Use It, and Why Does It Hurt?

http://breakingmuscle.com/mobility-recovery/what-is-a-foam-roller-how-do-i-use-it-and-why-does-it-hurt?page=0,0

Self-myofascial release, also known as “foam rolling,” has transformed from a once mysterious technique used only by professional athletes, coaches, and therapists to a familiar everyday practice for people at all levels of fitness. Recent information, technology, and affordable products have introduced an increasing array of training and recovery methods to the average person. Self-myofascial release is a fancy term for self-massage to release muscle tightness or trigger points. This method can be performed with a foam roller, lacrosse ball, or your own hands. By applying pressure to specific points on your body you are able to aid in the recovery of muscles and assist in returning them to normal function. Normal function means your muscles are elastic, healthy, and ready to perform at a moment’s notice.





Calf bottom

Calf top

Do I Have Tight Muscles or Trigger Points?

Trigger points are specific “knots” that form in muscles. They are unique and can be identified because they will refer pain. Pain referral, for our purposes, can most easily be described as the pain felt when pressure is applied to one area of the body, but the pain is felt or radiated in another area. A common example of a trigger point is felt while foam rolling your iliotibial (IT) band as it causes pain to radiate up to the hip or all the way down the leg to the ankle. When rolling or working on tight/sore muscles you will experience discomfort or pain. Think of it like the pain you get while stretching. It should be uncomfortable, but not unbearable, and when you are done it should feel better.



Chest - front delt

Lats

Why Am I Doing Something That Hurts?

For many, deep tissue massage is easy to understand. Ideally someone is able to work out the knots in your muscles, and it is commonly known this process may be uncomfortable and at times painful. Self-myofascial release provides the user the ability to control the healing and recovery process by applying pressure in precise locations, because only you can feel exactly what is happening.

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It is always recommended to consult with your physician or physical therapist for therapeutic/sharp pain and receive approval before starting self-myofascial release. For most people you will be cleared immediately and your doctor will encourage the practice. Releasing trigger points helps to re-establish proper movement patterns and pain free movement, and ultimately, to enhance performance. Utilizing stretching alone is not always enough to release muscles tightness, which is why foam rollers have thrived on the mass market. Imagine a bungee cord with a knot tied into it and then envision stretching the cord. This creates tension, stretching the unknotted portion of the muscle and the attachment points. The knot, however, has remained unaltered. Foam rolling can assist in breaking up these muscle knots, resuming normal blood flow and function. The goal to any corrective or recovery technique is to get you back to the point of normal functioning, as if nothing was ever wrong. When was the last time you trained like you were a teenager, going hard without a second thought, and injuries were something that only happened due to physical trauma like a 250lb linebacker hitting you?



Hip adductor



Hip flexor

Hip extensor - glute

Inner quad

What Causes Trigger Points and Tight Muscles?

Both have the same contributing factors including training, flexibility, movement patterns, posture, nutrition, hydration, rest, stress, and other lifestyle factors. Our bodies learn to compensate for what we throw at them every day, but we can exceed our ability to recover via too many intense workouts, poor posture, and other lifestyle factors. This is when you need assistance using recovery techniques or through seeing a professional. If you lived a perfect life with everything in balance, you would theoretically never have either of these conditions, however I’ve yet to meet that person.

How Does Self-Myofascial Release Work?

Deep compression helps to break up or relax tight muscles and adhesions formed between muscle layers and their surroundings. Imagine you are tenderizing your own muscles. They should be soft and supple like a baby’s muscles. However, if our muscles are not taken care of properly we can experience loss of flexibility, adhesions, and painful movement. The deep compression of self-myofascial release allows normal blood flow to return and the restoration of healthy tissue. The body naturally wants to be healthy and strong, but sometimes an extra boost is needed to achieve optimal muscle and tissue health.



