Frequenly Asked Questions

​​​​How do I register my child for athletics?

Register here: Membership - Little Athletics Victoria (lavic.com.au)

New memberships: Follow above steps and provide Proof of Age (Birth Certificate or Passport) to: geelongregistrar@lavic.com.au


When you register with LAVic, you will need to select Geelong Little Athletics Centre as your CENTRE, then choose Grovedale in the drop-down box as your CLUB.


Can my child try athletics before registering?

Yes, up to a maximum of 2 visits and not if you trialled previous years.

COME AND TRY ATHLETICS - Will be part of regular competition at the start of 2024-25 season.

Register for Trial here: 2022-23 Trial Athlete Offer (sportstg.com)

Little Athletics is a fun way for families to come together with the Centre being 100% volunteer driven. It takes 100+ volunteers each week to run our program from raking a pit, to handing out place cards or assisting with set up and pack up. Parents are allocated duties from their clubs and please remember all children need to be at Landy with an Adult/Carer. Athletics is not a drop off sport.

When you register with LAVic, you will need to select Geelong Little Athletics Centre as your CENTRE, then choose ‘Grovedale’ in the drop down box as your ‘club’.

If after the tryout you want to become a member, payment for registrations must be made online by 5pm Monday to be a registered competitor for the following Saturday. It takes a few days for processing, so to avoid disappointment on Saturday please make sure that you have signed up and paid by this time. Please bring a receipt of payment and proof of birth date on Saturday morning.

What is the cost?

Registration costs range from $175 - $195 (+processing fee). Registration includes registration with Little Athletics Victoria (for the Track and Field and Cross Country seasons), and all Geelong Little Athletics Centre Track and Field season fees.

Registration for the Cross Country season only, is $65, this does not include the weekly competition fee. 

There are also additional regional and state events that your child may wish to compete in which incur an additional small registration fee.

Does my child have to wear a uniform?

Yes, you do, it is compulsory from U8-U17s. All competitive members MUST wear the correct uniform. Both new and second hand (if available) uniforms can be purchased directly from Grovedale LAC sign in desk on competition days.

All Grovedale athletes must wear the Grovedale LAC uniform consisting of a yellow, black and white top (T-shirt, singlet or crop top - available for purchase from the club) and plain black shorts/briefs (basketball or board shorts not permitted).


Second hand uniforms can also be found on Geelong Little Athletics Buy & Sell. 

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

No, athletes cannot wear club uniforms at these events, the Geelong Little Athletics Centre (GLAC) uniform is to be worn at all Region or State events athletes are registered in. GLAC uniform can be purchased from the GLAC uniform shop or competition office. Second hand uniforms can also be found on Little Athletics Facebook BSS pages.


For Geelong Little Athletics Centre uniforms, visit GLAC Uniform Shop

​Is it compulsory to wear the plastic registration patch and what do I do if I lose it?

Yes, all paid athletes are supplied with a plastic registration patch with their name and an identifying number and barcode that needs to be worn each week, attached to their singlet with 4 safety pins (which will be provided). Athletes are responsible for wearing the registration patch each week which is used to record results at each event and the barcode is scanned after track events. Lost patches can be replaced for $10 at the competition office.

What age group will my child compete in?

Age groups are determined by the year and month of birth as detailed in the following LAVic Registrar's Ready Reckoner: AGE CALCULATOR: Age Calculator - Little Athletics Victoria (lavic.com.au)​


Where are competition meets held?

​ Meets for the first half of the 2024/25 season will be held at Goldsworthy Reserve, Corio due to track works at Landy Field and are expected to resume at Landy Field in December when works are complete. 


What day and time does athletics start?

Track and Field is Saturday* (except Region/State events) from 8.00AM to 12PM, October to March. Arrive by 8AM as the first events start at 8:15AM sharp, with speaker event announcements starting a few minutes beforehand.


*Note: changes to usual competition schedule and location due to track works at Landy Field. See the 2024/25 Season Calendar for location and start times during this period. 

There are three - four weeks off over Christmas/New Year’s period. Cross Country runs on Sundays April-August, around Eastern Gardens and other Geelong locations.

Cross Country Sunday programs usually begin at 11AM and are finished by 12:30PM.

Do parents have to do duties?

Yes, Grovedale have a duty roster, and parents/carers are expected to volunteer a minimum of 3 occasions throughout the season. Grovedale oversee a high jump mat, a long jump pit, a discus cage and circulars (races that involve more than 1 lap of the track).

Little Athletics is a fun way for families to come together with the Centre being 100% volunteer driven. It takes 100+ volunteers each week to run our program from raking a pit, to handing out place cards or assisting with set up and pack up.

Additional assistance is always required on the committees and all parents are encouraged to become involved. Little Athletics is one of the few sports where parents can become fully involved in their child’s sporting interests.

