Frequenly Asked Questions

How do I register my child for athletics?

Register here :Membership - Little Athletics Victoria

For new memberships, follow the steps on the registration page and email Proof of Age (Birth Certificate or Passport) togeelongregistrar@lavic.com.au.

When registering with Little Athletics Victoria (LAVic):

Select Geelong Little Athletics Centre as your CENTRE
Choose Grovedale from the drop-down box as your CLUB

Can my child try athletics before registering?

Yes, children can try athletics for a maximum of two visits, provided they have not trialed in previous years.

COME AND TRY ATHLETICS will be part of our regular competition at the start of the 2025/26 season.

Register for a Trial(new link to come for 2025/26 season)

Important Information for Families:

* Little Athletics is a fun, community-driven sport powered by volunteers. It takes over 100 volunteers weekly to run our program— whether it's raking a pit, handing out place cards, or helping with setup and pack-up.

* Parents are allocated duties by their clubs and are required to assist as part of this volunteer-driven effort.

* Children must be accompanied by an Adult or Carer at Landy Field. Athletics is not a drop-off sport.

What happens after the trial?

If you'd like to become a member after trying athletics, please follow these steps:

Ensure you’ve signed up and made payment online by 5pm Monday to be registered for the following Saturday
It may take a few days to process your registration, so please avoid delays to ensure participation.
Bring a receipt of payment and proof of birth date to Landy Field on Saturday morning.

When registering with LAVic:

Select Geelong Little Athletics Centre as your CENTRE.
Choose Grovedale from the drop-down box as your CLUB.

What is the cost?

* Registration costs: $175 - $195 (+processing fee). This covers registration with Little Athletics Victoria (for both Track and Field and Cross Country seasons) and all Geelong Little Athletics Centre Track and Field season fees.

* Cross Country season only: $65 (weekly competition fees not included).

* Additional regional and state event registration fees may apply for athletes wishing to compete in those events.

Does my child have to wear a uniform?

Yes, it is compulsory for athletes in U8-U17 age groups. All competitive members must wear the correct uniform.

The Grovedale LAC uniform includes:

A yellow, black, and white top (T-shirt, singlet, or crop top) available for purchase from the club.
Plain black shorts/briefs (note: basketball or board shorts are not permitted).

* Uniforms (new and second-hand) can be purchased at the Grovedale LAC sign-in desk on competition days.

* Second-hand uniforms are also available on the Geelong Little Athletics Buy & Sell page.

Can my child wear the club uniform at Region or State events?

No, club uniforms cannot be worn at Region or State events. Athletes must wear the Geelong Little Athletics Centre (GLAC) uniform, which can be purchased from the GLAC uniform shop or competition office. Second-hand GLAC uniforms can also be found on Little Athletics Facebook BSS pages.

For Geelong Little Athletics Centre uniforms, visit the GLAC Uniform Shop.

Is it compulsory to wear the plastic registration patch? What if I lose it?

Yes, the laminated registration patch is mandatory. All paid athletes are supplied with a patch featuring their name, identifying number, and barcode. This patch must be attached to the athlete's singlet using four safety pins (provided).

The patch is required weekly to record event results and scan the barcode after track events.

Lost patches can be replaced at the competition office for a $10 fee.

What age group will my child compete in?

Age groups are determined by your child's year and month of birth. Use the LAVic Age Calculator to confirm their age group: Age Calculator - Little Athletics Victoria

Where are competition meets held?

John Landy Athletics Field, South Geelong

What day and time does athletics start?

Track and Field: Saturdays (except Region/State events) from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, running from October to March.

* Arrive by 8:00 AM as the first events start promptly at 8:15 AM, with announcements made shortly beforehand.

* There is a 3-4 week break over the Christmas/New Year period.

Cross Country: Sundays from April to August, held at Eastern Gardens and other Geelong locations.
Programs usually begin at 11:00 AM and finish by 12:30 PM.

Do parents/carers have to do duties?

Yes, parents/carers are expected to volunteer at least three times throughout the season, as Grovedale operates a duty roster. Responsibilities include overseeing:

A high jump mat
A long jump pit
A discus cage
Circular track events (races of more than one lap)

Why Volunteer? Little Athletics is a family-oriented, volunteer-driven program. It takes over 100 volunteers each week to ensure the program runs smoothly—whether it’s raking a pit, handing out place cards, or assisting with setup and pack-up.