IT band bottom

T band top

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E S N E LIC ILL K S O T

Introducing Event Specific Skills Activities

Whether you are a coach, age manager, teacher, parent, or if you work with kids in any capacity at Little Athletics, introducing skill activities to your program can be easy. Whatever you do, MAKE IT FUN! These three words contain possibly the most important piece of advice that can be given when working with kids and young athletes. Unfortunately, conventional athletics training and skills teaching is often associated with formality and monotony – a great way to demotivate young people! Don’t expect children to have the same attitude to training as an adult – they rarely will. It is generally difficult for children to motivate themselves to perform practice unless there is an immediate or very short-term “reward”. One reward that coaches can offer is fun, and the answer is games. Games disguise work as play and can be used as skill development activities for Little Athletics events. During a centre night or training session, skills activities can be conducted as: • a warm-up activity prior to an event • during the event to keep young athletes busy and motivated • a down-time activity, or basic time filler whilst waiting for the next event/activity • a general event activity or highlighting a specific skill to be learnt Please be aware: • These activities can be done with all ages but need to be specifically modified to cater for the younger/ middle/older age groups. • You do not need to be coach to teach skills. Skills are components of the movement (e.g. pushing an object) and most people can teach this via games such as captain ball. A coaches role is then to link each skill to perform the desired pattern. • These activities need to be short, sharp, specific, and relatively challenging (but achievable) to ensure participants stay motivated. Next time you are conducting a session for a group of young athletes, at its conclusion, ask them what they most enjoyed. Don’t be surprised if they answer: “the games”.

Activities: General Movement Shadow run up warm-up In groups of two or three children play “follow the leader” (while running) using vigorous and active movements, e.g. rolling, twisting, side stepping, zig zaging etc. Variation: • Blow the whistle to turn around and change leaders • Event specific movements, e.g. hopping, high knees, jumping

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Run Rabbits - Rats

Draw a line down the middle of the area being used and divide the group into two teams, the ‘Rabbits’ and the ‘Rats’. Players from each team partner up against a player from the other team and face them across the centre line, but standing in their respective halves. One foot of each player should be touching their opponent’s at the centre line. Explain that behind each team is a home base which if they reach they are safe from capture. If the leader calls out ‘rabbits’ this team becomes the chasing team and each rabbit has to catch their respective ‘rat’ partner before he/she reaches their home. If however the leader calls out ‘rats’ then the opposite happens and rats have to catch the rabbits. Each time a person is caught that team scores a point. Game ends when you like and the winning team is the team with the most points.

Jump Scissors Jump Relay

Development of scissors jumping action, using ground markers, low obstacle / skipping ropes. Make a large figure of 8 on the ground with markers. Place a low obstacle (or two skipping ropes) that can easily be ‘scissored’ at the intersection of the figure 8. Players line up at the top of the figure 8. Each player covers the figure 8 circuit, scissor jumping over the obstacle in the middle, before tagging the next runner. Players will need to use both left and right legs as their take off legs for this activity. ALTERNATIVE: This may be played as a follow-the-leader type activity, where up to six players go through at once, as long as measures are taken to avoid collisions in the middle.

Throw Objective: To experiment coordination during the throw Proposed situation: Make the participants throw various medicine-balls up vertically with the full action of the body. The beginner’s behaviour: Beginners often tend not to use their legs/feet during the throw (they keep the heels down to the ground). The throw is not precise and vertical because of a too pronounced movement from the trunk/arms (result: they complete a backward throw). Instructions for the exercise: • Look at the ball after the delivery (there is a risk of shock upon landing) • Use the whole body Noticeable points: • Regular vertical trajectory • Use of the whole body (of the ankles among others) • In the delivery phase, the whole body is in a vertical position • Normal position of the head (the eyes looking forward) during the throw Teaching progression: • Vary the height of the throws • Vary the throwing implements • Catch the throwing implements after the throw (cushioning) • Perform the throw with one hand • Move towards games

Safety: • Organization of the group (area) • Appropriate medicine-balls Equipment: • Medicine balls • Horizontal markers

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Resources: Kids Athletics http://www.iaaf.org/about-iaaf/documents/schoolyouth#iaaf-kids-youth-newsletter

Great Ides for Group Games Available for purchase from LANSW

MY TIME IN LITTLE ATHLETICS By Ben Carter – Manly Warringah Little Athletics My time in Little Athletics has exceeded my expectations and has been an amazing, life-changing experience. I’ve been partaking in Little Athletics for nine years now and that unfortunately means I only have two more years left until my Little Athletics journey is over. Whilst I am about to start my first year of U17s, it feels like just yesterday I was standing in line alongside seventy other Under7 boys at Manly Warringah Little Athletics Centre ready to begin my first-ever day of Little Athletics. Some of us were very talkative whilst others were very shy, nonetheless we were all keen and anxious to start running around. Little Athletics has given me many wonderful memories and several amazing opportunities, including being lucky enough to be a part of two Little Athletics NSW state teams. Although I have many outstanding memories from Little Athletics, my definite highlights would have to be making the state team as a 13 year old and then again as a 15 year old. The state teams are just the best experience ever, you learn so much, have so much fun and you make friendships that will last forever. Little Athletics has benefitted me immensely by teaching me many new things and changing my life forever. I have been shown how to be disciplined, to have good sportsmanship, to be motivated and passionate, and most importantly to have fun. One of the best things about participating in Little Athletics is that you have so much fun no matter what you’re doing. You also establish lifelong friends and create so many wonderful memories that will be cherished forever. My time in Little Athletics has been a life-changing experience and an amazing journey. I am so grateful for everything I’ve learnt and all the opportunities I’ve been given, and I wish I could do it all again!

