Frequently Asked Questions
What Age Groups does UWALAC cater for?
At UWALAC we have U7-U18 groups competing.
We have a special tiny tots program for 3-4 year olds, for more information click here.
The age-group is determined by year your child is born. See Age Group Calculator
Children must compete in the age group that they are allocated to. Sometimes this means a friend that they are in school with is in a different age group.
How often do we train and compete?
- UWA has a summer and a winter season.
- Summer training times are listed here
- For winter training and information click here
- Summer Competitions are held on a Saturday morning 8:00am start (we also have 1-2 special twilight meets over the season). Please check the Competition Calendar.
Does UWALAC have boundaries for joining ?
There are no set boundries for athletic centres, however we encourage athletes to join the centre closest to them.
How do I know what is going on at the Centre?
The website is a source of club information and resources.
The club has various methods of communication. It is important that you follow us on Facebook, read your newsletters, what for messages on your age group whats app group and read all email communications from the club.
How does the coaching work?
Each age-group has their own coach and may have an assistant coach who are appointed prior to the start of the season. There is also an age-group manager that assists each coach. We also have specialist coaches to work on specific events. Our coaches generally come from our parent group and UWALAC offers assistance and training to any parent who would like to volunteer.
How do I find where my child is at training or during competition?
Coaches all wear a fluorescent coloured vest with the age group number on the back. Boy’s coaches were bright orange and girl’s coaches wear yellow. On competition mornings you can check the competition roster on the information stand to help you locate which events your child is in on that day. All athletes meet their coaches at the age group signs placed at the bottom of the hill before each training and competition. On competition days athletes stay with the coaches for the whole competition program and move from event to event as a group. Coaches will release athletes back to parents at the age-group signs at the end of the competition or training.
Where do I get a uniform?
Uniforms are available on pack pick up days prior to the start of the season and from the uniform shop throughout the season.
Can my child compete with bare feet?
No. All children must compete in shoes. There is no exception to this rule.
What happens if the weather is bad? Does training or competition go ahead?
Your coach will determine if training is cancelled and will contact you. Competition Days are rarely cancelled. The President and Arena Manager will make a decision regarding this and coaches and age grou pmanagers will be notified. A message will go out on all groups via the age group Whatsapp and on the UWALAC Facebook page.
How long does the competition last on a Saturday morning or a twilight meet?
There is no set answer to this as it depends on which age-group you child is in. All competitions start at 8:00am and younger age-groups have fewer events and tend to finish around 10:00am. Older age groups i.e. under 10’s and above can finish anywhere between 10:30-11:30am. In general our last event finishes around 11:30am. Of course this is subject to weather, parents turning up on roster duty and the numbers competing on the day. Twilight Meets normally start at 5:00pm and finish around 8:00pm.
Does my child have to do all the competitions?
No, if you are away or have something on then please let your coach know. However, if it is a day you are on roster you are expected to get this covered.
Do I have to do roster?
Yes all parents/guardians are expected to help out on a roster once a fortnight. It is one roster per family. Please read the section on parent rosters.
What happens if I can’t attend my parent roster?
The rosters are all up on the website. You can either swap with someone on another week’s roster or send another family member along. If you have exceptional circumstances please email the club email contact@uwalac.com with PARENT ROSTER in the subject line giving your reason for being unable to attend.
What happens if my child wants to pull out – do I get a refund?
Once you have registered and paid your fees there are no refunds unless there is a long term injury and medical certificate or extenuating circumstances. If your child is leaving our centre we would appreciate you notifying the admin officer contact@uwalac.com.
Can my child start little athletics once the season has already started?
Yes, if there is availability within the age group.
Where do I check my child’s results?
You can log onto your Results HQ account and check your family results. Track events are generally recorded straight after the event is run. Field events need to be manually entered and this may not be completed and checked until Wednesday.
What happens if my child’s results are wrong on the website?
Please email competition@uwalac.com with your query. This will be checked against the result sheets and computer timing. Errors do sometimes occur during recording and data entry.
What happens if my child’s can’t attend training or a competition?
We understand that there are often clashes with other sports/school events that can’t be helped. Just contact use the age group Whatsapp to let the group/coach know.
Lost Property
We have a large yellow bin at the Centre Admin desk where we collect lost property. We regularly call out over the PA to remind parents. Lost Property that is not claimed by the end of the season is donated to charity.
Athletics West Frequently Asked Questions
