‘Athletics at School’ Oceania pilot project

In order to achieve the IAAF Athletics’ World Plan goal ‘To make Athletics the worldwide number one participatory sport in schools’, the IAAF strategy targets clubs but mainly schools.

Since October 2008 the IAAF has launched a series of pilot projects which are specifically intended for schools. The first one was organised in Africa in October 2008 and the second  took place in the IAAF RDC for Oceania, in cooperation and coordination with the OAA, from 12 to 17 May 2009.

Objective of the project

To implement the IAAF Kids’ Athletics programme within 10 primary schools, the IAAF proposes to train 20 participants representing 10 Member Federations (MF) which accept the terms of the project (2 participants / MF) and to provide the relevant MFs with 5 kits, each one containing a complete set of equipment for Kids’ Athletics competition.

Once appropriately trained, the participants should implement the IAAF Kids Athletics programme in 10 schools of their respective countries.

Member Federations Represented:

Twenty one (21) participants took part in the course representing the following Athletics bodies: Australia (4), Cook Islands (1), French Polynesia (Tahiti) (1), Fiji (2), Nauru (1), New Zealand (2), Niue, (1), Papua New Guinea (3), Solomon Islands (2), Tonga (2), Vanuatu (2). The Female/Male ratio was 8/13 (38% female).

NB.
Australia funded the participation of two candidates: Papua New Guinea (1) and Niue (1).

The course:

The course was organised in the IAAF RDC – Brisbane during 6 days in ‘Sports Super Centre’ Runaway Bay – Gold Coast – Australia. The syllabus has been distributed as follows:
• Lectures / Theory: 8
• Workshops: 4
• Practical Sessions: 4
• Project Presentation: 3
• Debriefing: 3
• Kids Athletics Competition: 1
• Closing Ceremony: 1

During the second day of the course, a Kids’ Athletics Competition was organised. The Ormeau State School was involved (Thirty five Grade 6 students) and 35 pupils took part in that competition. All the kids enjoyed the event and they found in particular that the team and the multi-event formula of the competition have been a very exciting. The competition was organised by the participants.
 

Participants’ Feedback

The course has been evaluated by all the participants. Their feedback which was anonymous was unanimously positive about the course. All the participants find Kids' Athletics very attractive and really adapted to the new generation. They also found that the team and the multi-event formula is the right way not only to make athletics more fun and more attractive but also to retain teenagers in Athletics.

• Lecturer: Malek El Hebil (IAAF Senior Manager), assisted by Peter Wilson (RDC Oceania Acting Manager).

Participants’ Projects

Each participant designed an appropriate project to implement ‘Kids Athletics’ into schools. Many will conduct courses to train local assistants beforehand
• Australia (in the states of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria)
• Cook Islands: initially on the Islands of Rarotonga and Aitutaki
• Tahiti: initially on the islands of Tahiti and Moorea, with the possibility of other islands in the southern area.
• Fiji: Programmes will be developed in the provinces of Ra and Serua / Navua as well as a continuation of programmes already established in Suva and Nasinu
• Nauru: Nauru has only two schools to implement the programme.
• New Zealand: Programme to be implemented initially in the provinces of Auckland and Otago
• Niue: Niue has only two schools to implement the programme
• Papua New Guinea: The project will be rolled out in the provinces of Rabaul, East New Britain and the capital city of Port Moresby. 
• Solomon Islands: The intention of the course members from the Solomon Islands is to implement the programme in five of their seven provinces
• Tonga: To begin with the project will be delivered on Tongatapu (the main island) then implemented in selected outer islands
• Vanuatu: Two areas have been targeted in Vanuatu; firstly Port Vila and its surroundings and one of the outlying islands - Bomana

All countries indicated that they will endeavour to implement ‘Kids Athletics’ as the preferred programme for children under the age of 13.

The IAAF commitment

• The IAAF organised the Course (Fully funded by the IAAF including accommodation and air tickets of the participants).
• The IAAF supplied the necessary educational material for local training
• The IAAF provided five Kids Athletics Kits to the 10 participating federations.

The MFs commitment

• Each MF will submit its project plan by the end of May
• Each MF will develop a ‘Kids Athletics’ component on their website
• Each MF will submit a monthly progress report to the RDC Oceania
• Each MF will endeavour to promote Kids Athletics as often as possible in their local media
• Each MF will supply material to post on Facebook – a social networking website.
• Each MF will seek assistance from the RDC Brisbane as and when necessary
• Each MF resolved to implement a sustainable programme.

The new series of projects, which are more realistic and take into account the environment of our MFs will allow the IAAF and the Area to follow up the implementation and to be able to control the actions’ process. In addition, if this Pilot Project is successful, it can be applied to other Areas.

Abdel Malek El Hebil for the IAAF