A Guide for Age Marshalls & Parent Helpers

The Age Marshall has one of the most important roles in Little Athletics. You are responsible for caring for and nurturing our young athletes.

​

Your role is to provide a supportive environment in which athletes can learn and develop. An athlete’s enjoyment of the sport will depend upon their experience at the local Centre, and you have the ability to ensure that this experience is a positive one.

​

We appreciate that Age Marshalls are volunteers and thank you for taking on this significant role, so we have compiled this guide to provide you with some tips to help you along the way.

​

THE BASICS FOR BEING A GOOD AGE MARSHALL:

​

• The number 1 thing for an Age Marshall to remember is that you must MAKE IT FUN. These 3 words contain possibly the most important piece of advice that can be given to an Age Marshall. Make sure that you and the Parent Helpers are also enjoying yourselves.

​

•  Ensure that you are well-organised and promote maximum participation. Keep the athletes busy! Do not however ‘force’ any athlete to take part in an event.

​

• Focus upon the athlete’s efforts and individual performances rather than the overall outcome of the event. In Little Athletics, a personal best is more important than a first place or a Centre record.

​

• Praise all achievements.

​

•  Be fair, considerate and honest, and be a positive role model.

​

TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE SUPERVISION:

​

• Ensure that all children are within sight and/or hearing at all times, preventing activities from going on behind your back. If the group is too big, ask for assistance from the committee.

 

• Never leave the group unattended and ensure that children know that they should never leave the group without letting you know.

 

• Incorporate a ‘buddy’ system when children need to leave the group. Ask them to report back to you when they have returned (i.e. going to the toilet).

 

• Move around purposefully. Don’t remain static. Be mobile, visible and involved.

 

• Acknowledge good behaviour with positive messages e.g. compliment the group if they organise themselves quickly; positively reinforce a participant who is paying attention.

 

• In the case of misbehaviour, an effective verbal reprimand showing a ‘no nonsense’ approach may be all that is needed. Such a reprimand should be clear, calm, firm, not harsh or a put down. If you require assistance please let one of the committee members know.

 

SPEED UP THE TIME TAKEN TO CONDUCT EVENTS

Traditionally, athletics is often associated with short bursts of activity and long waiting periods. This will de-motivate young athletes. Our feedback confirms that most Centres need to cut waiting times and speed up the conduct of events. Below are some ideas/suggestions to help achieve this:

 

Throws:

• ​Always have the next athlete ready to throw with the implement in hand.

• For younger age groups, only allow them to do a standing throw.

• If a group is exceptionally large and the time is a real issue, then only allow athletes to have 2 throws not 3.

 

High Jump:

• Use greater increments for height rises when conducting the event for large groups.

• With large groups, consider splitting the group based upon ability (e.g. scissor and flop jumpers).

• Only start athletes at a height just below their PB.

• Once called, the athlete has only a minute to complete their jump.

• Athletes only have 1 minute to complete the jump.

 

Long/Triple Jump:

• Have younger age groups U6-U10 run from a set marker, rather than measure a run-up.

• For younger athletes, have the athletes lined up on or beside the runway ready to go.

• If a group is exceptionally large and time is a real issue, then only allow the athletes to have 2 jumps instead of 3.

 

PLEASE REMEMBER IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE, REACH OUT TO ONE OF OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS.