Little Athletics - History

History

In October 1963, three young boys went to a senior athletics meet held in Geelong, Victoria. Much to their disappointment, they were turned away by an official, Trevor Billingham, who told them that they were too young to compete.

It was later observed that the majority of children at a local coaching clinic designed for secondary school students were in fact of primary school age. Reminded of the three young boys, Billingham came up with the simple yet original idea of holding a Saturday morning competition for these children.

On Saturday, 3 October 1964, the first Little Athletics meet was held at Landy Field, just before the senior competition, with more than 80 children taking part in a short program of running events. From then on, Little Athletics grew at a phenomenal rate across the country.

In 1967, the Victorian Little Athletics Association (VLAA) of numerous Centres was formed. Other states also began to hold competition, and on the 31st March 1972, the Australian Little Athletics Union (ALAU) was formed in Perth by the Victorian, New South Wales, Northern Territory and Western Australian associations, later to be joined by new associations in Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania.

The first executive members of the ALAU were Bruce McKenzie (president) and Alan Triscott (secretary/treasurer).

During the 1992/1993 season, the ALAU's name was shortened to ALA.

Little Athletics remains one of the strongest junior sporting programs in Australia, with over 95,000 participants annually.