Knox Little Athletics Centre Inc.

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

Sharing the knowledge not the virus!

Knox LAC had a number of representatives at the LAVIC annual Conference which ran from Monday 17th August 2020 – Saturday 22nd August 2020. With the current restrictions in place the conference this year was held online culminating in an online awards ceremony on Saturday Night.

The theme for this years conference was – shared learnings between the Association and its Centres, fostering connections and driving the progress of our sport via online resources exclusive to 2020

Each of day of the conference had a number of online evening sessions, ranging from centre management, finance, marketing sessions, to coaching, competition and rules and updates to what the season will look like in a COVID 19 environment.

The key takeaways from the conference are:

Calendar for 2020-21 Season

•  Season start date has NOT  been finalised. LAVIC are working on a number of calendar options. This will be dependant on Government advice and what is permitted following current COVID 19 restrictions ending. Season dates will be sent out as soon as they can.
• LAVIC are expecting delays to the start of the season and are working to minimise the impact on the season.
• There may be different season start dates for regional and metro centres.
• Australian Little Athletics Championship has been scheduled for 23 and 24 April 2021 in Melbourne.  LAVIC are working the various calendar options back from that date.
• It is planned to have a full calendar and schedule relays, Combined Event and the Regional and State Championship.
• No venues have been booked for major events. LAVIC will be working to secure locations once venues are allowed to take bookings. This may mean that new locations for certain competitions may be used. 
• A number centres confirmed that they are not planning on running their open days.

COVID 19 and Restrictions

• COVID 19 protocols will need to be agreed to by centres prior to a centre being able to accept registrations for the 2020-21 season. 
• Protocols will be based on those published in May will likely only need minor amendments to meet Government requirements.
• LAVIC is currently negotiating will suppliers of Hand Sanitiser etc, to help supply centres with the needs to meet protocols.
• No advice has been received form government as to return to play restrictions or requirements on gatherings at outdoor venues.

Fees and Marketing

• LAVIC have agreed to reduce the LAVIC component of the fees by 15% for returning athletes. This was in support of athletes and recognition that last season was abruptly ended with no T&F Championships or Cross Country Event.
• LAVIC will begin advertising shortly for the upcoming season.
• LAVIC will provide support to centres for marketing materials and key messages for the upcoming season.

Competition and Coaching

• Clarification provided on recent rule changes introduced. 
• LAAust and LAVIC are in the process of aligning competition rules with updated competition rules recently released by World Athletics. 
• Relays, T&F Regional and State Champs will move to Timed Finals.
• Relays will now include  a Swedish relay. Other changes to Relays including limitation of substitutions will be implemented. 
• Multiclass athletes will be included competition at relays, T&F regionals and state events including at State Combined Event with Multiclass athletes competing across 4 events.
• Mutliclass athletes will be grouped in age groups of U9-10, U11-12, U13-16 at regional and state events.
• Cross Country distances are being reviewed and will be standardised. More information about this will be provided prior to the 2021 Season.
• LAVIC has received a grant to improve and attract more women to coaching and support coaching and education.
• Coaching programs will be scheduled throughout the season to fit-in with  the season calendar.
• For athletes interested in the Junior Development Squad, the JDS program will go ahead when permitted. JDS qualifying requirements will be published shortly.

In summary, they key message is that we have to flexible with the upcoming season and recognise that things may change quickly. The KLAC Executive Committee will provide more information as LAVIC releases details of the upcoming season.  Knox LAC had already signed onto and met the COVID 19 protocols for return to play earlier in the year, we already have a head start and will ensure that our COVID19 protocols are in place and up to date, so that we wont be further delayed when the season does start.

If anyone has any questions on the conference please do not hesitate to contact the Committee, or if you would like to see the conference presentations they can be found here https://ourcentre.com.au/conference/

Getting bored & need some ideas or inspiration while still in ISO?

Mike Donato, has uploaded training videos onto Youtube. With the assistance of a select group of interns, assistant coaches, members from the sprint & throws squad,  he has recorded a wide range if exercise warm-ups, athletic training & gym workout sessions for athletes & parents to do at home while we are still working our way through the lockdown.

The videos cover, foam rolling, a variety of warm-ups, activation & mobility, exercising at home using household equipment, circuit training, body weight training, introduction to barbells, introduction to olympic lifting, introduction to dumbbells, introduction to kettle bells, medicine ball, dumbbell, barbell & kettlebell workouts, speed & agility workouts, T&F event specific workouts, core workouts, stretching & more.

To find it Click here

You can see a series of themed playlists by clicking here

If you are missing athletics and looking for some inspiration, World Athletics is underway, with the World Tour and Diamond League resuming.

The first Diamond League meeting that will resemble a regular top-flight international one-day meeting since the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic is this Friday 14th August.

Eleven reigning world champions from around the globe are converging on Monaco this week for what shapes as the strongest fields for Friday night’s meeting at Stade Louis II, which will have a reduced capacity of 5000 spectators to allow social distancing.

The spotlight will be on middle-distance events which will feature the men’s world champions over 800m (Donavan Brazier), 1500m (Timothy Cheruiyot), and 10,000m (Joshua Cheptegei) and the women’s world champions over 800m (Hamilah Nakaayi), 1500m and 10,000m (Sifan Hassan), 5000m (Hellen Obiri) and 3000m steeplechase (Beatrice Chepkoech).

World record-holders Duplantis and Rojas set to soar

In the field events, three of the sport’s highest flyers will soar in the men’s pole vault, where world record-holder Armand Duplantis will meet world champion Sam Kendricks and Olympic champion Thiago Braz.

Where it watch it

The event will be steamed on Eurosport and the Diamond League YouTube channel. There is also possibility for those with Foxtel and Kayo that is will be broadcast on those platforms as well. Still waiting for conformation. Check your guides.

Upcoming Diamond League Meets