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for cs NSW, SW and Jetstar N cs ti le Hi Little Athleti th A e tl e centre k you to Lit y recipients of th a very big than ck e lu iv g ry to ve e g n th ti s ri A We are w d Coast. k you to a very big than oliday to the Gol e h y ow il o m ls a fa e t n w , h was ce n our re mp’ photo, whic Jump competitio ‘ju r g a in St n r in a st w et e J th e submitted and to the entry in th rne in the photo tics Centre. They le bo ir th a A s e te tl le it L th A in Balma ing Little undreds of budd h e th to t en m a test made it possible. o h w ts n re a p e was of th our U14, Holly, ce creative talents n si rs ea y t h tre for eig y personal of Balmain cen we’ve seen man rs e, be m ti em t m a th en r be ve e have We’ve in the U11s. O ts. The things w n a en ov ev on ck D a tr ve a y n h a d timed m on through U6. We also s on participati ng jump pits an lo cu fo of s t it lo re a a d e ke tr bests, ra as well as lmain cen r personal best, ed about the Ba ei y jo th en ve y ie rl ch a a ul d ic n being well a part eir experience, d to have a go il th ch of y ss er le ev rd a g g in encourag help out re t for parents to en em g a ur co en their ittee. ily’s dedicated comm a by d te or is one of our fam p st p su oa C d ol G e thrill. Th no time. ay was a great there in next to id s ol u h ot is g th t h g ig in fl n r Holly win the heart the Jetsta issance, right in destinations and a y en a R id n ol ro h e ev it h C ry ur favo The unit was ve d staying at the . te ch a a ci be re p e p th a d ly n a excellent We certain nts, shops ready access to close to restaura h , it se w di d n ra a a , P n s ea a). er oc of Surf n beach and sp ic views of the ow m s a it or n h a it p w h te it le w p r pool com comfortable, beautiful outdoo a g in ud cl n (i facilities ost days. made use of it m e w , y sa a theme park. to to t ce si vi Suffi a t ou h it complete w nd learn old Coast is not ortunity to see a G p e op th e to th d ip n tr a s y hins is great ride Any famil telligence of dolp worth the visit – in l d el n w a s a sm w ci the ti ld le or Sea W good workout on eatures. The ath a cr s g a n se lu ul r if ou ut g a in World giv about some be g ride. o visited Movie ls a e W . g n ild West Falls lo zi W a e th on d truly am n a e) tre ky Coaster (twic tle Athletics Cen it L in a Scooby Doo Spoo lm a B d an) NSW an Little Athletics (Holly and Donov r, g a st in p et J m ju to d in n a a g g ue runnin So thanks a romise to contin p e W . y a id ). ol h for the edith and Kevin er (M g in m ti d n and raking a ovan , Holly and Don Meredith, Kevin

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COACHING & DEVELOPMENT DIARY

y a d i l o H r e Summ s c i n i l C g n i Coach Hunter Track C

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ssic Coaching C Hunter Region linic al Sports Centr e, Stockland D Glendale rive,

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Holiday Fun Academy of Sport Athletics VENUE: Sydney n Track, Narrabee 17 January 2016 DATE: Sunday, hletes only AGE: Under 8 at 2008) ct 2007-30 Sept O 1 : B O (D

Holiday Fun Ju

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(open to all mem ior Coaching Clinics bers and non-m embers to come and try) Bankstown AGE: U9-U11 (Eligibility: DOB 1 Oct 2004 and 30 Sep 2007) DATE: Thursday , 7 January 2016 VENUE: The C rest Athletics C entre, McClean Street, Bass Hill Parramatta AGE: U9-U11 (Eligibility: DOB 1 Oct 2004 and 30 Sep 2007) DATE: Friday, 22 January 2016 VENUE: Barto n Park, cnr of G ladst Webb Streets, North Parramatt one and a

For more information on any of these clinics, along with additional clinics that may be on offer, please check out our website by clicking here.

