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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Advice for a child interested in athletics!

17 replies

MomFromSE · 09/05/2023 10:38

My DD is only 6 but loves running and is very, very fast and loves racing. She has started going on longer runs with me for fun.

I think she’d enjoy doing athletics and kids races but I’m not sure how families get involved in this sort of thing and from what age it starts.

Any insight from parents of kids doing athletics would be great!

OP posts:
ZacharinaQuack · 09/05/2023 10:48

England Athletics runs a scheme called 'funetics' for children that age: https://www.englandathletics.org/young-athletes-and-schools/

That's great that she wants to come out on runs with you for fun - but do be a bit wary of doing too much as her bones, ligaments and joints will still be developing at that age. Shorter bursts of faster running are much better for little kids than longer endurance running.

Junior Athletics Clubs & Schools | England Athletics

England Athletics recognises that working with young athletes is essential to the future of athletics in England. Find out more or get involved here.

https://www.englandathletics.org/young-athletes-and-schools

Original poster
MomFromSE · 09/05/2023 10:59

Thanks, I’ve looked at the funletics link but like most resources it doesn’t say how you actually get involved. Is there a network of running clubs for kids? I can’t seem to find any!

OP posts:
caringcarer · 09/05/2023 11:00

You could find a Junior Park Run for a 2km run for her. JPR's are usually held on a Sunday morning.

Original poster
MomFromSE · 09/05/2023 11:09

@caringcarer does your child do athletic competitions? I’m trying to find out how kids get involved with that.

OP posts:
tattychicken · 09/05/2023 11:19

I'd google your local/town athletics club and ask them. Our one is for 10yrs and upwards but they run " camps" and fun sessions for younger children in the school holidays which might be a good way for her try it out if yours does similar..

caringcarer · 09/05/2023 11:39

MomFromSE · 09/05/2023 11:09

@caringcarer does your child do athletic competitions? I’m trying to find out how kids get involved with that.

My D's was on a waiting list at local athletics club for 3 years. He did the Park Run and had good times for his age but it was a very popular club. In the end he took up karate instead. He still runs around a lake near to us a couple of times each week.

My DGS is 7 1/2 he will be 8 in August. He runs the JPR of 2km every week. Now he has started running the Adult Park Run on a Saturday with his Mum and It is 5km. The first time they ran it together my DD says they ran it in 31 mins and 20 seconds, but she was slowing DGS down and he kept telling her to run faster as he is very fit. Now they are down to 30 mins and 5 seconds but she says if he was allowed to run on his own DGS could go faster. But they have to stay together until the child is 10. The athletics club near her is full and the huge waiting list is estimated to be over 2 years. I have suggested signing up for a Triathlon Club as DGS is a good bike rider and swimmer too. She has looked into this and he can go for a trial when he is 8 so by the end of August. He will do 1 hour swimming every week followed by alternative weeks 1 hour running or 1 hour bike riding and practice on transitions. DGS is really looking forward to it and having extra swimming time at weekends to go faster in his swimming. Does your child like bike riding and swimming too? If so Triathlon might be good for them too. There are junior Triathlon events and I have looked at DGS age group of up to 8 years and it's called Tri Start. They seem to swim 50 metres, bike ride 2km then run 600-800 metres. There are also Aquathlons that just swim and run and Duathlons that just bike ride and run. I do know all entrants often get a medal for finishing the event and sometimes a T shirt too. I would think it would be a nice healthy hobby. I know my DGS will compete in the Tri Star category this summer. I am going to go to support him once my DD finds one close to where they live.

LizzieBet14 · 09/05/2023 11:44

Our athletics club doesn't take children until they are 8 for training and competitions don't start til 'Under 9'.

horseymum · 09/05/2023 13:17

In Scotland we have ' run, jump and throw' clubs for younger ones. I would second the junior park run and triathlon club ideas. I think you gave to be 7 for ours though, so maybe contact some and see. Some of the running clubs might be called 'something harriers'. Ours does field and track, so plenty of variety. Triathlon is great as it's lifelong, you compete by age group - some folk still doing it 80+!

ZacharinaQuack · 09/05/2023 13:23

MomFromSE · 09/05/2023 10:59

Thanks, I’ve looked at the funletics link but like most resources it doesn’t say how you actually get involved. Is there a network of running clubs for kids? I can’t seem to find any!

I think they will mostly be run by local athletics clubs. If you put your location into the search box on the website, they will tell you if there are any courses locally and you can book your child on. As PPs have said, though, she's a bit young for normal club athletics, so there are probably quite limited offerings available in her age group just at the moment.

Eccle80 · 09/05/2023 14:38

I agree with the others that junior park run is a great starting place. Our nearest athletics club will take them from 6, but competitions aren’t until they are year 4 age generally (U11 age group). You do get some quadkids for U9, so year 2/3, but not sure it is that common

Eccle80 · 09/05/2023 14:42

I have also seen these classes, but not sure what they are like, and more expensive than an athletics club generally is!

clary · 09/05/2023 14:49

OP I am involved with my local athletics club - there will be one in your local town or city.

We encourage juniors to do run-jump-throw (so all disciplines) from age 8 upwards. We work with an annual membership fee that allows athletes to train at certain sessions and enter certain comps. A child in year 4 and 5 competes in a limited range of comps as an U11.

Once they are in year 6 they are U13 and more comps are available.

The info about your local club should be on its website.

Junior Park Run is also a good place to go. What year is your DD in? If she is in yr 2 and turns 7 this summer then she will be able to start at a club in about 18 months's time.

Original poster
MomFromSE · 09/05/2023 14:57

Okay, I live in London so there are a couple of clubs near me that I’ve found that start training kids from 7.

OP posts:
brooksghost · 09/05/2023 15:15

Junior Parkrun is brilliant.
Both of mine started from that.
Most clubs round here are from age 9 but get on the waiting ASAP.

clary · 09/05/2023 15:56

Make sure they are aware of her age then as 7yo is quite young. Also she needs to know that she cannot compete (except in the occasional u9 non scoring race) until she is in yr 4. But if there are other 7yos then that should be fine, as they will be in the same boat IYSWIM

savoycabbage · 09/05/2023 20:37

My dd does athletics, she started when she was five but we lived in Australia then.

She's 16 now and it's a really rewarding sport and there is something for everyone.

www.englandathletics.org/#

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