FAQ's
Aussie Aths is athletics, but not as you know it.
Aussie Aths is a health and fitness program for Aussie kids based on athletics.
It’s about learning to be healthier, fitter and faster in a fun environment that Aussie kids of all abilities will enjoy - whatever sport they love.
Aussie Aths sessions start for Prep aged students (4.5 years and over and have started school) and continue to Year 8 (approx. 13 years old). The program is presented in year levels, so Aussie Aths kids do age-appropriate sessions with kids their own age.
Aussies Aths is developed to be specific for the developmental ages and abilities of children, with three Aussie Aths programs that provide age-appropriate activities for Aussie kids.
Aussie Aths Active
Prep – Grade 2 kids.
This gets kids moving and teaches Aussie kids the fundamentals of athletics.
This program is not about races, results and records. Just a whole lot of fun as we teach the ABCs of movement – agility, balance, coordination and speed – all based around athletics – the core of all sports.
We deliver a positive experience for all kids so they want to come back for more!
Aussie Aths Accelerate
Grades 3-4 and Grades 5-6
Aussie kids want to get fitter and faster as they get older and Aussie Aths Accelerate helps make that happen. Building on the Aussie Aths Active program, Accelerate is designed for Aussie Kids in grades 3-6.
It’s all based around running, jumping and throwing and age-appropriate skill progression. There are increases in the volume, while continuing to improve the quality of movement. The focus is on skills that support continued athletic development for all sports.
Aussie Aths Academy
Grades 6-8
By the time Aussie kids reach the end of primary school, they expect a little more, so the Aussie Aths Academy for kids in years 6, 7 and 8 is designed specifically for their growing bodies.
This is an extension program that moves from ‘learning to train’ to ‘training to train’. Participants improve their understanding of how physical capacity is developed – beyond improvements related directly to growth – and how these areas can continue to be improved. There is a continued focus on athletic development for all sports, with individuals given greater autonomy in their training, based on their particular interests, needs and skills.
Aussie Aths Academy assists kids with their sporting performance, injury prevention and understanding of fitness and conditioning.
An Aussie Aths session lasts 50 minutes for the Active and Accelerate programs for the younger age groups and runs for 60 minutes for the older age kids in the Academy program. Program enrolment is based on school terms, with an 8-10 week program within each term.
Aussie Aths terms run for 8 weeks for the Active and Accelerate programs and 10 weeks for the Academy program (unless impacted by a public holiday).
Absolutely not. In fact, Aussie Aths is for every child. Aussie Aths aims to make all kids healthier, fitter and faster… no matter what their starting point is or what sport they play. It’s perfect for little footballers, netballers, soccer players, basketballers, etc. And what’s best, kids can do Aussie Aths when it suits them (and their parents). It doesn’t go from October to March. Instead, Aussie Aths is based around school terms and each term lasts for 8-10 weeks – so you can choose the term, location and time that best suits your busy life and other family commitments.
Aussie Aths is designed around the fundamentals of movement – running, jumping and throwing. So Aussie kids will learn to run faster, jump higher and longer and throw further with skills and activities appropriate to your child’s age.
Aussie Aths sessions are designed and taught by qualified athletics coaches and incorporate age-appropriate progressions. Aussie Aths is based around games-based play and each session includes a warm-up, fun games, challenging skills and activities. The focus is developing and improving skills, not on some number on the stop watch or measuring tape.
Aussie Aths is coaching not competition.
Fun activities, including races and competitions, are integrated as part of the teaching curriculum and help ensure the program is engaging and enjoyable for everyone. But it’s just a small part of the Aussie Aths program, not the focus.
Some kids (and parents) like the competition and will also pursue Little Aths, school athletics or other athletics related programs. However research shows that most kids want to learn the skills and get better, whatever sport they play, in fun environments that don’t involve winning or losing. So Aussie Aths delivers skill-based learning in the right environment which can complement their participation and aspirations in athletics, footy, soccer, basketball, netball, or pretty much any other land-based sport.
Aussie Aths is delivered by our qualified coaching team and is not reliant on parent volunteers.
Aussie Aths offers shorter sharper sessions (50 mins vs 3 hours), involves constant movement and activity with no time to stand around waiting for your turn, and is delivered at different times and on different days, not just Saturday mornings during summer.
Yes. All Aussie Aths sessions are led by coaches who are accredited athletics coaches with Athletics Australia. They are registered members of Athletics Australia, insured and have current Working with Children Checks.
In many instances, Aussie Aths coaches are former athletes and current coaches of elite athletes, so you can be certain that at Aussie Aths you will be learning from the best, rather than a well-meaning parent who knows how to run, jump or throw based on what they remember from their own days at school.
To ensure every child gets the attention they deserve, Aussie Aths sessions are limited to between 10-20 children per coach, depending on the age group.
Aussie Aths Active - Prep to Grade 2 (1:10)
Aussie Aths Accelerate - Grade 3-4 and Grade 5-6 (1:15)
Aussie Aths Academy - Grade 6-8 – (1:20)
Funny…. This is actually a question we got asked. No, at Aussie Aths your child won’t be standing in a queue waiting for their turn. They’ll be active for the whole session, which means they’ll certainly have no time for climbing trees. Lots of time being active, means lots of turns trying, repeating and improving the skill they are doing. And we know that’s the best way to learn. Where mistakes can be adjusted straight away, without consequence, and kids are free to keep trying. Knock off the bar? Do a foul? Misjudge your pacing? Let’s recover, adjust and have another turn. That’s how we improve.
Life is busy and kids are even busier, so Aussie Aths kids should only do one Aussie Aths session a week. That’s plenty of opportunity to learn the skills and get fitter and faster.
No. Aussie Aths sessions are led from start to finish by our accredited and experienced professional coaches. Of course, parents and carers are welcome watch, but there’s no requirement to be involved in any way and you certainly won’t be required to put away the hurdles or high jump bags.
Aussie Aths isn’t about competition and winning. It’s about learning the basic skills and techniques of running and other athletics events and helping kids get healthier, fitter and faster, no matter their starting base or aspirations.
That’s not to say we won’t have challenges and races within our sessions that test and encourage the kids to strive high and enjoy their own improvements, competing to the best of their ability. Races and competitions are integrated as part of the teaching curriculum and help ensure the program is engaging and enjoyable for everyone. Competition heightens the learning and fun, creates age-appropriate challenges and helps us assess how the participants are responding to the skills. It also assists with decision-making and tactical development, so is critical to continued involvement and success in sport. But it’s just a small part of the Aussie Aths program, not the focus.