WHAT'S AVAILABLE AT TAC FROM SEPTEMBER EACH YEAR?

EARLY SQUAD TRAINING SESSIONS
Junior athletes will be placed in a junior multi-discipline squad and will have the opportunity to train in all disciplines and also to attend a Sportshall group during the autumn/winter.

If you wish to take part in league competition during the winter season then cross country, road relay, fell running, race walking and Sportshall Athletics are all available to juniors. Indoor Athletics starts each year in the spring and is available to young athletes who are 15 .

Check with your coach if you are old enough to compete as each area has it's own starting age. Remember that you have to be a member of the club to compete in league competition.

Juniors compete in the following winter leagues:

West Midlands Young Athletes Cross Country League

Birmingham Sportshall Athletics League

Staffordshire Sportshall Athletics League

Other Winter Competitions where TAC juniors regularly take part:

Uttoxeter Cross Country – September

Local ‘Fun Runs’ –All year round

 Fell Runs  - AYR

CROSS COUNTRY COMPETITION
Juniors and seniors compete in the cross country leagues which culminate in the National Cross Country Championships which will be held in London this year. Cross country is a marvellous way of increasing fitness, building stamina and balance over the winter period with the benefits showing in the performances of athletes taking part in the following track and field season.
Many of our athletes are born long distance runners and the freedom of running across fields, through mud and rivers gives them a real buzz. This is their favourite time of the year. Why not have a go this year?
Tamworth AC also competes in the Road Relay competitions, often in Sutton Park, which finish with a National Final.

THE Cross Country TEAM MANAGERS ARE:

Juniors-John Graves     Women’s team-Vacant 

Men’s team-Tom Orton

RACE WALKING COMPETITION
The winter race walking leagues are due to start in October and Tamworth AC is unusual and very fortunate in having qualified coaches in the discipline and an International representative competing for the club. Why not give this a try?

Ask for Alf Stokes or John Culshaw.

SPORTSHALL ATHLETICS AND COMPETITION
Two of TAC's best young athletes , Meghan Beesley and Nathan Woodward  started their athletic career competing in Sportshall Athletics. During the winter both train at the track and their previous winter competitions have included Cross Country and Indoor Athletics at the NIA. Look for their photos on the 'Role of Honour' board. You too could be one of our top athletes in the future and have your photo on this very special board.

Sportshall Athletics starts in mid October.

What is Sportshall Athletics?

It is a modified form of track and field athletics

It provides an exciting and highly enjoyable competition format

Includes most aspects of running, jumping and throwing

It introduces new activities including innovative relays, speed bounce and the soft javelin

It incorporates traditional events such as standing long jump, high jump and shot putt

It utilises equipment specifically designed for young people including the revolutionary "reversaboard" enabling athletes to strike and turn in the same movement and run in the opposite direction

What does Sportshall Athletics Offer?

It offers training and competitive opportunities within track and field athletics during the winter months

Promotes the importance of participation, team competition and fair play

At Tamworth Athletic Club you will find that Sportshall Athletics is well established and the club is very successful. Four league competitions are held on Friday nights in Birmingham over the winter months, followed by regional finals which culminate in the UK National Final held annually in March or April at the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham.

Team managers are: Emma Redfern and Jonathan Christian.

Sportshall advisers are: Ray Lloyd and Andy Day

JUNIOR ATHLETICS at Tamworth Athletic Club

There are currently over 180 young athletes attending sessions on training nights.  With this in mind the club would like to take the opportunity to point out to athletes and parents the coaching principles we are working towards. If you have any questions please ask any of the coaches involved.

·          For improvement there has to be regular training. It is for this reason we offer training both on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Training at the club once a fortnight or less is not conducive to progression.

·          At a young age training should be general. In other words concentrating on one event at a young age has proven to be counter productive. What is required is general training concentrating on specific aspects at certain ages. At Tamworth AC unlike some other sports we are looking for long term development rather than short term gain.

·          Competition is an important part of the athlete's development. The winning of competitions is not so important, as in the younger age groups this is often down to size and not long term athletic ability. What is important is that children are given the opportunity to compete, so they can experience improvement over a series of events. You are asked to do what you can to allow your children to take part in competitive opportunities.

·          The introduction of a block system for training nights requires the coaches and club volunteers to put in extra hours of service. Please remember they give this time FREELY throughout the year for the benefit of YOU the athlete

·          Each athlete may only train during ONE training session per evening. This is to prevent over training and to reduce numbers on the track.

·          TAC is a very friendly and welcoming club and we want you to enjoy being part of it but at the end of the day- We are an athletic club - We are not a social club.

·          You MUST NOT move from squad to squad without prior permission. This is extremely disruptive for the coaches, who take time to set work for their athletes, and to the other athletes in the groups. Speak to your current coach and to the coach of the squad you wish to train with. Be aware that some squads may be full and won't accept any more athletes.