Knox Little Athletics Centre Inc.

In the lead up to Christmas, the Knox coaching team would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every athlete who’s taken part in any of our coaching sessions throughout this year. While this year has been very different and had its challenges it is encouraging to see so many athletes at training since we have returned. Now with the summer holidays fast approaching everyone is getting ready to take a well earned break for a few weeks.

Dates below have been provided by the coaches, however athletes/families should contact the individual event coaches to confirm their last sessions in 2020 and a resumption of coaching in Jan 2021.

Mike Donato
Sprints – Last Session Mon 21 Dec 2020 – Resumes Mon 18 Jan 2021
Throws – Last Session Sun 20 Dec 2020 – Resumes Wed 20 Jan 2021

Dave Kearsley
Throws – Last Session 23 December 2020 – Resumes Mon 4 Jan 2021

Steve Hough / Steve Morris
Hurdles – Last Session 17 Dec 2020 – Resumes 14 Jan 2021

Mike Kerr
Middle Distance – Athletes to check with Mike directly.

Fran Attard
Walks – Athletes to check with Fran directly.

Brett Lodding / Steve Morris
Long/Triple Jump – Last Session 23 December – Resumes Mon 4 Jan 2021

Alan Louey
High Jump – Last Session 17 December 2020 – Resumes 3 February 2020

All the coaches would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Athletes & parents: There will be no sprint or throws training this Sunday morning (13th December) as there is squad testing scheduled from 8:30-11:30am.

If you are interested in testing and what it involves please contact Mike Donato at coach@klac23.org.au 

• Further easing of COVID-19 restrictions
• Update on State & Region events & portals

Patron Cap

With the State Government further easing Covid restrictions last Sunday, Anthony Macintosh, CEO of Little Athletics Victoria, advised Centres this week of changes to the covid restrictions that directly effect Little Athletics. In part, the following was provided:

Face masks: wearing face masks is no longer mandatory indoors or outdoors unless 1.5m physical distancing is not possible. Face masks must, however, be carried (or readily available) by all present 12 years and older at Little Athletics sanctioned events.

Patron limits: have been raised to a maximum patronage of 1000 (up from 500) inclusive of athletes, parents and spectators.

This is great news for us at Knox LAC, and from this Saturday, restrictions that were in place are no longer needed. Family members are welcome to attend.

All persons entering the facility are still be required to sign in with the QR code (or manual sign in if you wish) and persons 12 and older must carry a face mask. Sanitising is still required upon entry, and at events and all other covid protocols remain in place.

Knox LAC Executive Committee would like to thank everyone for their patience and commitment over the past few weeks to ensure the centre complied with the 500 patron cap rule.

Update on State & Region events & registration portals

LA Vic provided a further update on Wednesday on the registration portals opening for upcoming region and state events. With the changes announced on Sunday by the State Government, it has meant that any event over 1000 patrons must seek a permit from Government through the Public Event Framework (PEF).

LAVic are working through the PEF permit process, which has unfortunately delayed the opening of the registration portals for the regional and state events. Once these permits have been obtained, the registration portals will open. LAVic is asking everyone to be patient and will advise everyone once the portals are open.

LAVic has released a memo yesterday afternoon and have advised all Victorian Centres of a change to the 500 patron cap definition. Anthony Macintosh, CEO of Little Athletics Victoria, provided the following: 

Many of our Centres exceeding 200 members (and often many more Trial Athletes) have expressed concerns about how to keep patronage below 500 on competition/training days, as is required following State Government announcements last Sunday.

Sport & Recreation Victoria and Vicsport have provided further clarification about what parties are counted within, or are excluded, from the 500 patron venue cap.

In the Little Athletics context, ‘Those necessary to conduct the sport are excluded from the 500 cap and would include:

For competition: committee members, officials, first aid providers & volunteers undertaking a required task;
For training: committee members, officials, coaches, first aid providers and volunteers undertaking a required task. 

This is good news in that we can now exclude certain roles from the 500 patron cap, and means that we can ease some of the restrictions for this weekend to allow more options for our families. We understand that this is short notice for this weekend, and families may have already made alternative arrangements.

The Executive Committee has decided that following can now apply this weekend in light of the above changes provided by LAVic:

• Only registered athletes, or athletes who are completing trialing sessions can attend. Siblings who are not registered should not attend unless alternative arrangements can’t be made. Please advise your club if your are bringing siblings if care arrangements can’t be made.
• All age groups – 1 Parent only, unless they are on duty, then a second Parent can attend to supervise athletes to events.
• Families with athletes that require additional support are permitted to have an additional parent attend. Please advise your Club.
• Trialing athletes – 1 Parent only. 
• NO OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS ARE PERMITTED – To avoid disappointment please ensure you do not invite grandparents or other family members to spectate. No additional spectators will be permitted, and will be turned away at the entry gate.

Our priority remains that all athletes wanting to participate have the ability to do so, hence why the requirements above have eased for the weekend but remain in place. We thank everyone for their support and understanding in ensuring that we keep our venue numbers within limits.

With the Victorian Government announcing the 500 patron cap at venues for outdoor community sport we are asking all those that trialed with Knox LAC last weekend to advise the centre registrar in advance if you are intending to trial again this Saturday 28th November.

This will enable the centre to track capacity numbers to ensure we do not exceed the maximum 500 people permitted.

If you are an existing trialing athlete you are permitted to have one parent in attendance – please do not invite other family members to attend, they will be turned away.

Please email your intention to trial to registrar@klac23.org.au

If you have not trialed with Knox Little Athletics before – please send a request to trial to the registrar. We will put you on a waiting list and advise you if you are able to attend.

Please do not just turn up on the day expecting to trial. Priority will be given to our registered athletes to ensure they can compete on the day given the venue capacity numbers.