Trans Tasman Challenge. Date for Australian trials: First Sunday in November. Nov 2^nd. Place for trials: Barden Ridge, Illawong. Entries close October 22^nd, 2008.

The Challenge is an Under 11 and Under 12 multi event competition between a NSW team and a team from Auckland, New Zealand. The competition is held each January and alternates each year between Sydney and Auckland. In 2008-09, it will be held in Sydney on January 18, 2009. It is the responsibility of athletes/parents to advise the Championship Officer of their desire to enter the Trials.

State Relay Championships: Date: Fourth Weekend in November, with a Junior Day (U8 to U11) on the Saturday and a Senior Day (U12 to U17) on the Sunday.. November 22 & 23.Place: Campbelltown. Entries close October 29, 2008.

Teams in the age groups U8 through to U15 are eligible for this event. Events contested are:

The Centre’s participation is dependent upon athletes in an age group being of sufficient standard to form a competitive team. See the Championship Officer for further details.

Zone Track & Field Championships (Open to Under 7s to 17s.) Date: Jan 31, & Feb 1, 2009. Place: Hensley Field, Botany -Across NSW, 24 Zone Championships represent the first stage in gaining a place at the State Track and Field Championships. Eastern Suburb athletes are invited to nominate their chosen events for our "Inner City Zone" which competes against Balmain, Canterbury, Randwick Botany, South Eastern and Western Suburbs Clubs. However, final selection is determined by the Championship Officer on the basis of Friday night performances as each club can only enter up to four athletes in each event. Each athlete can compete in up to four individual events. The first four athletes in each event qualify for the Regional Championships. Under 7 placegetters do not progress to the Regional Championships but do receive medals. Entries close 2^nd Monday in January, Jan 12^th.

Regional Track & Field Championships (Entry open to placegetters in Zone Championships, except for U7s) Date: Third weekend in February. Feb 21, 22, 2009. Place: The Crest, Bankstown. U17s will go to Region for the first time in 2009, and on to State. Also for the first time, events will have a guaranteed "No earlier" time. The State is divided into five regions and we participate in the Southern Metropolitan Region (No 3).The first three athletes in each event at the Regional Championship qualify for the State Championships. Every 5th year, each Region send the first four placegetters. Under 8 placegetters do not progress to the State Championship but do receive medals.

State Track & Field Championships (Entry open to placegetters in Regional Championships) Date: Third weekend in March, March 20, 21, 22, 2009 with events being held on the Friday evening for the first time. Also for the first time, events will have a guaranteed "No earlier" time. Place: Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre (SOPAC), Homebush.

State Multi Event Championships. Date: First full weekend in March. March 7 & 8, 2009. Entries close Feb 11, 2009. Place: Always in a country town – Lismore in 2009.This event is a competition in which athletes compete in a number of events for an overall point score. The points are determined by a Decathalon type point score system. It is the responsibility of athletes/parents to advise the Championship Officer of their desire to enter the Trials.

National Australian Teams Championships, the NSW State team selects 22 U13s and the National Australian Multi-Event Championships, the NSW team selects 4 U15s. (Held together) Date: Weekend closest to Anzac Day, April 26. . Place: Adelaide 2009.

State Cross-Country & Road Walk Championships, U7 through to U15 are eligible to enter the State Cross-Country. U9 through to U15 are eligible to enter the State Road Walks. Entries are taken on the day. There is no entry fee for these events. For details, contact LAANSW office. Date: First Sunday in July. July 5, 2009. Entries on the day. Place: Held alternately in Metro and Country NSW.

We have a number of programmes to reward and encourage athletes:

This is a programme to reward athletes for steadily improving their times, heights and distances throughout the season. Each time a "personal best" is equaled or broken, an athlete earns up to maximum of 15 Improvement points, depending on the degree of improvement. As an example, a Bronze Certificate may be awarded on achieving 100 points, Silver for 200 points, Gold for 300 points and Platinum for 400 points. Thus, each athlete is encouraged to compete against him/herself to achieve improved performance.

In every event throughout the season an athlete scores 9 "Best of Age" points for a 1st place reducing to 1 points for 6th place. All competitors receive 1 point for participation. At the end of the season trophies are awarded at our Annual Presentation Night for achieving 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each event in each age group from U6 upwards. Placegetters are not necessarily the fastest or strongest, but often the most consistent. The awarding of trophies is conditional on athletes participating in the post-January period, unless application for special consideration is made to the Committee well in advance of Presentation Night. All other athletes who have attended most nights throughout the season are awarded a trophy at Presentation Night. Tiny Tots receive a medallion as Season’s end.

Encouragement Awards

An Encouragement Award trophy are awarded to a male and female athlete in each age group who have amassed the most improvement points throughout the season without securing Event Championship trophies. The awarding of trophies is dependent on regular attendance during the season.

This is awarded to an athlete who has shown above average courage or has striven to achieve the tenets of Little Athletics to an exceptional degree, as selected by the President.

Age Champion Shields are presented to the male and female athlete in each Age Group who total the highest number of aggregated "Best of Age" points for all events. The awarding of trophies is dependent on regular attendance during the season.

MultiPoints are awarded for each result for each event in each age group as determined by LAANSW. These allow athletes to be measured against statewide standards, the better the time/distance, the greater the points. At the end of the season, the male athlete and female athlete who have achieved the highest number of multi-points are declared Senior (12 to 15 years) and Junior (6 to 11 years) Champions.

This trophy is awarded to the athlete who has achieved the highest cumulative points totals at the LAANSW Zone, Region and State Championships at the end of each season.

This trophy has been donated by our senior Club, Athletics East, and will be awarded to the athlete who records the best performances in Cross Country/Road events during the preceding winter season. Preference will be given to performances in the Little A State Cross County Championship followed by Athletic NSW events followed by Athletics East club events followed by any other events. (Performances in interschool competitions are ineligible). Applications, together with full details of performances to be considered, should be lodged with the Championship Officer by end of November 2008.