Cambridgeshire clubs delivering FMC for local children

This summer has certainly delivered exciting athletics action with the Commonwealth Games and European Championships taking place on UK soil. With children able to watch their track and field idols up close or on the television, it's fantastic to see clubs across England providing competitive opportunities on their doorstep.

Across the summer three Cambridgeshire clubs, Cambridge and Coleridge AC, Peterborough and Nene Valley AC (PANVAC) and Huntingdonshire AC, joined forces to deliver a series of three funetics Multi-Challenge (FMC) competitions for local young athletes.

Targeting children aged 7-11, FMC provides age-appropriate, inclusive competition opportunities for U12 athletes with a focus on enjoyment, being part of a team and individual improvement. 

We caught up with the three clubs to learn more about their experiences delivering FMC.

Meeting the local demand and getting started

Giving competitive opportunities for children under 12 can be challenging, but there was certainly appetite in Cambridgeshire as Sarah from Cambridge and Coleridge explained:

"We decided on FMC as there were limited options close by for this age group, and plus it looked great fun! Parents didn't want to travel too far so running a local competition in the morning was much more convenient for all the family."

Huntingdonshire AC also saw a clear demand for opportunities aimed at younger athletes.

"We didn't need to do much promotion as there was already significant interest from local families," explained Carol Darnell from Huntingdonshire AC. "As a club, we don't currently take members under the age of nine, but we have a large waiting list. FMC gave us the opportunity to introduce children in Years 4, 5 and 6 to athletics in a fun and structured way, and it allowed us to dip our toe in the water with this age group. We already knew the format had been successful elsewhere in the country, so it was a great fit for us."

Within this competition series, there were four events for them to try within a 90 minute window, developing their running, jumping and throwing skills in a fun and competitive environment.

"PANVAC hosted the first match so we set the format for the series," added Elaine Larkins from PANVAC. "A few years ago we had undertaken a series of Quad Kids events, and so used that as our base. Each club had agreed to do a maximum of 15 athletes from each club and so we could pre-register them on Roster ahead of the meeting and have their numbers ready to go. We did a mass warm up for ten minutes to get the athletes moving and then randomly split them into three groups which meant they weren't just sticking with their clubmates.

"We had some young volunteers from the club who acted as leaders, moving the athletes between the sprint, jump and howler throw with each event taking around 15 minutes to complete. With the howler throw, each athlete was given three implements with their first throw measured. We ensured that when taking the howlers from the official, they walked outside of the sector to teach them important throws safety they would need further down the line.

"To conclude the event, we had everyone come back together to run the 400m/600m split into boys and girls races. We learned that not everything goes to plan all the time - children will not turn up on the day, there will be delays, but that is ok! And we were then able to make any changes for the next competition in the series."

Trying something new

Taking part in multi-event competition and training is truly beneficial to children, whether they want to stand on top of the Olympic or Paralympic podium in the future, or plan to move into another sport.

"Originally, I had parents saying their children would only do the running races, but then the athlete got swept up in the fun and by the end really enjoyed doing the jumping and throwing too", explained Sarah. "As a competition provider, we are very accommodating and don't implement strict rules which upset parents or athletes."

"The children would earn a sticker for their charts after each event which they loved. The competition format created a really friendly, relaxed atmosphere where parents and spectators were encouraged to get involved, for example with pit raking or measuring."

For Huntingdoneshire AC, one of the biggest successes was seeing young athletes discover new disciplines without the pressure often associated with competition.

"FMC has a really positive energy about it, both in training and competition. It's much more relaxed than traditional training groups because our focus was on creating an enjoyable, low-key introduction to athletics. We encouraged the children to challenge themselves, try new events and aim for personal bests rather than worrying about results. Our goal was to help them catch the athletics bug and, for around 80% of the group, it has definitely done that."

Working together with local clubs

It is fantastic to see three clubs working together to put the athlete's competition opportunities and experience first. With three main track and field clubs in the county, it really helped give a consistent experience across the series.

"We have been able to get to know clubs local to us a lot better and benefit from learning from each other," explained Sarah. "We were able to share equipment and learn new ideas. We met before each event and helped to put plans in place - taking learnings from the event prior so we were able to develop as we went on. We have never worked this closely before and it has really helped to strengthen our relationships within the county."

Hosting the final event in the three-match series also gave Huntingdonshire AC the opportunity to learn from the experiences of the other clubs.

"We hosted the third and final competition, which meant we could take some of the most successful ideas from the events in Cambridge and Peterborough and adapt them for our own setting," said Carol. "We wanted the day to feel relaxed and enjoyable rather than rushed, giving the children time to experience the atmosphere and make the most of every event."

"Working closely with the other clubs was hugely beneficial. By sharing ideas and learning from one another throughout the series, we were able to create a consistent and positive experience for the athletes."

Thinking of giving FMC a go?

It is certain to see that FMC has been super popular across the different pilot events held so far. You can read all about these below.

It is fantastic to hear that not only does FMC provide athletes with a fun, exciting, compressed competition opportunity, but it is also simple and seamless to run for the clubs too.

"FMC is so enjoyable for all - athletes, parents and officials. I have had so much positive feedback that clubs should all give them a go!" - Cambridge and Coleridge

"It was fantastic to see the delight on the youngsters' faces. They all had great fun whilst learning about competition, discipline and safety."

"FMC gave young athletes the chance to experience athletics in a welcoming and supportive environment. Seeing their confidence grow over the summer and watching them embrace competition for the first time was incredibly rewarding. For clubs thinking about trying FMC, I'd absolutely recommend it." - Huntingdonshire AC