Little Athletics is an uniquely Australian modified athletics program for children from 3 years old, based on the sport of athletics (track and field). There is a wide range of running, jumping, throwing and walking events which are modified to suit the age, developmental stage and ability of children. Little Athletics promotes that it is important to “Be your Best” with the emphasis on fun, participation, technique and getting involved with your family in a physical and healthy activity. The motto of Little Athletics is ‘Family, Fun and Fitness”. Across Australia, more than 100,000 children participate in Little Athletics weekly meets with both summer and winter programs available. Little Athletics is the “Foundation for all Sports”. All sports use the skills developed at Little Athletics.

Children aged 3 and above, from all abilities can join Murray Bridge Little Athletics. We run a Tiny Tots program for 3-4year olds that not only incorporates fundamental skills of athletics but includes actual events with recorded times and distances so athletes of all ages can feel included, earn personal bests and follow their progress during the season. Our recorder works closely with parents and care givers of children with disabilities/restrictions to ensure their needs are catered for whether this involves tailoring age groups or adjusting equipment or events. Our Recorder can also assist families wishing to seek formal classification for their children to compete in SALAA and Australian Athletic Para Events.

Any family can come and try 2 meets at Murray Bridge Little Athletics any time during our summer season program as posted via the link here in the FAQ or on our public Facebook page Murray Bridge Little Athletics Inc. Please reach out to group admin at any time if needed. These weeks do not have to be consecutive.

Our two programmed come and try dates this summer season are, Sunday 28th September and Sunday 12th October 2025.

Absolutely! We welcome registered little athletes from all over Australia. We work closely with parents and clubs to welcome and accommodate athletes who attend our programmed meets every second week or part time during the season. Simply register your athletes at one affiliated little athletics club, then reach out to the other club you are intending to regularly visit. Each club will ensure to record all event results on our nationwide recorders platform so that each athlete can track their personal improvements, qualify for state events and feel involved in their clubs. We also provide you with our MBLAC program, special meet information and equipment and provide access to our private family Facebook page so you can celebrate your achievements with our MBLAC family. Please speak directly with our recorder or email MBLAC for further information.

Weekly meets are held mostly on Sunday mornings at the Murray Bridge High School Oval, Swanport road with pre meet coaching starting at 8.30am and meet announcements and warm-up starting at 9.15am. When state events are held by SALAA at SA Athletics Stadium, (also on Sundays) that impact our athletes, we accommodate this by holding Friday night meets starting at 5.30pm. Each season we also attend an Interclub meet with our neighboring hills clubs. Our schedule can be found on our season program here in this FAQ section, our Facebook page, or via SALAA website.

Training sessions for all athletes are held directly prior to our weekly meets. This is due to Murray Bridge having a busy sporting body and we understand that athletes participate in multiple sports and weekly events. For Sunday meets our training sessions are held from 8.30am till 9.15am. Tiny Tots participate in Athletic Fundamental Activities. Under 6 to Under 8 athletes participate in junior development coaching and Under 9 to Under 17 athletes participate in event specific coaching. Each week coaching is tailored to identified needs of our athletes to help them achieve the most out of their season. Special pre state event coaching sessions are also arranged to assist athletes competing in championship events.

Registration fees are made up of 2 components. $125 for each athlete is held by South Australian Little Athletics Association (SALAA) who we are affiliated with and the remaining $45 is used at club level for athletes' awards, certificates, medals, trophies, ribbons, and club equipment costs. All committee and coaches are volunteers who work extremely hard each season to secure sponsorship to ensure athlete fees are kept as low as possible. The SA Sports Voucher of $200 can be used for each school age athlete (up to 16yo) to help subsidies season fees at time of registration.

Yes absolutely! From 2025 the SA Government has doubled the SA Sports Voucher to $200 for all SA school aged children up to 16years of age.

They can be applied during the registration process in the payment section for all full season registrations. Simply follow the prompts during the registration progress and complete Medicare (including their reference number) and school details for each athlete you wish to apply a voucher. Voucher amounts will then be deducted from the cost of the athletes' registration. If you need to check if a voucher has already been used for an athlete in the calendar year, please follow this link, https://www.sportsvouchers.sa.gov.au/child-voucher-search/

South Australian come and try and full season registrations open on Friday 8th August.

MBLAC summer season commences on Sunday 28th September.

Please await further information on website and social media posts regarding the registration process as a new platform 'Sport80' is being implemented by SALAA this season for all registrations and state events.

Once registered, each athlete has full membership for the entire summer season of Murray Bridge Little Athletics for local and state events and statewide winter season membership for cross country, winter track and race-walking events.

