Athletics Ireland has introduced the Club Support Scheme as an incentive to promote involvement in the Coach Education Programme, to reward clubs who put coaches forward for Courses, and to provide clubs with the equipment necessary to host a Little Athletics Programme or Level 1 stage training session. To date, this scheme has been available to clubs who have sent coaches to Athletic Leader Courses but it has recently been extended to Level 1 courses also. This scheme is administered by the Athletics Ireland Development Team. Contact details for your Regional Development Officer are here. The scheme rewards clubs who have sent three or more people to attend an Athletics Leader course by donating a Little Athletics Equipment Pack (pictured below) to the club free of charge. Similarly, a Level 1 Equipment Pack is available free of charge for clubs that have three Level 1 coaches, at least two of which have attained Level 1 status under the new revised Coach Education Programme. There is a limited supply of Level 1 packs so get your applications in quickly. For both Little Athletics and Level 1 packs the club must have at least 20 children registered in the relevant age category (6 – 10 for Little Athletics, 11-14 for Level 1). This scheme has proved hugely successful to date with most clubs in the country having already availed of the Little Athletics equipment pack offer. For details of Coach Education Programme and dates and venues of upcoming courses please click here. Athletics Ireland Club Support Scheme 2009To qualify for a Little Athletics Equipment Pack … • Offer is only available to Athletics Ireland registered clubs. • Each club must have at least three coaches registered with Athletics Ireland who have attended an Athletics Leader coaching course. • Each club must have at least 20 children in the 5 -10 year old age category registered with Athletics Ireland. • Each club must plan to hold a designated Little Athletics session for the target age group. Click here for more details on Little Athletics. The Little Athletics Equipment Pack contains the following… • One set of 8 folding hurdles • One set plastic relay batons • Two sets of 20 coloured bibs • One set of 40 multi markers • Two bullnose javelins • Two foam javelins • Five mega balls • Four primary shots 600g • One indoor shot 1kg • Four primary discii (200g-400g) • One set of 3 medicine balls • Ten hoola hoops • One equipment bag To download an application form for a Little Athletics Equipment Pack please click here; 2008 Little Athletics Pack Application form.pdf.Level 1 Juvenile Athletics PacksTo qualify for a Level 1 Equipment Pack … • Offer is only available to Athletics Ireland registered clubs. • Each club must have three Level 1 registered coaches. • At least one of these coaches must have sat the Level 1 course on the new revised Coach Education Programme. • Each club must have at least twenty children in the target age category (10-14 years old) registered with Athletics Ireland. The Level 1 Equipment Pack contains the following … • Six hurdles (1ft 6 ins to 2 ft 6 ins in height) • Four 500 gram javelins • Four shots – 2 kg, 2.75 kg, 3.25 kg, 4 kg • Five discii - 600 grams, 750 grams, 1 kg (all rubber), 750 grams, 1kg (both wooden) • Set of 6 junior relay batons To download an application form for a Level 1 Equipment Pack please click here Level 1 Pack Application Form. For further details on any aspect of the Club Support Programme please contact your local Regional Development Officer.