HTC Junior Clin ic AGE: U9-U11 (DOB 1 Oct 20 04 - 30 Sep 2007 DATE: Sunday, ) 31 January 2016 HTC High Jump Clinic with Mar k Taylor AGE: U12-U17 (DOB 1 Oct 19 98 - 30 Sep 2004 DATE: Sunday, ) 31 January 2016 HTC Discus/Sh ot Put Clinic w ith Christie Bak Jade Lally er & AGE: U12-U17 (DOB 1 Oct 19 98 - 30 Sep 2004 DATE: Sunday, ) 31 January 2016 HTC Javelin Clin ic with Kerry Sm ith AGE: U12-U17 (DOB 1 Oct 19 98 - 30 Sep 2004) DATE: Sunday, 31 January 2016

g Clinics e Senior Coachin embers to com bers and non-m (open to all mem and try)

Bankstown Oct 1998 ligibility: DOB 1 (E 17 -U 12 U AGE: 30 Sep 2004) , 7 January 2016 DATE: Thursday tre, McClean st Athletics Cen re C e Th E: U VEN Street, Bass Hill Parramatta Oct 1998 ligibility: DOB 1 (E 17 -U 12 U AGE: 30 Sep 2004) January 2016 DATE: Friday, 22 one & Webb Park, cnr Gladst n to ar B E: U VEN Parramatta Streets, North

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CENTRE NEWS

Manly Warringah Little Athletics Centre

Manly Warringah Little Athletics proudly congratulates Alex Willett on his selection to attend the Jetstar Little Athletics Australia 2015 U15 National Training Camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra in September. Alex was one of 140 elite athletes from around Australia, chosen by Little Athletics Australia to attend this prestigious camp, based on achieving the national qualification standard and state selection criteria. Alex is one of Manly Warringah Little Athletics’ most outstanding athletes, with the Multi-Event and all forms of jumps his speciality. The Year 9 student is a member of Manly club and has been with the Manly Warringah centre since the U8’s, where his skill was quickly apparent, winning the long jump at region in his first year. Since then, he has gone from strength to strength, building on his prodigious talent each year, with the assistance of some of Manly Warringah’s best coaches. State achievements include Gold in the MultiEvent from U10’s to U13’s, when he also won the triple jump, high jump and Silver in the long jump and javelin. He was also a member of the NSW State Team at the Australian Little Athletics Championships where he won Silver in long jump and Bronze in high jump. In U14s he won Gold in the long jump and Bronze in the triple jump at State Championships.

At Primary School level, Alex still holds multiple Primary School Zone PSSA records across 100m, 200m, long jump and discus. Other notable achievements include fifth in long jump and fourth in the Multi Event at Nationals in 2011; Silver in long jump and Multi Event at Nationals in 2012. 2014 was a stellar year for Alex and saw him add a swag of awards to an already pretty full trophy cabinet. In Senior Athletics he won the State Junior U14 jumps treble, javelin and Combined Events Championship. At Australian Juniors he won the jumps treble and Silver in javelin. He won Gold in long jump and triple jump at the NSW All Schools Championships and Silver in the high jump. He followed this up with Gold in the Long Jump at the Australian All Schools Championship.. 2015 saw him win the State Juniors U15 triple jump and Silver in the Australian Juniors long jump and triple jump. When Alex has time for anything else, he plays AFL with Forest Lions, but athletics remains his main focus. Alex enjoyed working with some of Australia’s most elite coaches to hone his skills, as well as meeting other talented athletes from all over Australia, bringing his knowledge and experience home to the northern beaches centre.

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Bankstown Sports Little Athletics Centre

Here ia a photo of some happy young ladies from Bankstown Sports Little athletics, bonding as they start new friendships. Their discus event had just finished and they were taught that they are all winners as long as they have each other. Team Manager Andrew Ayoub thinks it’s very important that each young lady walks away with a smile. Happiness will be their greatest gift in life.

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRIS TMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR! Little Athletics NSW would like to wish all Little Athletes and their family members a wonderful and joyful Christmas, and a Happy New Year! The Little Athletics NSW office will be closed from midday on Tuesday, 22 December 2015 until 9am on Monday, 4 January 2016. We look forward to working with everyone again when we return in 2016!

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ions to U8 Little Athlete Alexi Eizenberg from t a l u t a Congr Sutherland LAC who won last edition’s Find-a-Word!! To win a $50 gift voucher from send completed puzzle, along with your name and address to LANSW Locked Bag 85, PARRAMATTA NSW 2124 by 18 January 2016.

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Name: Centre: Age Group: Address: Postcode:

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Locked Bag 85, PARRAMATTA NSW 2124 (90-92 Harris Street, HARRIS PARK 2150) Tel: (02) 9633 4511 or 1800 451 295 Fax: (02) 9633 2821 Email: [email protected] Website: littleathletics.com.au

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