Location

Saturday morning athletic events are held at Gooden Reserve, Cnr Gooden Drive & Kanili Avenue, Baulkham Hills.

Time

Announcements concerning many important subjects start immediately prior to competition.

Every endeavour is made to ensure events start at 8:30am sharp every Saturday morning. Some events, in particular longer walks and distance runs, may start from as early as 8.00am for combined age groups.

Please have your child and yourself (if you are helping on that day) there by 8.00am so that events can start on time.

Weather

Athletics is a summer sport. We encourage all parents to ensure their children have adequate sun protection and drinks. If you have inadvertently forgotten a cap or sun screen, please see a member of the committee who will make alternative arrangements for the day.

In the event of inclement weather, cancellation of the athletic events will be advised on the website (when the decision is made early enough) or else you may telephone Gooden Reserve on 9838 0661 after 7:30am where a recorded message will be available. Also in the event of wet weather, use of Gooden Reserve is subject to the grounds being open. The Baulkham Hills Council website provides information as to the availability of grounds during periods of wet weather. Please note, when there has been wet weather but the grounds are open the program of events may be altered in the interests of athlete safety and to prevent damage to the oval.

First Aid

First Aid must be available during the operation of the Centre. A suitably qualified person must be available at all times. Qualified parents are encouraged to volunteer for this most important role. Where sufficient qualified individuals are available, a roster will also be prepared to share the responsibility across many helpers.

Insurance scheme

The Australian Little Athletics Association provides insurance cover applying to members of the Centre. Please see the Secretary if you require assistance or further details.

Athletes

Uniform

Our club has a competition uniform that comprises:

The Centre singlet, girl’s one piece / crop top.
Black shorts. Shorts are to be plain black, bearing no logos, side stripes or pattern markings.
Registration number to be sewn in the middle of singlet / crop top at the front (including sponsor's logo and border).
Age group patch is to be sewn on either the top left hand corner of crop top / singlet or on the front left leg of shorts.
Club Number (76) is to be attached at the centre of the back of either the singlet or crop top.
Sponsor's patch on the front right leg of shorts.

This approved uniform must be worn at all Centre and Association events (e.g. Zone, Region and State Carnivals).

Items which comprise our uniform can be purchased each running day from the clubhouse. For details, see the Uniforms page. Centre caps and jackets are also available to purchase for athletes and parents.

Spikes

Spiked shoes may be worn by athletes in the U9 and above age groups in laned running events only, up to and including the 400 metre (but not a 4 x 400 relay). Track events that they may be used in are the 100, 200 and 400 runs and the 60, 90 and 200 metre hurdles.

An Age Manager may also allow spikes to be used in the Long Jump, Triple Jump and High Jump if they are satisfied that the athlete will behave in a proper and safe manner and remain seated when not in a trial.

If spikes are used they are:

Not to be put on before reaching the starting area of the event
Must be removed before leaving the event area.

Spiked shoes with spikes removed are not allowed in any events.

Starting Blocks

Little Athletics use the Sydney International Athletics Complex at Homebush as the venue for the State Relays and State Track and Field Championships, which requires the use of Starting Blocks. The Centre has purchased a supply of Blocks for the use at our Centre to allow all to become familiar with their use. Any athlete who wishes to use their own set is responsible for transporting them from event to event.

Visitors and competing at other clubs

When absent from our Centre, to compete at State LAANSW events, or if you are away on vacation and perhaps outside the Sydney Metropolitan area, an athlete may participate in events at another Little Athletics Centre. All athletes are encouraged to wear their WHLAC uniform when competing at another Centre.

Athletes will receive (1) one point for each event recorded up to a maximum equal to the number of events normally run by their age group at our Centre, on a Saturday. The events recorded must be part of the Centre’s normal running day and not a special event or Gala Day. The appropriate tickets, or a statement signed by an official of the visited Club, must be provided to the Records and Ranking Officer for verification, before those results will be accepted.

Similarly, if an athlete from another Centre is visiting, we encourage them to participate at our Centre. Visitors must be enrolled on our computer prior to the start of our normal program of events, so all visitors should try to arrive early and make contact with a Centre Official as soon as possible.

Parents

Attitude

A success of this Centre has been our great team spirit. This has been due to a sharing of the ideals of “Family, Fun and Fitness”. All parents are encouraged to provide positive encouragement to all athletes.

Helpers

The Centre’s success is based on the efforts of all its parents and athletes. Without regular help the Centre is unable to provide the level of support required to uphold its high standards.

Between 40 and 60 volunteer helpers are required to run the mornings events each Saturday. Parents are needed to assist with the setting up of the equipment, running of the events, canteen and bbq duties, equipment pack up and other chores. Remember, WHLAC operates for the benefit of your children and without your participation only the children will suffer.

Parent help rosters

A Roster system is used to fill the many jobs required for the successful and smooth operation of the Centre. It is a requirement that all parents will participate in the running of the Centre. The Centre relies on your commitment to assist, and providing all helpers honour their commitments, your contribution can be as little as once in every four weeks. You may of course help more often if you wish.

For the non-age group specific activities there will be a roster of duties, including for setting up, track assistants and packing up, that will be divided evenly amongst the parents of each age group. The roster will be structured in such a way to minimise the frequency of duties, thereby giving everyone a better opportunity of watching their own children compete. Parents are asked to get involved and help with their own age group and any specific duties assigned to their age group for the day. Should you be unable to assist on the allocated day, it is your responsibility to arrange for a suitable replacement to be found by contacting the Officials’ Officer or in consultation with your child’s age manager or other parents in the group.

It is also a requirement that the parents of children selected for representative carnivals make themselves available to act as helpers at these Carnivals.

Acting as Officials

Without parental assistance to act as officials, the mornings events cannot begin. Athletics, unlike other sports such as soccer, netball or football, requires a large number of people to control the events adequately and in a safe manner. At WHLAC we need approximately 40 parents EVERY WEEK, to run the events. This excludes Age Managers, Committee and Equipment teams. These Officials include starters, track chiefs and timers, recorders, jumps assistants and throws assistants.

Don’t be apprehensive about using a stopwatch, or assisting at other venues. We run training and familiarisation sessions both before and during the season. You will find it much easier to start with timing a 6th place for a while until you become more proficient. There are a number of qualified officials in the Centre, who can provide guidance, so don’t be bashful when officials are called for. Have a go – you may find it more rewarding to be involved and you may even have fun.

Setting up and clearing of the Grounds

On Saturdays we require assistance in preparing the field:

In the mornings, parents will be rostered for this task. The time for setting up the field is from 6:30am.
Clearing of equipment commences after the last event at each venue.

It is imperative that we have adequate help for setting up and packing away. At least 10 parents are needed at the beginning and end of each day.

Canteen & BBQ

The Canteen & BBQ operate each Saturday morning from about 8:00am until 12:00pm.

All proceeds from the sale of food and drinks goes to the WHLAC and benefits our athletes. Parents are required to help in the Canteen and are rostered to assist. Due to safety issues, younger children are not permitted in the Canteen, during its operation.

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