List of Roster Positions
Little Athletics is a very diverse sport comprising many different athletic events. Here is a list of the various parent roster positions which are required at every Saturday competition.
Brief Description of Roster Positions
For all roster positions, parents are required to sign-in for their duty at the roster tent and collect their recording sheet or equipment and return upon completion. Here is a brief description of each role and the frequency required throughout the season.
Announcer – early start (must arrive by 7:20am); calls the events over the PA system from the balcony; ensures program is running smoothly; manages program changes if required; makes general announcements; liaises with Arena Manager; must stay until end of program. A total of five (5) rosters scattered throughout the season.
Checker Starter – early start (must arrive by 7:20am); acts as the starter’s assistant; watches athletes’ for false starts; indicates false starts to the starter with flags; must stay until all track events are completed. Check Starters are required to have completed the Level 1 Starter’s Accreditation (takes 40 minutes online) and submit their certificate. A total of five (5) rosters scattered throughout the season.
Data Entry field – enters data from the recording sheets into the laptops; works in the office upstairs; commences at 9am and finishes by 12 noon; must stay until all recording sheets are entered. A total of five (5) rosters scattered throughout the season.
End of Track Finish Marshall – early start (must arrive by 7:30am); assists the timing gates race controller with placing athletes onto the track correctly and walking athletes off the track after they cross the finish line; handing out number paddles as the athletes cross the finish line; call out athlete numbers to the Track Recorder; ensure athletes remove spiked shoes and carry safely; guiding athletes through the recording desk and off the track; must stay until all events at the track have concluded. A total of five (5) rosters scattered throughout the season.
Field Key Officials – discus, shotput, javelin, turbo javelin, vortex, long jump, triple jump, high jump – arrive to site early (at first call); check equipment at field site has been set-up correctly; mark the record with the flag for long jump or in the field for throws; organise parent helpers and clarify their duties; judge each athletes’ jump or throw is legal; immediately notify Arena Manager if record is equalled or broken and suspend event until verified; call announcer that event has concluded; sign recording sheet and return two-way radio and officials vest to the roster tent. Key officials are required to have completed the Level 1 Officials Accreditation for their event (takes 40 minutes online) and submit their certificate. Key Officials have the shortest roster duration (generally 1.5 hours) but they must be available every fortnight or arrange a roster swap with an experienced official.
First Aid Officer – must arrive by 7:30am; requires a current first aid certificate or can be a nurse or doctor; wear two-way radio and first aid “bum bag”; listen to calls for when first aid is required and administer; liaise with Arena Manager for significant injuries/accidents; complete incident report forms; speak to parents if further attention to an injury or accident is required. A total of five (5) rosters scattered throughout the season.
Northern Marshall – early start (must arrive by 7:20am); when track events are called, organise athletes into heats and mark heats on the marshalling sheets provided; where possible arrange athletes randomly in lanes; walk athletes to the start area for their races; ensure athletes remain in lane order as they approach the track; liaise with announcer as required. Must remain until all track events have concluded. A total of five (5) rosters scattered throughout the season.
Pack Away Team – heavy lifting involved (must be able to lift 60kg); take instructions from pack away coordinator as to what equipment is ready for pack up; follow vehicle around the reserve and assist with loading onto ute or trailers; ensure that equipment is returned to the correct area in the shed; empty rubbish bins into larger skip and replace with new bags; gather lost property; must remain until all equipment is packed away. A total of five (5) rosters scattered throughout the season.
Roster Checker – early start (must arrive by 7:20am); set up tables under roster tent; bring down equipment from office – boards, site files, two-way radios, officials vests; sign-in sheets; arrange area so that parents can sign-in and collect equipment; hand out recording sheets to key officials as they sign-in; answer queries from parents; advise announcer if parents fail to show up for roster duty; pack away at end of competition. A total of three (3) rosters scattered throughout the season.
Set Up – very early start (must arrive at 6:15am – finishes by 7:30am); take instructions from set up coordinator as to what equipment is required; work in small teams to put up shade tents and arrange hurdles, organise equipment at throws and jumps sites; put up safety rope around sites; rake and water pits; arrange bins around the reserve; assist Chief Timing Gates Controller with gate set up; put up signage. A total of five (5) rosters scattered throughout the season.
Southern Marshall – early start (must arrive by 7:20am); when track events are called, organise athletes into heats and mark heats on the marshalling sheets provided; where possible arrange athletes randomly in lanes; walk athletes to the start area for their races; ensure athletes remain in lane order as they approach the track; liaise with announcer as required. Must remain until all track events have concluded. A total of five (5) rosters scattered throughout the season.
Starter – early start (must arrive by 7:20am); liaises with finish line to ensure timing gates are ready for next event; takes athletes through the start procedure as per LAWA rules using electronic gun; watches athletes for false starts; indicates false start with flags and electronic gun; use two-way radio to advise Announcer when an age group has finished the track event; ensure hurdles are at the correct height and distance for age group; must stay until all track events are completed. Starters are required to complete the Level 1 Starter’s Accreditation (takes 40 minutes) and submit their certificate. A total of five (5) rosters scattered throughout the season.
Timing Gates Race Controller – early start (must arrive at 7am and assist Chief Timing Gates Controller with set-up and test of equipment prior to competition commencing; ensures athletes are placed correctly on the track; monitors program and works through events as they are called; liaises with track starters and track recorders for flow of events; troubleshoots any technical issues; assigns duties to end of track marshalls; ensure manual stopwatch times are taken and recorded; immediately notify Arena Manager when a record is equalled or broken; at conclusion, pack away timing gates and starters equipment. A total of five (5) rosters scattered throughout the season.
Timing Gates Recorder – early start (must arrive by 7:30am); work with Timing Gates Race Controller and Chief Timing Gates Controller to ensure track events are electronically recorded and uploaded via the laptop; work through any technical issues that arise; liaise with announcer when an age group has completed their track event; record manual stopwatch times into the register; notify Timing Gates Race Controller when a record has been equalled or broken; assist with pack away of equipment at the finish line; must remain until all track events have concluded. A total of five (5) rosters scattered throughout the season.
Two-Way Support for Announcer – early start (must arrive by 7:30am); receives two-way communications from track and field and passes information over to the Announcer; contacts track and field parents using two-ways; monitor the completion of events; help Announcer to keep the program moving and suggest program changes where required; handle queries from parents and athletes that arise; must stay until end of program. A total of five (5) rosters scattered throughout the season.
