Little Athletics gives children the opportunity to run, jump, throw and walk through age-appropriate track and field activities. The focus is on participation, skill development and improving personal bests, rather than children needing to meet a standard before joining.
There are three Little Athletics centres operating within the Sutherland Shire: Sutherland Little Athletics Centre, Port Hacking Little Athletics Centre and Illawong Little Athletics Centre. Programs generally run from September to March, with weekly centre competition, optional coaching and pathways into zone, regional and state events.
Information checked 2 September 2026. Club capacity, late registrations, coaching and competition calendars can change during the season.
Children participate with others in their age group and rotate through a selection of events. These may include sprints, hurdles, middle-distance running, race walking, long jump, high jump, triple jump, shot put, discus and javelin. The events, distances and equipment are modified according to age.
Not every event is completed each week. Local centres use two or three-week rotating programs so children experience different events across the season. Times and distances are usually recorded, allowing athletes to measure their improvement and work towards personal bests.
Tiny Tots is a play-based introduction to running, jumping and throwing. It concentrates on movement skills, participation and fun rather than formal competition.
Age groups are determined by year of birth, not school year. The current local age matrix is:
| Year born | 2026/27 age group |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Tiny Tots |
| 2021 | 6s |
| 2020 | 7s |
| 2019 | 8s |
| 2018 | 9s |
| 2017 | 10s |
| 2016 | 11s |
| 2015 | 12s |
| 2014 | 13s |
| 2013 | 14s |
| 2012 | 15s |
| 2011 | 16s |
| 2010 | 17s |
| 2008–2009 | Under 20 |
Sutherland and Port Hacking offer Under 20 registration. Illawong currently lists Tiny Tots and 6s to 17s. Sutherland has confirmed that its 2026/27 Tiny Tots program is only available to children born in 2022.
| Centre | Weekly meet | Published season | 2026/27 fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sutherland Waratah Oval |
Saturday from 8am Tiny Tots 9am–10am |
12 September 2026 to 13 March 2027 | $180 for 6s–U20 $130 Tiny Tots |
| Port Hacking Sylvania Waters Athletics Track |
Saturday Arrive from 7:30am |
Starts 5 September 2026 Final date not yet published |
$165 for 6s-U20 Tiny Tots – Sold Out |
| Illawong The Ridge Athletics Track |
Friday from 5:30pm | 4 September 2026 to 5 March 2027 centre program | $185 for 6s–17s $130 Tiny Tots |
Location: Waratah Oval, Rawson Parade, Sutherland.
Competition: Saturday mornings. Families should arrive by 7:45am so volunteer positions can be filled before events start at 8am. Most competition finishes by approximately 12pm, with younger groups often finishing earlier. Tiny Tots runs from approximately 9am to 10am.
Season: The current competition calendar begins Saturday 12 September 2026 and runs through to Saturday 13 March 2027.
Fees: $180 per athlete for 6s to Under 20 and $130 for Tiny Tots. Uniform costs are additional.
Registration: Online registrations opened on 1 August. Registrations need to be completed by Thursday 10 September for participation in the first week. After that, registration must generally be completed before 7pm on the Friday preceding competition. New athletes need to provide proof of age when collecting their registration pack.
Trials: Two free trial mornings are available. Families can report to the information desk on a Saturday morning before registering.
Parent duties: A parent or carer from each family is rostered approximately once every two to three weeks. No previous athletics experience is required.
Training: A regular club training program had not been confirmed for 2026/27 when this information was checked. The centre may offer skills sessions or refer families to local coaches.
Location: Sylvania Waters Athletics Track, Belgrave Esplanade, Sylvania Waters. Competition is conducted on a synthetic track.
Competition: Saturday mornings. The current registration portal lists 7:30am, while the club’s public information says competition begins at 7:45am. Families should plan to arrive by 7:30am for sign-in and duties. Athletes generally complete four to seven events each week across a two-week rotating program.
Season: Competition begins Saturday 5 September 2026. The final centre-competition date has not yet been published on the current public calendar, although the regular Little Athletics season runs into March.
Ages: Tiny Tots for children born in 2022, followed by 6s through to Under 20.
Fees: Port Hacking has not displayed its current 2026/27 fee on the public part of its registration portal. Older $160 and $120 amounts still visible on another section of the club website are labelled 2024/25 and should not be used as current prices. Check the amount shown during registration or contact the centre before paying.
Trials: Current 2026/27 trial dates and conditions have not been published. Contact the centre rather than relying on the older trial information still displayed on its website.
Parent duties: The current registration conditions require each family to complete a parent duty approximately once per fortnight. Families must also complete the parent-duty agreement required by the centre.
Coaching: Port Hacking advertised four weeks of free early-season coaching for registered athletes from 31 August to 27 September 2026. Coaching after that period may be offered directly by individual coaches, with timetables and charges varying.
Merger status: Port Hacking continues to operate under its current name during the 2026/27 transition with Sutherland District Athletics Club.
