Junior Section (7-17 Year Olds)

^{(Updated July 2024)}

At Pakuranga Athletic Club, 7 to 14 year olds have the opportunity to participate in running races and relays over a range of distances (60m through to 1,500m, hurdles, steeplechase and race walks, depending on the age of the athlete), throwing events (discus and shotput, and an introduction to javelin), and jumping events (long jump and high jump).

Who Can Join?

Junior athletics caters for all children born between the 1st of January 2009 and the 31st of December 2017.  We are also happy to have older teenagers join us for club nights.

If your child was born on or after the 1^st of January 2018, they will qualify for our ‘5s and 6s’ or ‘Tiny Tots’ sections.  Please check out the separate tabs on our website for these groups.

When Is It? 

Sessions for Junior athletes are held on Wednesdays, from 5:45 pm, at the Yvette Williams Track at Lloyd Elsmore Park.  Finishing time is around 7:15 - 7:30 pm; older age group may finish slightly later depending on the programme and numbers attending.

Sessions for the 2024/25 season start on WEDNESDAY 16 OCTOBER 2024 but new members are welcome any Wednesday.  Last session for the season is Wednesday 2^nd of April 2025.

What happens on Wednesday evenings?

Each club evening children are grouped with others of the same age and gender. Each group (‘grade’) takes part in three or four events – two on the track and one or two in the field (one throwing and one jumping event). The club evening programme is provided in a weekly newsletter emailed to member families.

We encourage children to participate in all events to enable them to develop a broad base of athletic skill. The club evening programme and points system are designed to support this goal. It is also universally recognised that specialisation at an early age is counter-productive; a balanced, all-round programme will produce the best results for athletes in the long term. However, children can participate in particular events only if they prefer.

How Much Does It Cost?

The cost for the season (from 16th October 2024 to 2^nd of April 2025) is $165 per child.

The cost for athletes transferring from our Cross Country and Road section is $34.

What Do The Children Wear?

The Junior club uniform consists of a club singlet. This costs $45 and is available from the tuck shop on Wednesday evenings.  Athletes can choose their preferred style of shorts but these must be plain black or navy blue. A range of optional uniform items (hoodies, tracksuits, t-shirts, caps etc.) are also available for purchase from the tuck shop.

Children can choose to compete barefoot or in shoes. Spiked shoes (‘spikes’) are allowed to be worn by Grades 10 and above. ‘Spikes’ information sessions are held at the start of the season.

What Do The Parents Do?

On club evenings and at outside events, a parent or guardian must attend at all times and is responsible for the behaviour of their child. This includes ensuring that they are not hindering the participation and enjoyment of other athletes and that equipment is being used correctly and safely. Athletics is not a ‘drop and run’ activity.

We also ask parents to offer encouragement and applaud the efforts of all athletes and to help with club evening activities as required.

My Child Has Special Needs.  Can They Take Part?

Of course!  Please contact Tania Boyer, our club secretary (0274 977433; pakrun@gmail.com) to discuss.

Sounds Great!  How Do We Get Started?

Registrations for the 2024-25 season are now open!  Register via the blue box on the home page of this website.  

If you would like to see our programme in action before registering, we will be holding a free 'Have A Go' morning on Saturday 12^th of October.  New families are also able to come along to club nights on the 16th and 23^rd of October and try out the activities before registering.