Age Manager Role
Canterbury Athletics Club, like all Little Athletics are powered by volunteers from our community.
The Age Manager has one of the most important roles in Little Athletics. An athlete’s enjoyment of the sport will depend on their experience at the local Centre, and as an Age Manager you have a great opportunity to contribute positively to every athlete’s experience.
These volunteer roles are ongoing throughout the season – responsible for accompanying athletes throughout their events on the night. Prior to commencement of each season, we will call for nominations from parents to take up an Age Manager position.
What the Age Managers do
- Collect orange Age Manager vest & Age Group folder (containing the evening’s program & field event recording sheets).
- Be ready to greet athletes at the Program Start location (marked on field map) around 5:55 pm and take attendance as kids arrive.
- Follow the Weekly event program timings, leading the Age Group at the given times from one event to the next.
- Ensure athletes are prepared for their next event – let them know what activity they are doing, and ensure they’re lined up.
- Direct Age Group Helpers to assist in coordinating the athletes for their events, keeping them engaged during wait times, coordinating toilet breaks for the younger kids and asking them to help reset hurdle heights where possible on hurdle nights.
- For running events and hurdles, coordinate with Starters to check they’re ready for the group and for younger groups, organise kids in position onto the start line for each race with an even spread across the races where possible.
- Mark out the current Ground Record using the coloured flag in your Throws trolley for easy monitoring.
- Read & record results achieved at Field Events (or ‘participation’ for Tiny Tots).
- A qualified Judge or Official must be present if a throw or jump is to be recognised as a new record. If an athlete is on the verge of setting a new record for high jump, or you believe they may have broken the record for other field events, call Steve L, Jim or Amil over to observe and sign. Age Managers will need to pass the completed record paper through to the Results Manager (Venessa) for validating.
- Pack up field equipment for the last activity of the night where marked in grey in the Weekly Event Program for the age group.
- Register Age Group Helper duty completion at the end of the session by getting them to scan in with the QR code on their folder with their eldest athlete’s bib number.
- Familiarise self with the Code of Conduct & Behavioural Guidelines.
- Upload Field results in ResultsHQ within the week (Track results will be uploaded centrally).
- Encourage the athletes and most of all, have fun!
Please note: The Tiny Tots program lasts for around 1 hour only, running athletics track and field-style skills games. They generally stay at the same location throughout their session, and results are not recorded.
What makes a good Age Manager?
- Make it Fun! This is our most important ask.
- Arrive at 5:45 pm for the Age Manager briefing, before the events commence from 6:00 pm. Be organised. Be familiar with the program and where you need to go. Keep the athletes engaged.
- Focus on athlete effort and individual performances rather than the overall outcome of the event. In Little Athletics, a personal best is more important than first place.
- Give all athletes equal time and attention. Praise all achievements.
- Be fair, considerate, honest and a positive role model.
Suggestions for running efficient field events
- Get the kids in name order for high jump/ long jump for easier recording.
- High jump try 3 attempts & if they pass go to the back of the line for next height.
- Throws try all 3 attempts for each kid, mark their number flag against their name on the sheet & pop their flag down at their furthest throw. Measure & record for all kids at the end.
Tips for effective supervision
- Learn the names of the children in the group.
- Keep all children within sight/hearing.
- Don’t leave the group unattended, nor allow an athlete to wander off without speaking with you first.
- Younger children should not be leaving the group alone. Consider assigning a buddy or Age Group Helper (eg. for a toilet visit).
- Move about with ‘purpose’. Be mobile, visible and involved.
- Acknowledge good behaviour (individual or group) with positive messages.
- In the case of misbehaviour, an effective verbal reprimand showing a ‘no nonsense’ approach may be all that is needed. Be clear, calm, firm, not harsh or a put down.
Please note that the Age Managers and Age Group Helpers are the only parents who move around with the athlete Age Group. Other parents will be performing other duties or spectating at an appropriate distance if not performing a duty that week. The only persons permitted on the oval during competition are Club Officials, Age Managers and Parent Helpers carrying out a duty on the Track. This is for safety and insurance purposes.
Age Manager Training resources
Event Fact Sheets for various events
| Discus | High Jump | Hurdles | Javelin |
| Long Jump | Relays | Shot Put | Starters/ Starting |
| Timekeeping | Triple Jump | Multi-Class |
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