Additional assistance is always welcomed, especially on committees, and parents are encouraged to get involved. This is one of the few sports where families can actively participate in their child’s activities.

Regional or State events: Parents are required to fill a duty position if their child is competing. Don’t worry—duties are simple, with LAVic officials leading the events. You’ll just assist them.

A Grovedale Little Athletics Duty Roster will be emailed to families, via the Grovedale LAC private Facebook group and texted to families ahead of the duty as a reminder.

What do the children do at Little Athletics?

At Little Athletics, children participate in a range of fun and engaging activities tailored to their age group:

* On Track program: Younger athletes enjoy a modified program, typically running from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM on athletics days.

* Rotating programs: There are three rotating programs of events, with each age group competing in five events per day.

* Track events: During the first few weeks, events are randomly selected. Once benchmarks are established, heats are seeded based on results, allowing athletes to compete with others of similar abilities.

* Field events: These are often split into two groups to make use of jump pits, throwing rings, or high jump mats. Grovedale athletes always stay together. Each athlete gets a practice jump or throw followed by two competition attempts.

Once an event is completed, athletes return to the Grovedale area to await their next event.

How do I know when my event is?

Event announcements are made over the loudspeaker, with each event called three times. Announcements will include marshalling locations, so make sure to listen carefully.

What events are available?

Children can participate in a variety of events depending on their age group:

Running: 70m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, cross country

Hurdling: 60m, 80m, 90m, 100m, 300m

Race Walking: 700m or 1100m (optional; pre-registration required)

Jumping: Long jump, triple jump, high jump (triple jump from U11 and up)

Throwing: Shot put, discus, javelin (javelin from U11 and up)

How do I get to my event?

To access your field event:

Use the orange cones around the track to cross into the infield.
Check for circular races before crossing to avoid interfering.
Do not cross the infield, as javelins and discus throws occur in this area. Instead, go around the outside and enter at the cones.

How long is the season?

Track and Field season: October to March, with a break over Christmas.

Cross Country season: April to August.

How are performances monitored?

Results and photos: Published on the GLAC website.

Personal results: Accessible via ResultsHQ

What do I do if there are discrepancies with my results?

If you notice any discrepancies, please see your team manager at the next meet for assistance.

Are there any Region and State competitions?

Yes, U9-U17 age groups can compete in Region and State competitions during both the Track & Field and Cross-country seasons.

Visit the LAVic website for more details on event rules
Registered athletes will receive an email from LAVic with entry instructions.
Entry fees apply for Track and Field events (per event), multi-events, and selected Geelong relay teams.

End-of-Season Highlights:

GLAC Championship Day: This celebration is free for U8-U17s. You can register your little athletes through your family portal at https://resultshq.com.au. You can select events by clicking on the Nominations Tab. Athletes can select up to X5 events with a max (x3 track and x2 field, or x2 track and x3 field).

Twilight Competition: A fun evening event held on a Friday in January.

Is there any training provided?

We are thrilled to offer training/coaching sessions led by:
Christian Romanelli, an experienced coach.
Senior athletes from Deakin University, helping with sprints, hurdles, and jumps.

Additional Training Opportunities:

* Grovedale club training: Weekly sessions on Mondays during school Term 4, depending on coach availability and demand.

* Specialised coaching: GLAC-affiliated coaches run sessions at Landy Field. Contact GLAC for more information.

What about safety, insurance, and first aid?

All registered athletes are covered by insurance through Little Athletics Australia.

First aid: Professional services are available at all Geelong events.

The Geelong Little Athletics Centre enforces a strict safety policy.

What level of ability is needed to join?

All children are welcome, regardless of skill or fitness level. Little Athletics focuses on family, fun, and fitness:

Encouragement is provided to help athletes achieve their personal best.

All abilities program: Held every third week, welcoming athletes who use personal aides or frames. Contact the GLAC All Abilities Officer for more details.

Multiclass athletes: Integrated into competitions with modified rules as needed. Regional and State events are also open to multiclass athletes.

Is it possible to compete at two different centres?

Yes!
Athletes registered at one centre can participate in other centres' activities.
Transferring centres is allowed, though a fee is required for the second centre (LAVic fees are not duplicated).

Who should I contact for more information?

Click here to contact Rebecca Winkler, club secretary.

Frequenly Asked Questions

Club Contact