Parents are required to fill a duty position at either the Regional or State event if their child is competing. The duty positions are not hard as there are LAVic officials to run each of the events, so you are just helping them.


Link to Grovedale Little Athletics Duty Roster 2024/25 will be available leading up to the start of the season. 

What do the children do at Little Athletics?

On trackers is a modified program for younger athletes and typically participate in modified events from 8:3-am-10:30 on the day of athletics.

There are 3 rotating programs of events, and each age group will compete in 5 events on each day.

The track events on the first few weeks are randomly selected, but once an athlete has a benchmark the heats are seeded according to results so athletes will be running against athletes with a similar time.

The field events are also often split into 2 groups to utilise both jump pits, throwing rings or high jump mats but all Grovedale athletes will stay together. Athletes will get a practice jump or throw then 2 competition trials.

Once your event is completed or race finished, you may return to the Grovedale area to await your next event.

How do I know when my event is?

Events are called over the loudspeaker so you need to listen out as each event will be called 3 times. The announcement will tell you where to marshal for the event.

How do I get to my event?

To get to your field event there are orange cones around the track which is where you need to cross to get into the infield. Before you do, please check that there are no circular races going on and you are not going to interfere with a race. Also do not cross the infield because there are javelins and discus being thrown into this area. You need to go around the outside and enter the field at the cones.

What are the events?

> Runn​ing (70m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, cross country)

> Hurdling (60m, 80, 90m, 100m, 300m)

> Race walking 700m or 1100m depending on the age group, you must now register to compete in the walk as it is an optional event. 

> Jumping (long jump, triple jump, high jump) Triple jump only from U11's upwards

> Throwing (shot put, discus, javelin) (javelin on from U11's upwards)


How long is the season?

The Track and Field season begins in October and runs through until March, with a break at Christmas. 
The Cross Country season begins in April and runs through to August.

How are performances monitored?

Results and weekly photos are published on the GLAC website, and personal results can be found via logging into ResultsHQ. Paper results can be printed from the website. These can be cut out and pasted in the results book that you will be supplied with once registered.

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

See your team manager the next week and they will help you.

Are there any Region and State competitions?

Yes, each Track & Field and Cross-country season there are region and state events that U9-U17 age groups can compete in.  Please see LAVic website for more information. Note: there are rules for entries into these events.

To enter the Regional and State individual events, registered athletes will be sent an email from LAVic, and all entries are completed online. There is a charge for the Track and Field events (per event entered) and a fee for the multi-event. There is a small charge for the selected Geelong relay teams. 

At the end of the season Geelong Little Athletics Centre hold their Championship Day which is a celebration of the season that was, and a chance for athletes to win medals in their favourite events. A few weeks before the day you will be asked to enter this event by filling in a form that is available from the team managers. Entry is free and each athlete can compete in a maximum or 5 events - 3 track and 2 field OR 3 field and 2 track.

GLAC hosts one twilight competition on a Friday evening, normally in January, this is always super fun!

Is there any training provided?

This season we are really excited to be offering training/coaching from a highly experienced and equally passionate coach, Christian Romanelli as well as some senior athletes from Deakin Uni to help athletes from beginner to experienced learn some skills on the track, sprints, hurdles and hopefully some sand jumps too! More Info to come close to season kick off.


Grovedale aims to run club training sessions weekly on Monday's during fourth term of school, however this is coach and demand driven. See Club Training for more information on what’s available.

Specialised coaching is provided at Landy Field throughout the week by GLAC affiliated coaches in all events by a range of qualified coaches. Get in touch with GLAC directly to access this information. 

What about safety, insurance and first aid?

The Geelong Little Athletics Centre has a strict safety policy and all registered athletes are covered by insurance through Little Athletics Australia and their insurers.

Professional first aid is provided at all Geelong events.
 

What level of ability is needed to join?

Our emphasis is on family, fun and fitness. Children can join with any level of skill or fitness and are given plenty of encouragement to achieve their ‘personal best’. We welcome ALL abilities and run a program every 3rd week for all abilities, welcoming the use of frames or any other personal aides required for the athlete to compete. For more information on this program, contact the GLAC All Abilities Officer.
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At centre level competition, Multiclass athletes are integrated with the other athletes, and may compete under modified rules depending on the degree of their disability, and the events being conducted. All LAVic Regional and State events are also open to multi-class athletes.

Is it possible to compete at two different centres?

Once an athlete has registered with a centre they can take part in other centre activities without further notice. (It is recognised that family circumstances sometimes do not allow a child to compete at the same centre every week.)

Athletes can transfer from one centre to another - they will have to pay a fee to the second centre, but they do not have to pay the Little Athletics Victoria fee again.

Who should I contact for more information??

Click here to contact Rebecca Winkler, club secretary.