Questions and Answers Zoom Regions 1-8

Q: What, in your opinion, are they (ANSW) doing this purely to try and split the system to then enable it to be an easier takeover? Would that be your assumption?

A: That is our assumption.

Q:  I’m interested in the legality, not to mention the morality of Athletics New South Wales in accessing our (LANSW) distribution lists. I’m assuming you did not have any knowledge of this, and is the Board pursuing it?

A: No, we were not aware of it and yest the Board is pursuing it.

Q: I just have a question, say in our zone, if a few clubs choose to stay with LANSW and a few go with the other option (ANSW), what happens in relation to our Zone, Region and State going forward? Do they just fall off that system and we’ve got a smaller Zone or will the Zones be re shuffled?

A: That’ll be something that we would have to have a look at in terms of our Zone distributions, we would hope that we don’t have to shrink the zones but that is a possibility and is an existing process that we need to undertake once every 5 years.

Q: Has this has effectively stopped the current automatic dual registration?

A: Yes

Q: Can you email this presentation to all our members.

A: We will be distributing a recording of this presentation and some Q and A’s after we’ve finished all of the presentations on Friday. But yes, we will get some copies of everything out to you.

Q: I think we’d really like to see some focused energy in trying to find a resolution that actually brings both organisations together as this current situation places too much pressure on centres.

A: I think we can work on a model and present that to them and attempt to broker a meeting. Effectively if they continue to focus on competing with us however, we’re not going to walk away and say we’re not going to continue to support the little athletic centres because that’s just not the sort of organization we are and so we’ve got to present a position that provides value. I know it makes it difficult in making decisions, but we will continue to work on the sidelines in a proactive way in a positive way to promote ways that connectivity can happen, while still running a parallel path that will deliver a unique and targeted little athletics product.

Q: What does that LANSW cover as far as timing solutions go?

A: We do pay the cost for the Timing Solutions product. Timing Solutions charges us $4.50 for every one of your participants, that goes into the Timing Solutions product.

Q: Please justify why little athletics needs bibs?

A: We are looking at ways to move towards a different product to identify athletes that we can role out in a cost effective way for all centres.

Q: Please justify why you need consistent age groups across the season both ANSW and schools managed to base age groups on year of birth.

A: Where a kid starts the season, you want to maintain the settings and activities across the season.  You don’t start your footy season, in one age group and finish the season in another age group. It just doesn’t make sense.

Q: If we just stay as we have been, which is really Little Athletics and dual registration,  with ANSW, does that still allow any of our athletes that want to go to a senior club and train? Is that still allowed to be done?

A: Obviously, from a dual registration point of view, you’ll still register as Little athletes, but going by what the information, we’ve got, you won’t get free dual registration with ANSW. They will have to pay the additional $40. We already have a large focus into the 23/24 season for coaching, and we’re looking to invest heavily into that coaching space.

Q: First of all, when you talked about the system’s help that will be provided, will that be help with Game Day by any chance?

A: Yes.  As well as its integration with Timing Solutions and Meet Manager.

Q: I just wanted to make sure I’m understanding it correctly, ANSW said that they’re going to have their own Region three Championships. Will that mean Centres that decided to go with ANSW, there’ll be a separate Region three Championships. If we go with Little A’s, we won’t be able to go with ANSW Region three Championships.

A: That’s effectively what they’re saying they’ll  run a competing Region Championship with LANSW Championship.

Q: If you are registered with LANSW, and affiliated with ANSW, can you still compete at their Region three Championship or at their regional events, you would just pay a slightly higher entry fee?

A: Yes, I believe so.  However members who choose not to join LANSW would not be able to participate in our Region Championships.  It’s unfortunate that the numbers could potentially be lower because some centres have chosen to register their kids with a ANSW.

Q:  I’m interested to hear, and I think already know the answer to it. What makes ANSW want to move to this new system? Or why do they think the previous dual registration issue failed?

A: Our view is that they believe that having a dual registration system does not provide them with enough athletes moving into senior athletics pathways and feel that they should be unilaterally controlling the sport. Also, they believe that they would do a better job of managing the sport for kids.  We wholeheartedly disagree.

Q: With centres starting to prepare for their seasons what will charge in the way of membership types, for the season. How will this affect the social athlete product? Is, LANSW continuing with the social athlete in the upcoming season?

A: We will have to confirm this one for you.  Last year we trialled this program and we are yet to analyse the position.

Q: Does the $40 ANSW fee gives athletes full access to all competitions to ANSW competitions.

A: Yes.  But it should be noted that I think their competitions actually charge fees. They do, right.

Q: Do you know a rough estimate of how many kids at the age of 14-17 are dropping off? Because that’s where we struggle to get kids from about 14 up?

A: There is a reduction, there’s no doubt. And this is an area that there is parallel pathways for LANSW and senior athletics. We think this is the particular area that we and ANSW should or could work much more closely on, in terms of providing joint pathways to allow them to participate in Little As and, and senior athletics.

 Q: If we get kids who sign up through ANSW pathways and then rock up to our centre, I’m assuming they wouldn’t be covered by our centres, insurances. Would we then need to affiliate with as ANSW as a centre?

A: All of the little athletics membership and our centres would have the member renewals sent to them via Game Day to do their registration. So unless they somehow find your centre on the ANSW portal, then there shouldn’t be that confusion. But I would be suggesting to the athlete if they’re coming to you with an ANSW membership and seeking membership at your centre, then you might just need to correct them and just let them know that they need to join the little athletics membership as part of their overarching membership.

Q: Can we just ask, what sort of support you’ll be offering for Zones and Regions?

A: It’s my commitment in terms of Region, particularly, but Zone Championships as well to provide increase support. We have 1/3 of our membership participating in our Zone Championships, with less than 2500 of our 38,000 kids at State. The more support we can provide to zones, the better our sport will be.

Q: Is LANSW looking at a marketing program.

A: We are absolutely looking at a marketing program from both ourselves and LAA. In the lead up to this registration season, we’ll be taking a very targeted marketing campaign into promoting little athletics to the broader community and membership of our centres.

Q: I’m just on Tots. I still think $60 is very expensive. Tots have basically no opportunity to compete really anywhere else apart from scamper.

A: We’re doing whatever we can to try and reduce that fee. We’ve done some modelling and we’re willing to take the hit to our budget with some of the costs, though, irrespective of whether they’re grass roots Tots or higher there’s insurance costs and a whole range of other things, that we still have to cover.

Q: I’m sure every centre is the same. What is your plan to provide support so that centres can take that to our members and give them the best information to help with decision making and clarity?

A:  We will develop some basic communications that will be distributed via our member newsletter.  Further to that, we will provide some communications to distribute to centres for them to distribute to their own members.