Knox Little Athletics Centre Inc.

As its currently school holidays and families may have other commitments over the next few weekends and due to the low numbers that attended last weekend, the advertised preseason clinics being run by Mike Donato will move to face to face sessions once the track reopens.

Thank you to all that enrolled and keep up to date with the coaching information on Knox Website.

Junior Development Squad (JDS) qualifying standards for 2020/21 are out now.

For athletes in under 12 to under 16 age groups, who have achieved the qualifying standards in Season 2019/2020, have the opportunity to join the JDS squad. This gives you access to attend JDS training days with some of the best coaches in Victoria.

However, due to the restrictions with COVID-19, JDS this season has been adjusted.  As the calendar with squad training days cannot be scheduled, the JDS structure and registration are now split into two parts.

• JDS Joining Fee – the first part allows athletes who qualify, to register for JDS. The JDS Joining fee covers the administration of the registration process and the JDS t-shirt & postage.
• JDS Squad Fee – the second part is the balance of the JDS fee that covers the cost of the squad training days, that will be determined once the calendar can be scheduled and the number of JDS days confirmed

For all the details that are known at this time please see https://lavic.com.au/education/athletes/junior-development-squad/

Invitation emails have already been sent out to athletes who were JDS squad members in Season 2019-2020 so check your inbox.

LA VIC have provided a COVID 19 update on the season and the current state of play for Little Athletics. You can read the full memo here

Key Points – Below is summary of the key points provided in the memo.

In metropolitan Melbourne, the earliest community sport – and Little Athletics – can be expected to resume is 26th October, and this will be determined by community COVID-19 infection levels.

Training and coaching

Many sports are asking the following questions of the State Government:

• Are coaches considered in the same light as personal trainers, and hence can commence sanctioned coaching activities at Step 2 (28th September for metro Melbourne)?
• Can sanctioned training activities start sooner than 26th October?

The position of Sport & Recreation Victoria (SRV) on these questions is unequivocal:

Coaches are not considered personal trainers and can not undertake coaching activities prior to 26th October. The earliest sports coaching can occur is 26th October.

There is to be no community sport activity – inclusive of sanctioned training or competition – prior to 26th October. These settings apply to Little Athletics.

Region Relay Carnivals and State Relay Championships

Given the delayed commencement of the season (for almost all Centres), and likelihood that modest maximum gathering restrictions will prohibit the running of Region and State events for the remainder of 2020,

LAVic has taken the decision to move the Region Relay Carnivals and State Relay Championship to be held in the New Year (subject to restrictions), with dates to be confirmed shortly.

Other Points to Note

• LAVic will be ultimately guided by advice from the State Government as to when specifically Centres can commence.
• NSW Centres: Effective from 1st September, community sport can be conducted in NSW. LAVic has six Centres located on the NSW side of the Murray River and these Centres are currently considering their options for commencing season 20/21.
• There have been no specific announcements by the State Government on maximum crowd gathering sizes to date. SRV have given an undertaken to provide some clarity on this issue and other matters pertaining to community sport next week.

The Knox LAC and the Executive Committee is continuing to work with LAVic to ensure our centre is ready once the season can start.

If you would like further information on LAVic and COVID 19 you can head to the LAVic website here.

We have all experienced COVID, but we haven’t all had the same experience. For some, their re-entry is going to be difficult for they will be carrying heavy loads, while others will have the capacity to reach out and care. The role of every club is to identify the needs of its people and create systems of support. 

Knox City Council will be hosting two mental health and wellbeing sessions, offered to all members of Knox sport and leisure clubs aged 15+. This includes our U16 athletes at Knox Little Aths and all parents of athletes are more than welcome to attend. The sessions run for an hour and are free.

These interactive, online presentations will be facilitated by Sport and Life Training (SALT). The SALT Club Re-Connect Program is an interactive, online presentation that digs deep into how your club community is traveling right now and equips you to support one another into the future. Through a newly developed and highly informative live quiz, the SALT presenter will establish what the main issues are for each group and will flexibly respond, teach, and connect.

More information on Sport and Life Training (SALT) can be found here

The Law Enforcement Global Virtual Torch Run is on for 2020.This events raises awareness and funds for Special Olympics movement.

Knox LAC has a number of athletes involved in Special Olympics. As an athletic community it is important for us to be involved and show our support to our athletes that are involved in the Special Olympics Movement.

Event Details

20 SEPTEMBER 2020 AT 06:00 – 21 SEP AT 21:00

Hosted by Law Enforcement Torch Run – Victoria, Australia
Register for FREE now at www.letr.org/GVTR/

To take part on 20 September, you can run, walk or cycle anywhere you like. It could be in your suburb, town, village, in a city near you, past an iconic building or landmark.

While we in Victoria are a little bit restricted, you can run alone or in a family group (of course complying with social distancing rules with others around and not out for longer than an hour) – don’t forget to wear something that identifies you as a Torch Runner or Special Olympics athlete, family member, staff member or supporter.

This is not about a race or how far you run it is all about the effort to participate and staying together whilst apart. It doesn’t have to be 5km either. You can run 10km if you want! (or 4km or 2km or even 1km).

A bit about Law Enforcement Torch Relay

LETR Victoria was formed in 2008 with the primary aim of raising awareness and much needed funds.

The LETR Victoria aims:

• To assist Special Olympics athletes in our state develop and maintain fundraising initiatives
• To provide continuing support to Special Olympics Victoria.To raise awareness within Victoria Police and other Law Enforcement agencies operating in Victoria of the existence and nature of the Special Olympics movement
• To raise awareness across the community of the work done by the Special Olympics movement through the conduct of Law Enforcement Torch Runs

For more information you can visit the LETR Facebook Page