Super fun at the Emirates as SUPERteams thrills our U12s

Sunday 22nd January 2023

By Peter Jardine, Head of Communications

The weather was grey, damp and, some might say, miserable outside the Emirates Arena in Glasgow on a Sunday afternoon in January.

What a contrast inside with the athletics arena a noisy, vibrant and colourful explosion of youthful excitement at our 4J SUPERteams.

The U12s event is always highly popular and that applies equally to team managers, parents, coaches and our Officials as well as many of the youngest athletes at our clubs.

It combines a first taste of competitive athletics (for many) in a team context with a chance for development; with coaches and Officials helping youngsters with explanations and tips on technique and protocol.

With 99 teams entered from no fewer than 28 clubs, the response was impressive and we want to express our thanks to everyone who contributed – in whatever role – to a fine SUPERteams event. As always, we says thanks particularly to our dedicated team of Officials.

Here are the 1-2-3 podium places . . .

Boys

1 Central AC A; 2 Springburn Harriers A; 3 Giffnock North A

Girls

1 Giffnock North Girls A; 2 Springburn Harriers C; 3 Kilmarnock Harriers A

Clubs the length and breadth of Scotland made the trip to Glasgow including from North Uist, Inverness and Gala Harriers.

‘It is such an exciting day for clubs and I think that atmosphere is special when you get all these young children being together and trying out athletics,’ said Inverclyde AC coach Janice Hendrie.

‘They have their friendship groups and they go around the Emirates together having fun.

‘The shot put was our ‘challenge’ today; getting through that, finding out how to do it, getting help from the Officials. Our Inverclyde AC youngsters really enjoyed a first taste of the throws.’

‘There is a lot of learning which happens at the SUPERteams,’ said David Fallon, our Head of Development.

‘We don’t just see new faces in the participants, we see it in the families who come along to watch and support the youngsters. Across the board, there are lots of people here who are new to athletics and we’re delighted to give them a taste of it and even the Emirates as a venue.

‘Our Officials are brilliant, not just by applying and explaining rules but also in offering guidance and encouragement. You can see in the relays they are actually working really hard to help the young athletes get round as a team.

‘These U12s, and our athletes at U13 and U15, are very important to the sport.

‘We get feedback from clubs about an anxiety about competing but hopefully an event like the SUPERteams can dilute that and ease those concerns via ‘softer’ competition without too much expectation and more of a focus on having fun.’