Asics Australian Little Athletics Championships Held at Santos Stadium in News Adelaide on Saturday April 26
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RUN FOR FUN Asics Australian May/June 2009 A Word from the 2 Little Athletics Championships President Editorial 3 “Determination. Friendship. Enthusiasm. Support.” The ROC 4 These were the four words by which the Little Athletics NSW State Team operated during its Championship 5 preparation for the 2009 Asics Australian Little Athletics Championships held at Santos Stadium in News Adelaide on Saturday April 26. Coaches Corner 6 The NSW team certainly found use for those words as the competition day approached. The weather Coach of the Yea was harsh in the days leading up to the championships. Drought-stricken Adelaide received bucket- r 8 loads of rain, and winds that caused damage to tents at the track the day before the competition. Development 9 At its track familiarisation, the NSW team was hit by the worst of the conditions as driving rain and Diary winds greeted the athletes. Views from an 10 On the competition day, as nearly 200 athletes from seven states and territories gathered to prepare Athlete for the march past and opening ceremony, the weather had improved but still played some havoc NSW’s leading 11 as the program proceeded through what seemed like the four seasons in just a few hours. athletes started The NSW Under 13 team performed exceptionally well, achieving twenty-four medals (12 gold; 8 out in Little As silver; 4 bronze) and finishing runners-up to a strong Victorian team by 24.5 points for the Trevor Count me in 13 Billingham Trophy (for overall point score). Queensland was in third place, 163 points behind NSW. IGA Food for Lif The New South Wales team also finished runners-up to Victoria for the Allan Triscott Cup (for the e 13 handicap points score). The boys team won their 4 x 100m relay and the girls team finished second. Website Review 14 Two members of the NSW team between them recorded two Under 13 Australian Best Projects Page Performances (ABPs) and three Australian Teams Championship Records (NATCs). These were: 15 • Taylah Sengul who threw 14.28m in the Shot Put (ABP), 50.12m in the Discus (ABP) and Centre News 16 44.83m in the Javelin (NATC). Find a Word 17 • Tepai Moeroa with 18.92m in the Shot Put (NATC) and 55.01m in the Discus (NATC). In the Under 15 Multi Event competition, the four NSW team members achieved runners-up in the Special Points of Interest... Life Members Trophy for overall point score and won the Multi Event Mixed 4 x 100m Relay. • State Multi Nicholas Hough won the gold medal in the individual competition with 4882 points. Championships in Many thanks to the NSW parents and supporters who helped to make the campaign such a Lismore memorable one, and to the South Australian Little Athletics Association and the volunteer officials who made the day a great success. • Importance of warm-up & Each of the NSW team members have taken home some wonderful memories and had stretching experiences that will hopefully assist them in their sporting pursuits for many years to come. • New Program & Services staff member! • Middle Distance lesson plan • Myths about sport A Word from the President... Dereck FinebErg So, we have now really reached the end of our competition season with the running of our State Championships at SOPAC and the Australian Teams (U/13) and Multi Event (U/15) Championship (ALACS) in Adelaide. Congratulations to all athletes who competed at State and especially to those who gained selection in our state team for Adelaide. If you did not win, then I hope you at least enjoyed the experience and perhaps managed to improve on previous performances. As we all know this year’s State included events on the Friday evening as well as the inclusion of the U/17 age group for the first time. It is interesting to note the positive feedback received thus far about the 3 day carnival. In fairness some feedback to the contrary was also received. The program will undergo some fine tuning before next year. Our state team did themselves proud at the ALACS well. To the many parents out there – please think hard finishing second in the overall pointscore trophy. There about getting involved so that you can help your Centre were a number of outstanding performances by our and your own children in fact. You will find the athletes including a couple of ABPs. Off the track the experience very rewarding. team also performed admirably. Their families should be proud. On behalf of LAANSW I congratulate the team, I’d like to take this opportunity to once again the team management and the families and congratulate everyone involved in the running of supporters who travelled to Adelaide. Also, I’m sure the Centres, Zones, Regions etc as well as the many officials athletes enjoyed meeting Sally McLellan and Tamsyn who have worked regularly throughout the season. Lewis who were in Adelaide as guests of ALA. Without your contribution Little Athletics would not be the success it is. As well as attending the ALACS, myself and our CEO Kerry attended a combination of Australian Little Apart from the well deserved ‘rest’ around this time of Athletics Board meetings, AGM, Conference and the year, we do have a few things to plan for and look workshops while in Adelaide. These discussions are very forward to. Firstly, we have our meeting of the Board and important and the outcomes whatever they may be all Zone Cos in May at Parramatta where many pertinent will flow down to all State Associations over the next 12 items are discussed. Secondly, the State Cross Country months or so. and Road Walks at Jamison in July. I hope to see many of you there taking part and I hope you enjoy the event. Areas of focus by the ALA Board of Management over And thirdly, our State Conference in Wagga Wagga in July the next couple of seasons include – Skill based when delegates from most of our Centres come together programs, Competition (weekly & ALACS), Coaching, for workshops, open forums, elections, presentations and Officials/Volunteers and Standardisation. discussions on many interesting topics. We are now in that time of year when AGMs and So the so called ‘rest period’ is somewhat short lived but presentations happen. It is a time of rewarding those it is a vital time to recharge the batteries and to start to athletes and various volunteers for their efforts. It is also plan for the following season. a time of renewal, when new committees are formed and the planning period begins. To all of the centres Cheers, involved in these activities – good luck. I hope all goes Dereck Fineberg (OAM) PRESIDENT 2 editorial Now that the Little Athletics season is over, it is trophies are symbols of striving for achievement. that time of the year when Presentation Days are To give them out without good reason greatly taking place. Centre Presentation Days are almost reduces their value as a major reinforcer. always enjoyable occasions, with young athletes full of smiles and excitement as they receive some We must also be careful that extrinsic rewards sort of recognition, and parents proud and happy don’t become the sole purpose for participating. of their childrens achievements. Athletes with this attitude don’t develop a love of the sport and they fail to get Unfortunately however, satisfaction from simply there are some who performing well. become carried away with the importance of A further danger of such awards and trophies and rewards is that when a the purpose that they are trophy is used as the meant to serve. A trophy draw card for children, is meant to serve as a the prize needs to get reward for an achieve- bigger and better each ment. It is an extrinsic year or it loses its impact reward (one that is from and the sport loses the the outside, not from child. within). Extrinsic rewards are visible, Having said the above, material reinforcers that it should be made clear are used to confirm that that it is desirable to a goal has been reached. show children that you There are some dangers are pleased with them and however with the use of these that they have put in a good extrinsic rewards and we must be careful to use effort, however, certificates, ribbons and small gifts them to their best advantage and not forget that achieve this result every bit as well as a trophy. The the most powerful rewards are the ones that come main thing to remember is that to a young child, from within. praise can be one of the greatest motivators of all. Presentation Days should primarily serve as an Increasingly these days, the presentation of opportunity to praise the efforts of the child trophies becomes a consumption ritual. Some throughout the Little Athletics season, it should Centre’s feel obliged to present every athlete with not be about whether or not they win a trophy, or some form of trophy. There is a problem with this how big that trophy may be. approach in that too many trophies are too easily won and members can get them for little or Reference: The Art of Coaching Kids – John R. Frew no effort. This approach fails to teach athletes that 3 The ROC (The Rules of Competition) Did you know..... OUT THE BACK In throwing events from a circle, once an athlete has completed their trial, they have to leave the circle from its rear half. The first point of contact with the ground outside the circle shall be completely behind the white line drawn through the centre and extended outside the circle, not less than 75cm on each side.