Little Athletics Tasmania
When looking for activities that help children stay active, build basic physical coordination, and make new friends, community sports organisations offer an excellent starting point.
Little Athletics Tasmania provides a welcoming environment where young people can explore track and field events in a supportive setting. The organisation focuses heavily on personal improvement, group participation, and social connection. Rather than pressuring children to win medals, the program is designed to let children play and improve at their own pace, making it an excellent weekend option for families, parents, and grandparents looking to support their children’s growth.
TAS Little Athletics
The organisation operates through a statewide network of 19 local centres, making it accessible to families right across Tasmania.
In the North West, families can join centres in Burnie, Circular Head, Deloraine, and Devonport.
The Northern region includes Glamorgan-Spring Bay, Launceston, Northern Midlands, North East, North Launceston-White City, South Launceston, and St Helens.
Southern families can get involved at Claremont, Clarence, East Derwent, Hobart Districts, Huon Valley, Kingborough, Queenborough, and South East Districts.
Because the entire organisation runs on a voluntary basis, families play a central role each week. Parents and grandparents are encouraged to put their hands up and help out with simple tasks such as officiating events, managing specific age groups, recording event results, or assisting in the local canteen.
Inclusion is a core value, and local centres work directly with families to remove barriers for children with disabilities. Modifications can be easily arranged at the centre level, such as lowering hurdle heights, utilizing lighter throwing implements, or using soft ropes for high jump. Specialised equipment—including running frames, racing wheelchairs, and throwing chairs—is available at the Burnie (Penguin Athletic Track), South Launceston (Northern Athletic Track), and Hobart Districts (Domain Athletic Centre) venues. For state-level championships, an official classification process is available for athletes aged eight and older to ensure fair competition.
Kids Running
For families who want a taste of the sport before committing to a full six-month season, free “Come and Try Days” are regularly hosted across the state in September.
These introductory sessions cater to children aged 3 to 14. Tiny Tots aged 3 to 4 participate in 45-minute skills-based games centered around basic movement, while older children experience a structured warm-up followed by three events: a run, a jump, and a throw.
These sessions take place at major regional tracks, including the Domain Athletics Centre in Hobart, the Penguin Athletics Track, and the Northern Athletics Centre in Launceston.
Little Athletics also actively partners with local educators through the Little Athletics Program for Schools (LAPS). Qualified development officers travel to campuses across the state to deliver flexible, highly active educational sessions. Depending on what the school prefers, programs can range from a one-off visit to a multi-week block. Students develop fundamental skills in sprinting, relays, hurdles, shot put, discus, long jump, and high jump. Every child finishes the school program with a Certificate of Participation alongside details on how to connect with their nearest weekend centre.
For registration details or general inquiries, families can contact the main office at info@tasathletics.org.au or call 6230 0900.