Weekly Little Athletic summer meets can be attended at any affiliated Little Athletics Club Australia wide with results recorded on a national platform.

Each athlete and family will receive a registration pack containing information for new families including club policies, volunteering, social media links and uniform ordering information. Also included in each pack are registration badges, age group badges, information about state events, and a collection of small gifts from our registrar and sponsors. Full season registered families also receive a copy of our MBLAC Handbook and access to our private Facebook page where weekly achievements and awards are celebrated.

MBLAC uniform is registered with and approved by SALAA. To participate and prevent disqualification in all SALAA state competitions, the MBLAC registered uniform must be worn. Please refer to our uniform policy.

We ask athletes to be wearing the MBLAC uniform by their 4th week from the commencement of their full season registration. Tiny Tots can either wear a MBLAC registered shirt or plain light blue t-shirt with their badges attached. Appropriate running or cross trainer footwear is compulsory for all events.

7mm long spikes are only permitted for U11-U17 age groups subject to event rules. Turning shoes are permitted for all age groups.

Appropriate sun smart hats are advised to be worn before, between and after events.

The MBLAC Uniform can be purchased from the online apparel store through Print City. https://printcity.net.au/.

Simply follow the links under the 'uniform' tab on this website.

Print City is located at 4 Rayson street, Murray Bridge and orders can be picked up or you can arrange delivery.

Please phone print city on (08) 8531 1035 if you have not received notification regarding completion of your order 10 days post placing order.

Second hand MBLAC uniforms are often for sale at the MBLAC canteen during home meets (especially at the start of the summer season) or posted on our Facebook sites for private arrangement.

Remember Tiny Tot athletes have the option to wear a light blue T-shirt purchased from any department store.

For Sunday meets, Pre meet coaching commences at 8.30am with athletes divided up into 3 groups participating in pre meet coaching activities.

Come and try athletes are welcome to attend training. Announcements, award presentations and athlete warm-up commence at 9.15am. Programmed events for all athletes (Tiny Tots - Under 17) commences at the conclusion of the warm-up. Athletes divided up into age groups move around to their different events with a chaperone and parents to complete their programmed events. The emphasis is on having fun and having a go at the different events.

Tiny Tots can participate in 5 events each week (except on Diamond Days where they have 6 events) and Under 6 - Under 17 athletes have 6 events each week. Programmed events take approximately 1 hour (for Tiny Tots - Under 9 athletes) and 1.5hrs for Under 10 - U17 athletes, (because they are running longer distances with throwing and jumping events take a bit longer to complete also.

A canteen is available each week with a BBQ, drinks and sweet treats to purchase when you complete your events.

Chaperones return their event folders to the recorder for results to be uploaded onto resultshq after the meet.

No. We ask athletes to simply, try their best and have a go if they want to and feel comfortable. You do not have to complete all the events. We ask that you participate in a minimum of 3 or 50% of the appropriate age group events, whichever is greater to achieve an attendance for the meet. Our recorder will do her best and enter whatever results you have achieved, even if it is only one jump or one throw for an event. Murray Bridge Little Athletics is about having fun and achieving your best for that day.

MBLAC is run by volunteer parents and all families are expected to pitch in. Please refer to page 14-15 of our MBLAC Season Handbook for how you can help at MBLAC, season volunteer roles and starter/timer procedures. All athletes must be accompanied by a supervising adult. A drop-and-go policy is not safe and not accepted. An athlete may be asked to sit out if no responsible adult is present. If your athlete needs to leave early, please advise the chaperone before events commence. We expect all families to help at the centre in some capacity during the season with volunteers for BBQ, timer/starter, equipment set-up and pack-up required each week. Each age group needs a parent chaperone to record results and parents to assist with running of events. If you have any special skills, please let the committee know. For chaperones, a folder with results recording sheets, and quick event running guide is available in each group's basket. Instructional videos are also located on our Facebook site. Results from meets are entered onto results HQ by the MBLAC Recorder who also maintains attendance and PB databases. Parents of athletes attending state events are required to fulfil volunteer requirements set by SALAA at these events as determined on athlete numbers attending. Parents interested in undertaking official or coaching courses are encouraged, please see committee for further information.

MBLAC committee are volunteers and do their best to keep parents and athletes up to date with regular social media posts, resultshq message board posts and emails. We have two Facebook groups, Murray Bridge Little Athletics Inc (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1447881638731426) - which is our open public page and MBLAC Registered Athletes closed private group for full season registered members only.

Please reach out!

Phone: 0418 859 637

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: Murray Bridge Little Athletics Inc. and PM our Registrar/Recorder, Amanda (Facebook page admin)

We are always here to help!