Children’s Track & Field: A Fun Place to Start
Start With One Welcoming Club Night
Start with one welcoming club night. Your child can have a go, meet other kids, build confidence, and discover what they enjoy.
Children’s track and field gives kids a place to move, belong, and see what they can do. At a local athletics club, your child can run, jump, throw, laugh with friends, try new things, and feel proud of each small step forward.
They do not need to arrive as athletes. They just need a chance to have a go, be encouraged, and find the events and friendships that make them want to come back.
Through club nights, team activities, relays, and seasonal events, children build fundamental movement skills while gaining confidence, connection, and a sense of progress in a fun club environment.
What Your Child Can Gain
Confidence and coordination through running, jumping, and throwing.
Friendship and belonging through regular club nights and team activities.
Resilience and teamwork as children try new events and celebrate progress.
Supportive coaching from positive role models in a fun club environment.
A sense of progress in a sport that celebrates participation as much as performance.
Ready to give athletics a go? Find an athletics club near you and ask about your child’s first club night.
From First Club Night to New Challenges
Most children begin at a local athletics club, where families can learn about registration, season dates, age grades, club nights, training opportunities, and what to expect at the first session. As children grow in confidence, clubs can also guide families towards inter-club events, ribbon days, championships, regional opportunities, and larger junior meets.
Participation opportunities vary by age, club, interest level, and readiness for different event formats. Children can begin with regular club activity and, when they are ready, explore inter-club events, ribbon days, championships, regional opportunities, and larger junior meets.
Ways to Take Part as Confidence Grows
Children can take part in athletics in different ways as their confidence grows: weekly club nights for regular practice and friendship, participation-focused ribbon days for trying events in a relaxed setting, the GO! Series for team-based inter-club fun, championship events for children ready for a more formal competition, regional challenge days for selected age groups, and Colgate Games for registered athletes aged 7–14.
- GO! Series – team-based inter-club events held across five Saturday mornings from November to March.
- Dame Valerie Adams Ribbon Day Series – participation-focused events that are especially suited to younger athletes and children gaining confidence in athletics.
- Championship Events – formal event opportunities for athletes who are ready to compete in a championship setting.
- Regional Challenge Days – team or representative-style opportunities for selected age groups.
- Colgate Games – North Island and South Island junior athletics meets for registered athletes aged 7–14.
Children’s athletics welcomes a wide range of ages, abilities, and experience levels. Some children join to try a new summer activity, some come for the social side of club nights, and others enjoy progressing into events and representative opportunities. Wherever your child starts, athletics gives them a place to participate, learn, and grow at a pace that feels right for them.
A Positive Team Experience: The GO! Series
The GO! Series is a team-based athletics series held over summer from November to March. Across five Saturday morning event days, children aged 5–14 can try a range of athletics activities, contribute points to their club team, and experience inter-club athletics in a fun, supportive setting.
The series is designed to offer regular participation, variety across event types, and an introduction to inter-club athletics in a supportive setting.
If your child is ready to give athletics a go, the first step is simple: join a local athletics club. Your club will share GO! Series entry information closer to the start of the season and help your family understand what to do next. Find an athletics club near you.
Keep Growing, Keep Having Fun
Once your child has found their feet at club nights, there are plenty of ways to keep the experience fresh. Seasonal events give children the chance to practise new skills, enjoy different formats, and celebrate progress alongside other young athletes.
Watch the video below for a taste of the events, energy, and club environment your child could experience through athletics.
If your child is aged 14 or under and would like to become involved in athletics your first step is to find an athletics club near you.
When Your Child Is Ready for More
Some children choose to take part in championship events or representative opportunities once they feel comfortable and ready for a new challenge. These events offer a more formal competition setting, while still sitting within the wider club and regional pathway that supports young athletes as they grow.
The Track & Field Relay Championship is held in late November or early December each year, Junior Track & Field Championships are usually held over a weekend in late February, and Pentathlon Championship events are usually held in mid-March.
Your local club can provide details about eligibility, entries, event expectations, and how children can take part.
Representative and regional opportunities for older age groups
Team Auckland – Waikato/Bay of Plenty Challenges for 10/11 and 12/13 years
The Team Auckland – Waikato/Bay of Plenty Challenges offer representative-style opportunities for 10/11 and 12/13-year-olds, usually around Waitangi Day. Dates, venues, eligibility, entry details, and any selection or involvement processes are confirmed through Athletics Auckland updates and local clubs.
Past challenges have included age-group teams taking part in regional competition days, with opportunities to compete across track and field events, represent their area, and experience a team environment beyond regular club activity.
Counties Manukau (takes in East and South clubs)
For Counties Manukau opportunities, including East and South Auckland clubs, check with your local club or Athletics Auckland for the current team manager or contact details.
North & South Island Colgate Games
The Colgate Games are held once each season in both the North Island and South Island. They are open to registered athletes aged 7–14 and are among the largest junior athletics meets in New Zealand.
Venues change each year, and any registered athlete can enter.
Please note that entries usually close in November and late entries are not accepted.
North Island and South Island Colgate Games venues change each season, so families should check the latest event information before planning travel or entering.
Find a Local Club and Give It a Go
Ready to help your child take their first step? Find a local athletics club near you and ask about the next club night, registration options, and how your child can get started.
Athletics Auckland and local clubs usually confirm event dates, venues, entry requirements, and updates during the season.
If your child is curious about athletics, start with a local club night. Your club can answer your questions, explain what to expect, and help your child take that first step into a fun, active season. Find an athletics club near you today and ask how to get started.
Take the first step today. Find a local athletics club and ask how your child can get started.
Find an athletics club near you and take the first step towards a fun, active season.