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Little Athletics is for ALL the Family...

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Little Athletics is a totally voluntary organization so parent participation is essential in order for our Centre to successfully run the competition program each week, fulfilling the many and varied duties required.  These include officiating at an event; starting track events; managing an age group; recording results; to name just a few & even joining the centre committee to help plan athletic the athletics season.  All parents are encouraged to become involved.  Little Athletics is one of the few sports where parents can become fully involved in their child's sporting interests.  As a condition of registering your child/children with your nominated club it is expected and required that you will help out at club level on various occasions throughout the season. 

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ELAC *NEW* Rostering System

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In past years we have simply sought out parent helpers on the day as events were called and also a sign yourself up volunteer roster.  Sadly this system has not been working for our club, with many families not volunteering or putting names down on roster for duty and no showing up.  It has also meant many families did more than their fair share whilst some families did not help out at all. PLEASE NOTE:  Without enough help it is possible that events may be cancelled.  This means the kids are ultimately the ones who will miss out on and event & also points for that event. 

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ELAC Parent helpers are required every week to help officiate at the events our club is responsible for at weekly competition days throughout the season. Everyone can help in some way, it can be as simple as marking or measuring, recording, raking the pits, or retrieving the javelin/shot puts/discus after a throw. Not to mention your child/children will love having mum or dad at their event to watch them. It's also very rewarding when you can gain an understanding of events and then be out there to assist your aspiring future Olympians.

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If you are not comfortable with what is required we will be pleased to show you what needs to be done and will give you all the help and training needed.  It is such a rewarding experience and if everyone helps share the load the competitions run smoothly and the events are completed earlier.

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In order to make it fairer to all families we will be moving to a Parent Helper Roster System.  This will be populated by the ELAC Chief of Official, you will then be notified by email that you have been rostered on for duty and what event you will be required at.  The roster will also be posted each week on Team APP to notify families. A copy of the parent helper roster sign in will also be placed at the Epping club table at the commencement of each competition day, so please check this when you are signing in.

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Families will be required to assist equally! Depending on our club numbers, will depend on how many times each family is rostered on for duty. Without enough help it is possible that events may be cancelled. This means the kids are ultimately the ones who will miss out on and event & also points for that event. 

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For example:

If you are rostered on as Parent Helper at Shot Put 1 there are 4 Age Groups allocated to Shot Put 1 each Competition day. You will be required as Parent Helper for all 4 Age Groups (ALL DAY DUTY). ELAC currently is allocated 3 events to manage during weekly competition and the Parent Helper Roster will be set up to reflect these requirements

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NOTE: Being an AGE GROUP TEAM MANAGER for a seasons age group is counted as your family doing duty for regular competition days. You may however be asked to help do duty on Special Events weekends such as Championships Day if required.

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Our club is also required to set up and pack up our own clubs events, so to be fair:

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Event Set Up: 

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Those parents rostered on duty please make sure you arrive early enough to make sure the event you are rostered on for is set up (table chair, event trolley & equipment)

 

*NOTE: Those on Javelin please make sure along with your trolley you have javelines from inside first shed in the cage area (door side of cage up in PVC tubing attached to cage) you will require 400g 500g 600g turbo javs should be in trolley for junior ages group. Make sure safety area is marked out if centre hasnt done prior to commencing).

 

Event Pack Up:
Those families on duty and responsible for packing up the event also this season. So please make sure your said event you are on duty at is all packed up and trolley & equipment is taken back over to the equipment and storage sheds.

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Unable to assist on your nominated date?

If you are unable to assist with your duty on your nominated date please contact the ELAC Chief of Officials, Secretary or President, as soon as possible so that we can re-allocate the helpers to that event. You will then be re-allocated to a different competition date in exchange for someone swapping to cover your spot. Notification to the Club is via the Parent Helper Roster System “Chat Room” located under the “Chat” button in Team App, via Email, Phone or via messaging person in charge of rosters. Without enough help it is possible that events may be cancelled.

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​Non-Compliance with NEW roster:

To make it fair and equitable for all families it is required that parents / guardians participate as helpers.

​Families who do not complete their allocated Parent Helper Duty on their nominated day/s without proper notification to the Club of your inability to complete and reallocation of your parent helper duty to a new date will result in their child/ren NOT receiving Club Points for that competition day.

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Athletes earn Club Points for their athletic performances and this determines placings in their Age Group for end of season awards. It is, therefore, important that families complete their allocated Parent Helper Duty.

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​We still may on occasions when parents haven't come on that weekend need replacements or ask round for fill in help on the weekend so please if you can help if you hear a call out or check roster in the morning for any positions that may need help, again Parent helpers are required every week to help officiate at the events our club is responsible for. So please help out if asked or let myself know that you're free to help if needed at the start of competition in case we require fill-ins. 

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If you are interested in getting more involved i.e. becoming a chief of an event, contact myself or Heidi, as there are various courses available from LA Vic that you can attend. Some of the courses the club will refund as reimbursement at the end of the season. ie if you fulfil the entire season helping athletes as a club coach at training nights or on competition days as chiefs.

 

We look forward to seeing you all at the track and helping us to ensure our competitions run successfully.

 

Chief of Officials 

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