Hello members,

As we complete our first SMDLAC ‘rest/bye’ weekend following the State Combined Champions,
we wanted to highlight schedule changes and reinforce athlete safety guidelines on our return to Lakeside on Sunday 20th November.

SCHEDULE and START TIME UPDATE

Sunday competition start and completion time will be earlier for some age groups:
• 08:20-10:00am U6-U7
• 08:20-10:30am U8-U10
• 08:45-11:30am U11+ (effectively no change for these age groups)

https://smdlac.teamapp.com/clubs/12004/documents/1125347?_detail=v1
Updated Schedule A, B, C (above) sees age groups staggered, providing additional capacity support larger groups. This change has been driven by the following Centre considerations:

1. Membership has grown to 250+ (and counting), up from 150 last year which is an awesome achievement for our club!
2. Ontrack U6/U7 age groups will shortly commence one track and one field event each week as they progress their development
3. Lakeside has also commenced pitch (grass) upgrade works in preparation for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, rendering this area unavailable until Jan 2023 (4 x Sunday sessions impacted). This has removed a shotput & discus circle and the On-track/general development area. There will continue to be a level of congestion whilst we operate with a single discus circle.

We recognize that the earlier start may not be ideal for some however we believe it will allow us to give our members the best athletics experience possible.

ATHLETE SAFETY

With increased numbers (did we say 250+!) we need to ensure we continue to focus on the safety of our athletes and volunteers. The following guidelines, applied across all Centers, need to be reinforced and monitored by ALL of us:
• Athletes are not to remove items out of the event trolleys. This relates specifically to the official discus, shotput and javelin equipment used for competition. The duty coach/age group volunteers will allocate the correct weighted items for each event. Safe practice equipment will still be available.
• Please continue to be careful crossing the track & HJ areas. Avoid crossing the front straight or walking near the timing gates. Be in the habit of crossing the entry/exit cones marking the corners of the track.
• Once Ontrack is completed all parents and U6/U7 athletes are required to exit the pitch. Only volunteer parents on duty (wearing hi vis vests) are permitted to remain on the competition field.
• No practice of events or use of equipment without coach/parent supervision. As an example, young athletes have been observed playing/diving shoulder first on the Scissors mat which can cause serious injury.

We appreciate your continued support, without this we’re unable to conduct Little Athletics! Look forward to seeing you soon at Lakeside.

IN FUN and FITNESS
South Melbourne Districts Little Athletics (SMDLAC) Committee