AGE GROUP WORKING PARTY
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
IMPLEMENTATION OF AGE GROUP CHANGES EFFECTIVE FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE 2018-19 SEASON
The anniversary date for athlete age groups will change from 30 September to 31 December from thecommencement of the 2018-19 season meaning that age groups from 2018-19 will be based on year of birth.
The outcome from this change is that athletes born between 1st October and 31st December in any given yearwill progress up two age groups from 2017-18 to 2018-19 while athletes born between 1st January and 30thSeptember in any given year will progress up one age group as normal from 2017-18 to 2018-19.
There will be some changes in the 2018-19 transition year to minimise the impact on the athletes whoprogress up two age groups. These are summarised as follows:
Athletes who progress from U12 in 2017-18 to U14 in 2018-19 and wouldotherwise miss out on State Team selection in the U13 age group for the 2019Australian Little Athletics Championships
· Athletes will still be eligible for selection in their State Team to compete at the 2019
Australian Little Athletics Championships
· The State Team numbers will be increased by 25% from 26 athletes to 32 athletes so
that athletes are not disadvantaged
· Three athletes will be selected in each event instead of two athletes in each event
Athletes who progress from U14 in 2017-18 to U16 in 2018-19 and wouldotherwise miss out on State Team selection in the U15 age group for the 2019Australian Little Athletics Championships
· Athletes will still be eligible for selection in their State Team to compete at the 2019
Australian Little Athletics Championships
· The State Team numbers will be increased by 25% from 3 boys and 3 girls to 4 boys and
4 girls so that athletes are not disadvantaged
· The states that do not conduct Little Athletics beyond U15’s will be amending their rules to
ensure that the affected athletes are still eligible for selection
Athletes who progress from U14 in 2017-18 to U16 in 2018-19 and wouldotherwise miss out on selection to attend the 2018 National U15 Camp
· Athletes will still be eligible for selection to attend the 2018 National U15 Camp
· The states that do not conduct Little Athletics beyond U15’s will be amending their rules to
ensure that the affected athletes are still eligible for selection
Athletes who progress from U13 in 2017-18 to U15 in 2018-19 and wouldotherwise miss out on selection to attend the 2019 National U15 Camp
· Athletes will still be eligible for selection to attend the 2018 National U15 Camp
· Qualifying standards will be amended where there are differences in specifications
between the U14 and U15 age groups.
· The number of camp attendees with be increased by 25% in 2019 so that no athlete is
disadvantaged
State conducted tours and camps
· State associations will manage the selection of athletes for tours and camps and will
ensure that affected athletes are still eligible for selection
Service Awards – State Associations and Centres issue service awards forlonger term athletes, particularly ten year awards
· State associations will manage the logistics of issuing service awards for longer term
athletes for those affected by the age group change
· State associations will manage the final transition year for their athletes
Tiny Tots – the wording for eligibility to compete in the Tiny Tots agegroup will be amended to read
· Tiny Tots (children who have turned 3 years of age and who will be less than 5 years of age
at 31 December in the calendar year in which the Little Athletics summer season
commences) to participate in approved activities for the development of gross motor
skills
Skill Development – skills gap for athletes progressing two age groups inthe transition year
· Centres can start transitioning the athletes at Training/Coaching sessions as from this season.
· Associations to assist in communicating this and that it will be only for this coming season
· Little Athletics Australia will confirm that appropriate insurance cover exists
A more detailed explanation of the changes will be published on the Little Athletics Australia website andFacebook page.
State Associations will manage the communication of the Age Group changes to their Clubs, Centres, parents andathletes.
All age group enquiries should be made through State Associations.
Coles Little Athletics Australia acknowledges and pays respect to all traditional custodians of the lands of which we work, run, jump and throw throughout Australia. We pay respect to elders both past, present and emerging.
We are committed to a positive future for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and to honor their ongoing cultural and spiritual connections to this country and recognize the role and value of culture.
