Get Involved
Athletix
A Fun Introduction to Run, Jump, Throw
We’re delighted to launch Athletix, a brand-new recreational athletics programme designed especially for children aged 4–12 who are new to the sport or who want to enjoy athletics in a fun, relaxed environment.
Athletix introduces children to the fundamentals of movement — running, jumping and throwing — through exciting games, creative challenges and confidence-building activities.
Children progress at their own pace through three stages:
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Starting Blocs (Ages 4–7)
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Challenger (Ages 7–10)
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NextGen (Ages 10–12)
Our first Athletix providers, including established athletics clubs, running groups and local authority sport development teams, will begin delivering sessions from April 2026, with more venues launching later in the year.
The Athletix Stages
Starting Blocs (Approx. 4–7 years)
Developing fundamental movement skills, confidence and social interaction through imaginative games and team challenges.
Challenger (Approx. 7–10 years)
An introduction to athletics-based activities — run, jump, throw — building on core skills and preparing children for future athletic development.
NextGen (Approx. 10–12 years)
Introducing recognised athletics events such as hurdles, shot put and high jump, supporting a lifelong love of sport and physical activity.
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Why Athletix?
Athletics underpins almost every sport and physical activity. Running, jumping and throwing are the foundation skills for life.
We have set a bold ambition to welcome 10,000 new young people into athletics by 2030 — and Athletix is a key part of that journey.
By introducing a flexible, inclusive and recreational offer for younger children, we’re opening the door to more families and creating positive first experiences in sport.
What Can a Child Expect?
Athletix sessions are:
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Fun and game-based
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Inclusive and welcoming to all abilities
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Focused on confidence and enjoyment
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Designed around 9 key components of child development
Children won’t realise they’re developing agility, balance and coordination — they’ll be too busy jumping through “rivers” and “landing on the moon”!
There is no pressure to compete, but there will be optional fun activity days with other Athletix groups across the region.
What Does a Participant Receive?
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An exclusive Athletix branded t-shirt
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Access to quality-assured athletics sessions
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Registration with Welsh Athletics
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Access to our new digital membership platform (where parents/carers can manage profiles, book sessions and track progress)
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Invitations to Athletix-specific events
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Insurance cover while participating in sessions
How Much Does It Cost?
Session fees are set locally by the delivering club or provider and may be paid weekly or termly.
We are committed to making Athletix accessible. Financial support may be available through clubs or Welsh Athletics — please get in touch if cost is a concern.
How Do I Sign My Child Up?
Sessions will be available to sign up for very soon via our new booking platform.
Spaces may be limited, so we encourage early registration.
Getting Involved as a Parent or Carer
Athletix is powered by volunteers — and we’d love you to be part of it.
Whether it’s helping set up equipment, supporting activities or welcoming new families, there’s a role for everyone.
We’ve created a simple, accessible Athletix Activator qualification to help parents and supporters get involved with confidence.
Speak to your session leader to find out more.
General Enquiries
For enquiries, please contact us at: athletix@welshathletics.org
Provider FAQ's
When do you expect Athletix to launch?
We’re planning for the first delivery to happen in April, with upskilling of clubs and session leads from early in 2026. We will be rolling out the next stage in the autumn!
How do I get my club involved?
Great! Please get in touch with us, and we’ll talk you through the next steps.
Will participants be affiliated members of Welsh Athletics?
Yes. Like the majority of sports with an offer in this space, registration will involve affiliating to Welsh Athletics. Participants will be automatically registered with Welsh Athletics when they sign up for a session.
What will a child receive when they sign up?
Each participant will receive a free t shirt when they join Athletix! Check out our list of benefits to find out what else we offer.
What will the registration system be?
We have just appointed a new supplier ‘JustGo’ to provide a membership system that will underpin the registration process, delivery and management of these sessions in a modern and efficient way, providing an excellent experience for parents and clubs alike.
Club Delivery
What are the expectations on clubs wishing to deliver these sessions?
A full checklist of requirements will be shared with interested providers, which will include a named lead person for the oversight of the junior offer and a welfare officer for these sessions.
When should these sessions be run?
Whenever works for you and your community! Sessions could be run alongside existing club sessions if appropriate but if this is not possible then a standalone offer might be the better option. The sessions are designed to be flexible in their delivery so do not need to take place at a track should access be an issue - a sports hall or multi-use sports venue would also work. We are happy to support clubs explore their options.
Do sessions have to happen at a track?
No. The sessions are designed to be flexible in their delivery so do not need to take place at a track should access be an issue - a sports hall or multi-use sports venue would also work. We are happy to support clubs consider their options and above all they should be delivered at a time and venue that works for you and your club/session leaders.
Our volunteers are already at capacity/I’m worried about finding more volunteers to deliver these sessions. What should I do?
The qualification to support delivery of these sessions has been designed to be easy to access and complete, with a time frame of just a few weeks compared to some of the more involved qualifications. It will be perfect for parents and other supporters to easily get involved and expand your club workforce and we’ll work with you to support recruitment.
Will clubs need to get new/different insurance to deliver these sessions?
No. With the appropriate risk assessments, clubs are covered to deliver to any age so we’re supporting clubs to welcome young people aged 4+.
Will we have to pay for new equipment to deliver this?
The sessions are designed to be easily accessible and delivered with minimal equipment or by utilising equipment that most clubs will have available to them. Welsh Athletics will provide early adopters with free equipment bundles to make sure that delivery is as easy as possible.
Can providers other than existing clubs deliver these offers?
Yes, absolutely. Clubs will be an important delivery partner for us but we are looking or a range of providers to come with us on our journey to making athletics available for 10,000 new participants.
Will external delivery partners impact clubs?
Hopefully, yes! We understand that clubs may have a finite capacity and so alternative delivery mechanisms allow us to extend our reach. The hope is that all non-club sessions will be linked to a local club to support access to athletics and a lifelong engagement with the sport.
What qualification will I need to deliver sessions?
We are creating a brand-new foundation qualification (Athletix Activator) to support the delivery of the sessions. It will be an entry level qualification, lasting just three hours that is easy to access, low cost and welcoming to anyone who wants to get involved and inspire the next generation.
Please note, you do not need to have a Level 2 certified coach present to deliver these sessions. The Athletix Activator course is the minimum requirement.
Do I need the new qualification if I’m already an athletics coach?
If you are an existing coach then you will not need to go through the qualification but will be asked to attend a one-hour online CPD session so we can bring you up to date with the ethos of the programme and how we would like it to be delivered. We’ve found that most coaches want to join the full course to upskill and refresh!
How old do I have to be to deliver sessions?
Anyone over the age of 14 can become an Athletix Activator, though an adult over the age 18 must be present to oversee sessions.
What are the ratios for delivery?
We will be following NSPCC Best Practice guidance, found here.
How long does it take to get qualified?
The foundation qualification will take three hours to complete and is designed to be easy for anyone to access, giving individuals the essential knowledge to provide fun and engaging sessions in a safe environment. We will be running multiple courses to support the rollout of the sessions; more details will be launched soon. Prior to delivering your first sessions you will also need to have a DBS check.
Will I need a DBS check?
Yes. All individuals delivering sessions will need to go through a DBS check.
How much will the coaching qualification cost?
The details of the course are being confirmed but will be low cost and as affordable as possible. We can support any club to submit grant applications to ensure cost is not a barrier to engagement.
How long will the qualification last?
The qualification is valid for one year and renewed annually through short online CPD sessions.
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