There is generally one Hobart Districts LAC session a week, however sometimes we might have two meets a week due to scheduling of other events at the Domain or clashes with other Little Athletics Tasmania events - eg. Sunday or Monday twilight meet followed by a Saturday morning meet. This ensures our athletes wishing to participate in state events can still also participate in our centre meets.
All sessions are optional and attendance is not required every week.
Hobart Districts LAC is now permanently at the Domain Athletics Centre after moving temporarily from John Turnbull Oval in Lenah Valley last season. This is a huge plus for our athletes as they will have access to an all-weather track, proper safety cages for discus and become more comfortable with the ground when competing at southern state events.
As the name suggests Little Athletics is about track and field events. Events include: Sprints, Hurdles, Middle Distance, Race Walking, Relays, Shot Put, Discus, Vortex/Turbo Jav/Javelin, Long Jump, Triple Jump, and High Jump. Please note - some events are only available to certain age groups - see our event program HERE.
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. plastic turbo jav), or of a smaller height (e.g. hurdles), to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our Little Athletes.
Other events are modified to ensure athletes can progress to the correct technique as they grow older (eg. sand take off mats progresses to a line for long jump).
All the LATas Recognised Track and Field Events and Specifications are outlined in the LATas Manual, available (once your child has been registered) from our Registrar, Pris Stansfield.
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 (PBs). 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.
Children in the Under 6 to Under 15 age groups are $130, while Tiny Tots are $40. The funds paid cover the cost of site hire, insurance, maintenance of equipment, and affiliation costs.
To register your child with Hobart Districts LAC please click HERE to register for the 20/21 season and follow the prompts.
You may do this at any time during the season PRIOR to their third session.
Children will compete in the age group according to their age ON the 31st December 2020.
| Age group | Tiny Tots | U6 | U7 | U8 | U9 | U10 | U11 | U12 | U13 | U14 | U15 |
| Birth Year | 2016/17 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 |
Yes, your child may attend two meets before needing to be registered. It is COMPULSORY for athletes to be registered at their THIRD meet for insurance reasons. Athletes not registered at their third meet are unable to compete.
Tiny Tots is available to children aged 3-4 years old who are still that little bit too young for all the events of Little Athletics, but are very keen to be involved. A typical Tiny Tots meet is a shorter, more informal event, where the children play with safety discus’, mini turbo howlers, hoops, ropes, balls and more. These “toys” begin to form important skills and techniques in children that will assist them when they finally join the Under 6 age group. There is also a Tiny Tots race every meet, where the children get to race down the synthetic track, just like their older siblings do. At HDLAC, this event usually attracts a lot of attention from the older athletes and parents who love to cheer them on!
Tiny Tots is $40 per season.
Yes, children are unable to compete if they do not have a parent or guardian present. There are many ways to assist and children love showing you what they can do. As with all sports the chance of injury is always present and in the unfortunate chance it happens your presence will be required.
Because Little Athletics is a totally volunteer-run sport, Hobart Districts LAC cannot operate without the assistance of parents and other adult volunteers each week in fulfilling the many and varied duties required.
Each age group for boys and girls will need an age group manager, an assistant age group manager and several site helpers at each field event. These jobs aren’t strenuous and can be as simple as recording each trial, retrieving a throwing implement or raking a sandpit. Please approach your child’s age group manager (wearing a hi-vis orange vest with your child’s age group on it) who will be more than happy to show you what you need to do. Without the required number of site helpers your child and the rest of their age group will be unable to compete. Volunteering ensures the safe and smooth running of events.
Setting up and packing up the equipment used for our meets and running the BBQ/canteen are important jobs. The committee will be on hand but we have a parent duty roster in order to share the load, and this year we are trialling the roster by age group.
Hobart Districts LAC will be running official/site helper courses near the start of the season for parents wanting to learn the ropes. Our Education Officer, Louise Walker, will also be available to answer any questions at each meet. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for when these courses become available. From time to time other courses, such as coaching, become available through Little Athletics Tasmania for those interested - please keep an eye on their Facebook page HERE or their website HERE for these opportunities.
Additional assistance is always required on the Centre committee and all parents are encouraged to become involved.You may have skills that the centre doesn’t even know they need. So if you think you can help with something, let the committee know.
Yes, once children are registered they need to compete in the Hobart Districts LAC uniform.
The uniform consists of our red and green HDLAC top and plain black above-the-knee shorts. Tops ($35) will be available to purchase at the start of our season near the canteen and will also be available throughout the season simply by asking one of our committee members. There will also be additional optional items like hoodies ($55) and caps ($15) for sale as well. Please note that sneakers/running shoes/trainers are COMPULSORY.
Our Registrar, Pris Stansfield, will provide the name badge.
Name badges are generally available a couple of weeks after you register your child and are to be placed in the middle front of their top.
It is compulsory that ONLY the current season’s badges be worn. All current season’s award badges must be worn on the back of the athlete’s top.
McDonalds Personal Improvement Awards are awarded for first performance (green), first improved performance (blue) and second improved performance (red) with a minimum number of performance required. You will find a more detailed explanation in the LATas Manual.
McDonalds Gold Star Awards may be claimed in the four areas of Sprints, Distance, Throws, Jumps. To claim an Award the athlete must qualify once in TWO events from the group. You will find a more detailed explanation, including qualifying standards, in the LATas Manual.
McDonalds Event Badges Awards are claimed for the number of events an athlete competes in during the season. Cloth badges are available for 25, 50, 75 and 100 events. Events are counted by the number of events the athlete competes in at Hobart Districts, at another LATas Centre or at LATas conducted meets.
Yes, however these meets are NOT run by Hobart Districts LAC but by the state body Little Athletics Tasmania. If you wish your child to participate you must register your child for these all-day meets, or sometimes two-day meets, and there may be a fee associated. These meets are inter-centre meets where Hobart Districts LAC competes with other LA centres. This is an opportunity to gather as a team and cheer each other on. Parents of registered children are expected to volunteer on the day and duties will be allocated and posted on Facebook a few days prior to the state meet. This is an important part of participation as we are a totally voluntary sport and could not do so without your help. Please note that if you are on a field site closed toe shoes are COMPULSORY - this is for your safety.
The LATas Manual has a lot of information for you to read - please do so - especially concerning state run events by LATas. If you have any questions you cannot find in the manual please feel free to ask one of our committee members.