Location: The Ridge Athletics Track, Recreation Drive, Barden Ridge.
Competition: Friday nights from 5:30pm. Meets generally run for approximately 1.5 to two hours for younger age groups and two to three hours for older athletes.
Season: The published centre program starts Friday 4 September 2026. The final centre Teams Day is scheduled for Friday 5 March 2027, with breaks for school holidays and championship weekends.
Ages and fees: Registration is $185 for athletes in the 6s to 17s and $130 for Tiny Tots. The Tiny Tots fee includes a T-shirt.
Uniform: Older athletes wear an Illawong singlet or crop top with plain black bottoms. The currently published prices are $42.50 for a singlet and $47.50 for a crop top.
Trial: Illawong has published a come-and-try evening for Friday 18 September 2026. Trial places are only available in age groups that have not reached capacity.
Parent duties and supervision: An adult must remain at the track while the child participates. Each family is required to complete six rostered duties during the season, including at least one canteen or barbecue duty, as well as assisting the child’s age group when needed.
Training: Illawong had not published a regular 2026/27 training day when checked and was seeking accredited coaches.
Helensburgh and Districts Little Athletics Club operates from Rex Jackson Oval in Helensburgh. It is part of the same Southern Metropolitan competition zone but is outside the Sutherland Shire. It may still suit families living towards Waterfall, Heathcote or the southern end of the region.
Registration generally covers the weekly centre program and association membership. Depending on the centre and the athlete’s level of participation, families may also need to budget for:
Ordinary running shoes are suitable for beginners. Spikes are optional and are restricted by age, event and track rules, so check with the centre before buying them.
Apply for the voucher before completing registration. Sutherland specifically states that a voucher must be entered during online registration and cannot be applied retrospectively. Check directly with Port Hacking or Illawong about their current voucher process.
Athletes normally remain with their age group and rotate between track and field events under the direction of an age manager. Parents help with jobs such as measuring jumps and throws, raking sand pits, recording results, setting up equipment, marshalling athletes or assisting in the canteen.
The event program changes each week. Results may be recorded so children can monitor their progress, but children do not need to be fast or experienced to participate. Tiny Tots complete a separate play-based program without the same emphasis on formal results.
Little Athletics is run primarily by volunteers and should not be treated as a drop-off activity. The exact commitment differs between centres:
No athletics experience is needed for most jobs. Clubs provide instructions and experienced volunteers supervise technical events.
Weekly centre competition is the core Little Athletics program. Children who want additional opportunities may also participate in coaching, gala days, relays, combined-events competitions and championship pathways.
Representative competition generally progresses from zone to regional and state events, with age and qualification rules applying. These events are optional and children can remain centre-only participants for the entire season.
Training availability differs considerably. Port Hacking has advertised early-season coaching, while Sutherland and Illawong had not confirmed a regular club training timetable when this page was updated.
Little Athletics welcomes children with different ability and experience levels, and multi-class competition pathways are available. However, the support, modifications and volunteer capacity available at weekly centre meets can differ.
Contact the centre before paying if your child needs modified activities, mobility access, sensory support, medical planning, one-to-one assistance or help with communication. Ask what can be provided at weekly meets and whether classification is needed for any multi-class competitions.
Do not buy spikes or specialist throwing equipment before speaking with the club. Centres provide the field equipment used during weekly competition.
Little Athletics is an outdoor summer sport. Meets may be changed, shortened or cancelled because of rain, lightning, excessive heat, poor air quality or unsafe track conditions. Rain does not automatically mean competition is cancelled.
Check the centre’s official website, app, email or social media shortly before leaving home. Port Hacking uses the Stack Team App for regular announcements, while Illawong publishes weekly updates through its social pages.
Little Athletics may suit children who enjoy variety, individual challenges and measuring their own improvement. It allows children to try several running, jumping and throwing events rather than specialising immediately.
It can also complement sports such as football, netball, cricket, swimming and gymnastics by developing running technique, speed, coordination and general movement skills. Families should be comfortable with the weekly time commitment and the centre’s parent-volunteering requirements.
Use the listings below to compare locations and contact each centre. Consider the weekly day and time, age range, published fees, travel, trial availability, coaching and the level of parent involvement when choosing the most suitable program for your family.
On 12 July 2026, members of Port Hacking Little Athletics Centre and Sutherland District Athletics Club voted in favour of a proposed merger. The intention is to create one athletics pathway extending from Tiny Tots and Little Athletics through to Under 20, Open and Masters competition.
This is not a merger between Port Hacking and Sutherland Little Athletics Centre. Sutherland Little Athletics is a different organisation and continues to operate independently at Waratah Oval. Illawong Little Athletics is also not part of the merger.
For the 2026/27 season, Port Hacking is still registering athletes and conducting its Saturday Little Athletics program under the Port Hacking name. The clubs have stated that transition work will continue during the season while plans to unify are developed. Families should continue using Port Hacking’s current registration and communication channels until a new club name, structure or effective date is officially announced.
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