“It’s a fun, exciting and non-competitive introduction to the
fundamentals of athletics for the kids in our target group of five to
10 year-olds and older children who are interested,” says Jacqui
Stokes, Director of Development at Athletics Ireland. “We are
encouraging our clubs to establish the programme locally and once they
do so it can draw in and involve the whole community around them.”
The programme focuses on developing agility, balance and co-ordination
with a programme that is as simple as “ABC”. It centres on games that
are both fun and develop fitness. The equipment requirement is limited
to simple implements such as cones, hurdles, bean bags, balls, batons
and foam javelins, which are used to encourage the participants to run,
jump, hop and throw.
After around eight weeks in the programme, the children can participate
in an Agility Challenge run by their local Regional Development
officer, and receive a certificate. They can repeat the challenge
later, thus measuring their own improvement.
Little Athletics began almost two years ago with financial backing from
the Irish Sports Council and the Sports Capital Scheme run by national
government’s Department of Arts, Sport & Tourism. It was relaunched
in August 2008 when McDonald’s signed on as a major partner.
“Their support reflects a strong commitment to promoting healthy activity, especially among younger children,” says Stokes.
The new partnership has allowed the organisers to upgrade the materials
used, including the Leader Manual and the certificates provided to
participants, and add on the Agility Challenge dimension to the
programme. It also allows the programme to be advertised in all
McDonald’s outlets throughout the country and provides a link from the
McDonalds website to a dedicated section of the Athletics Ireland site.
Athletics Ireland runs an ‘Athletics Leader’ training course for three
Leaders in each participating club and supplies them with a bag of
equipment. So far, more than 1000 Leaders have been trained. It also
sends members of its Development team to visit the clubs and administer
the Agility Challenges.
“Once it is started in each club we want the programme to be
self-sustaining, but visiting every so often helps to keep the
momentum.”
Key performance indicators set by Stokes and her team include the
numbers of participants, involved clubs, trained leaders as well as the
increase in registered club membership from Little Athletics
participants.
Stokes says that initially some clubs were unsure about joining the
programme but positive feedback has helped overcome the doubts. “There
have been significant increases in club membership, particularly among
five to 10 year-olds, and with the trained Leaders we have 1000 more
people on our coaching pathway.”
“We expect the programme to continue to expand. We hope to increase the
numbers by adding more clubs and also by bringing the programme to
schools and other community groups.”
Fact File | |
Programme: | Little Athletics |
Organiser: | Athletics Ireland |
Start Date: | 2006 |
Target Group: | Children five to 10 years-old |
Participants in 2008: | 15,000 |
Venues 2008: | 160 clubs throughout Ireland |
Support: | Irish Sports Council, National Government Sports Capital Scheme, McDonald’s |
More Information: | Jacqui Stokes jacqui@athleticsireland.ie |