Junior Athletics

Fundamentals Group

The Fundamental Group is designed for children aged 6 to 10 years and focuses on developing the essential physical skills that form the foundation for all sports. During these sessions, children take part in a variety of game-based activities that enhance their Agility, Balance, and Coordination (ABCs), key components that support lifelong physical development and athletic ability.

The group is led by Ashley Colley, a Level 3 England Athletics Endurance Coach, with support from Michael Wignall, an Assistant Coach. Together, they provide a fun, engaging, and structured environment where young athletes can learn and thrive.

Sessions take place every Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. and are carefully planned to suit the age and ability of each child. The coaching team follows the Athletics 365 programme, focusing on the Red to Green stages, which are designed to help young athletes progress through fundamental movement patterns before specialising in any particular event.

Through this approach, children not only develop key athletic skills but also gain confidence, teamwork, and a positive attitude towards sport and physical activity. The emphasis is always on enjoyment, participation, and building the right skills for future athletic success.

Development Group

The Development Group is aimed at young athletes who are beginning to progress beyond fundamental movement skills and are ready to learn the technical aspects of running, jumping, and throwing. This stage marks an important step in their athletic journey, as participants start to develop greater discipline, skill refinement, and an understanding of event-specific techniques.

Athletes in this group are also encouraged to take part in local competitions, including track and field meets and cross-country events. Competing at this level helps them to apply what they have learned in training, gain valuable experience, and build confidence in a supportive and structured environment.

The group continues to follow the Athletics 365 programme, which provides a progressive pathway that supports the long-term development of young athletes. This ensures that each child learns at a pace suited to their individual ability, with a strong emphasis on correct technique, enjoyment, and personal growth.

Training sessions are held twice a week—on Tuesdays from 6:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., and on Thursdays from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. These sessions are delivered by Ashley Colley, a Level 3 England Athletics Endurance Coach, and Michael Wignall, an Assistant Coach. Both coaches bring enthusiasm, expertise, and a supportive approach to help each athlete develop their skills and confidence.

The Development Group provides a positive and structured environment for young athletes to continue their progression, preparing them for future stages of training and competition while ensuring that enjoyment and personal improvement remain at the heart of every session.

Foundation Group

This training group meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:00p.m. to 8:30p.m., and on Sunday mornings from 10:30a.m. to 1:00p.m. The sessions are led by Christopher Hainsworth, who has been the coach of this group for many years.

Christopher has over 35 years of experience as a competitive throwing athlete and has been coaching for the past 15 years. His extensive background in athletics has provided him with a deep understanding of both the technical and physical demands of the sport. Christopher began his coaching journey under the mentorship of Ilona Melounová and Brian Scobie, the latter renowned for coaching several Olympic marathon athletes.

Ilona Melounová is a former Czech national sprint champion and an accomplished athletics coach. Ilona formed part of the sprint squad for the 1980's Moscow Olympics Games, she has played a significant role in the development of athletes who have gone on to compete at international levels. Her coaching experience includes involvement in programmes associated with elite competitions such as the World University Games and initiatives connected to the Olympic movement. Her expertise and influence have contributed greatly to the advancement of many aspiring athletes.

Through this coaching lineage, the group benefits from a strong tradition of athletic excellence and a wealth of knowledge drawn from international experience and high-performance sport.

Athletics 365

Athletics 365 is a multi-event, young people development programme, which introduces athletes to the fundamental skills of athletics (vital to every sport). It is aimed predominantly at 8-15 year olds, but the resources can easily be adapted for use with younger athletes.

Athletics 365 focuses not only on how fast someone runs or how far someone jumps or throws but also, more importantly, on developing the technical skills ('how' to run, jump and throw) required to perform at full potential and move like a champion. In addition to technical skills, Athletics 365 also looks at an athlete's physical, mental and emotional development, as well as their lifestyle and social development.

The Athletics 365 programme is broken down into nine progressive stages. Each stage provides athletes with new and progressively more difficult challenges appropriate to their stage of development. Athletics 365 encourages athletes to learn all the skills and events of athletics, and reinforces the importance of a good all round skill base.