Get Involved

Do you or your child enjoy athletics? Have you recently completed a fun run and been inspired to get yourself or your children involved in running? There are plenty of opportunities available for people of all ages to get involved in Athletics; from local family fun runs to parkruns and joining a club.

How do I find an athletics club?

Great you’ve been inspired to join an athletics club! We have a full list of all Welsh Athletics affiliated clubs available here. All our clubs have been verified and have completed an affiliation process with us to ensure that they are operating in a safe and inclusive environment.

What to expect at a club for junior athletes:

Our clubs are run entirely by volunteers and they will offer a warm welcome upon your arrival. Many clubs will offer a multi-disciplinary programme to young athletes to ensure that they develop core fundamental skills needed across the various disciplines of Athletics. It’s important that your child has the opportunity to experience exposure to all elements of run, jump and throw. As athletes become older then the opportunity will arise for them to join ‘event specialist’ groups, where they will focus on a specific event with a specialist coach.  

Joining an athletics club has many benefits, particularly for young athletes. They can receive high quality training, advice and development sessions from qualified coaches in a safe and enjoyable environment, whilst making new friends and being active. The majority of clubs will take children from the age of 8, although there are a small number of clubs that offer athletics sessions to under 8’s - contact your local Network Officer for more info. Clubs also provide competitive opportunities for athletes of all abilities from aged 9. Children can also enjoy participating in junior parkruns across Wales that are available to those, aged between 4 and 14. 

What to expect at a club for adults:

Joining a club as an adult is a great way to make new friends, socialise and become more active. Whether you have experienced athletics before or are completely new to the sport a warm welcome will always be received. If you're interested in trying the various disciplines of athletics check that the club you're looking to join inculdes track and field. If you are interested in running look to join one of our affiliated running clubs. If you are new to running and want to get started with a couch to 5km programme you could look to join one of our social running groups.

Cardiff Athletics always welcomes new members and is committed to ensuring a safe and fully inclusive environment. New members can just turn up on one of the training nights, complete the paperwork and try athletics for free. If you enjoy the free session you can follow this up by joining the club or academy and attend regular training sessions, taken by qualified coaches, and competitions. For youngsters the club has the Academy, this is for primary school children aged 7 and above through to senior school children up to 16, here the Academy teaches the FUNdamentals of athletics in a fun and safe environment. 

Mark Gold, Cardiff Athletics