DALE DRIVES CHANGE TO ELEVATE ATHLETE EXPERIENCES
Published Mon 18 Nov 2024
History was made on Friday the 18th of October for Dale Athletics Centre after a constitution change enabled five of its athletes to represent the Centre for the first time ever at Strive powered by Go For 2&5.
The 47-year-old athletics Centre is proving to be a champion of change, with the Centre welcoming a range of innovations and improvements as part of the 2024-25 season. The Centre have upgraded their competition facilities to increase accessibility for athletes with mobility limitations and have adopted the One Cub affiliation model to enable athletes above the age of 17 to continue participating at the Centre.
“We’re a pretty progressive Centre here... We have developed an attitude where we don’t have to be afraid of things changing,” said Chair of Dale Athletics Centre, Cathy Flockhart.
“It became easy to see how much becoming a One Club would benefit our community as far as the pathway options, the opportunities for returning athletes, and the opportunities for increased connection.”
“It's so important especially for teenagers and young adults to be able to maintain connection to community.”
Prior to becoming a One Club, Dale Athletics Centre could only accommodate athletes aged five to 17 at their weekly Little Athletics WA competitions.
“The cost involved in it all [finding a senior club] is always significantly more, so when you factor that in given their demographic and the location of many of the training centres and then that difficulty of having to go somewhere new when you have already developed these friendships and relationships, it becomes a step too far and too many things are getting in the way. “
16-year-old Dale athlete, Rhys Osborne is particularly excited by the opportunity to continue his athletics career at Dale Athletics Centre.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to compete at multiple levels and appreciate that I will be paving the way for future athletes.”
“I hope it continues to make my athletics journey an enjoyable and challenging one.”
Camden Flockhart also returned to Dale Athletics Centre to participate, after ageing out two years ago.
“It [becoming a One Club] helps retain the connections with parents and other athletes and also keeps me doing athletics as a coach because I can come down on a Saturday and help coach as well as compete,” said Camden.
“It also gives me the opportunity to compete at Strive without having join a new Centre and travel far for training.”
Dale Athletics Centre joins Belmont Athletics Centre, Hamersley Athletics Centre, Inglewood Athletics Centre, Joondalup Athletics Centre, Melville Roar Athletics Centre, Ridgewood Athletics Centre and WA Race Walkers Club in delivering a One Club model. With Peel Districts Athletics Centre and Capes Athletics Club updating their governance model over the last six months to also deliver a One Club model.
Looking to transition to a One Club too? For more information and support, contact Athletics West on 08 6272 0480 or email brayden@athleticswest.com.au.
For more information on how you can get involved in athletics, contact Athletics West on 08 6272 0480 or via admin@athleticswest.com.au.
By Imogen McDonald (Athletics West)
Published 18 November 2024
