Summer Track and Field Season Overview
The Summer Track and Field season runs from October to March and provides athletes with experience across many athletic events within the core disciplines of running, jumping, and throwing. Athletes pay a membership fee at the start of the season—approximately $200—for around 19 weeks of competition at Ringwood, special events hosted at Ringwood, and opportunities to compete in various regional and state-based championships.
Ringwood Little Athletics also offers training in each event, provided by a mixed-level coaching team. Most coaches still actively compete in various athletics competitions. The training schedule will be provided at the start of the season and is spread over several days during the week to give athletes as many training opportunities as possible. Our coaches deliver an extensive training program designed to teach proper techniques, improve athletic skills, and share tips to equip athletes for success. While training is optional, it is highly recommended to improve skill levels.
Competition Details
Competitions at Ringwood are held on Saturday mornings. Setup begins around 7:00 am, athlete warm-ups start at about 8:30 am, and the first events are called no later than 9:00 am. In a typical season, competitions aim to conclude by approximately 11:30 am. Various factors can impact the schedule, including volunteer assistance, athlete numbers, equipment issues, and weather conditions.
The competition follows a “rolling” A, B, C program, meaning events are spread over a three-week period. This structure ensures athletes have multiple chances to compete in all events throughout the season. The program is usually finalized at the start of the season to provide consistency and certainty for athletes and parent volunteers.
Special Events and Championships
Throughout the season, athletes are offered opportunities to participate in various regional and state competitions. Relays usually kick off in November, starting with a Box Hill relay “practice” day, followed by region relays, and then the state relay championships. Relays are a great way for athletes to connect and bond since they are team-based. All athletes are encouraged to form teams and participate.
The State Combined Event usually takes place at the end of January and follows a format similar to a heptathlon or pentathlon, with a maximum of five pre-selected events. While this event may not suit all athletes, Ringwood encourages participation as it showcases a mix of events and is great fun.
Regional and State Track and Field events run in February and March respectively. To qualify for the State Track and Field Championships, athletes must participate at the regional level and place first or second in an event. The State Championships bring together the best-performing athletes across the state, usually in early to mid-March.
Ringwood also hosts its own special events, including the Ringwood Gift, Relayathon/Coles Community Round, and the season concludes with the Ringwood Centre Games Championship. These are fun occasions, and the Centre Games act as mini championships, offering athletes a chance to enjoy themselves and earn medals to wrap up the season.
Uniform and Miscellaneous Information
Athletes must wear the Ringwood centre uniform; please refer to the Uniform section on our website for details. Patches identifying athletes for our timing system are required during competition. New patches and reprints (available at a cost) can be obtained at the pavilion before competitions.
The Saturday competition schedule is available at the start of the Track and Field season on our calendar. For more information, please check our socials:
•Website: https://ringwoodlac.com.au/
