NSW Juniors Championships Frequently Asked Questions
Registration Process
Step 1: Qualifying for the State Championships
Until the week of the 16th February, we will only be publishing the top 2 athletes in each Region. The next-best-8 will be updated by our team during this week, and athletes will not be notified of their position until the 20th February. Progression lists are available below:
NSW Junior Championships (13s-15s)
NSW Litte Athletics Championships (9s-12s)
If your athlete has still not appeared by the 21st February, please fill out this form and our team will review your case. We will not be replying to enquiries on this form unless additional information is required.
Athletes in the top two (2) in each region automatically qualify for the state championships, however you will still have to accept your position in the qualifying event. An email will be sent to all qualifying athletes with further information by 20th February.
If you are aware that you cannot progress at your Region Championships, we ask that you fill out a withdrawal form here. For more information on the withdrawal process, please see here.
Athletes will not recieve any communicaion regarding qualification. until the week of 16th February. During this week, there may be some changes to which athletes are listed. The final list will be published by 20th February and successful athletes will be notified of actions required via email.
While NSW Athletics strives to minimise the number of changes required during this week, we understand that mistakes can happen. The progression list is edited live and will therefore be unofficial until 20th February.
If your enquiry is about the next-best-8, please wait until after 20th Febuary before contacting us through this form.
Step 2: Entering the State Championships
Athletes that qualified for the state championships will be notified by 20th February with information on how to accept their position at the state championships. Until this date, NSW Athletics will not change any status to "Accepted".
From the 21st February onwards, our team needs to verify your purchase before accepting your athletes position at the state championships. Please allow up to 48 hours for your athletes status to change.
We ask that no athlete, parent, coach, or club tries to accept their athletes position in the Athletic NET system.
NSW Athletics will only accept entries for the events that athletes select via the link sent to them. Athletes can choose not to compete in all of the events that they have qualified for.
Yes, there is an entry fee for the state championships.
In the 9s-12s athletes (including Paras in these age groups), there will be a flat rate of $15 per athlete
In the 13s-U20 (including Paras in these age groups), it will be $40 for the first event, and $30 for each susbequent event.
Information regarding Spectator tickets will be released shortly. Parents that nominate for a helper duty will be offered a complimentary ticket for the days they are volunteering.
Step 3: Second Round Offers
Yes, a Second round of Offers will be made available from the 4th March.
Please click the link below to understand this process
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Athletes in the 16s, 17s and Under 20 age groups may direct enter all events at the Junior Championships. There is no progression required from any event, including the Region Championships.
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Athletes in the 13s, 14s and 15s age groups may direct enter the following events:
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Pole Vault
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Steeplechase
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Hammer Throw
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3000m Walk
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14s/15s 100m Hurdles (84cm)
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Athletes in all other events must have qualified via the Region Championships or through the “Next Best 8” process.
Please note that direct entries close on Friday 27 February.
If you competed at regionals and you are unable to attend, please fill out an inability to proceed form here.
Event Information
- Check the website to confirm the start time of your event(s). The timetable will be updated and final timetable available by Monday 9th March.
- Parents and families can pre purchase their entry/gate tickets to secure the best price.
- Confirm your phone number linked to your membership is correct.
- To do so, login to your account and see membership details. - https://www.nswathletics.org.au/account/
- Collect your accreditation from the front gate of the Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre. This will include your bib number which must be worn on the front of the athlete’s top.
- If you haven’t already, check-in for your events that day via the text message you should receive
- Once you have checked in, you need to arrive at your event site (or start area) no later than 10 minutes prior(track) and 20 minutes prior (field), or 45 minutes for Pole Vault.
- You may use the Warm up Track for your final event preperations. (no Warm Up allowed on the main arena)
- Enjoy the Competition!
All athletes are required to check in for their event! This includes athletes participating in Track and Field events.
Check in will be via an online portal. Athletes will be sent a link to the mobile phone number on their membership profile on the day prior to the first day of competition for that event.
Athletes are required to check-in no later than 60 minutes prior to the advertised start time of their event. Check-in is only required for the first round of each individual event (not any subsequent rounds – e.g. Semi Final or a Final).
The portal will be available for check in from 5:00pm on the day prior to the first round of each event and athletes are encouraged to check in at their earliest convenience.
Any competitors who have difficulty with the check in or do not receive the text message, please either report to the Technical Information Centre (TIC) which will be located at Competition Management as soon as possible to assure your participation in the competition.
Once checked in, track athletes must report to the start area of the event at least 10 minutes before the scheduled starting time and field to report to the field site at least 20 minutes before so warm ups can be completed.
If you did not receive a check in text, please head to Technical Information Centre (TIC) / Competition Management no later than 60 minutes before your event time and our friendly staff will check you in manually.
Unfortunately you cannot check in via phone or email.
Some of the key differences include;
- No call room- athletes report directly to the event site (10 minutes track, 20 minutes field)
- Athlete Check in- Athletes need to check in for each event at least 60 minutes prior to their event. This is done via text message sent the day before. As a result, athletes will not be aware of the heat they are running until 45 mins prior to the event.
- No Clash Manager. Athletes manage their own clashes and liase with technical officials to ensure they do not miss events
- Protests and Appeals. This process differs from LANSW ROC and athletes should familiarise themselves with this process in the rules of competition. This process is managed by the athlete or someone acting on their behalf. The club may manage this for an athlete but it is not mandatory.
The Technical Information Centre is located on the concourse directly across from the concession between bays 11 & 12.
The TIC will be managed by Technical Officials and can assist with any nature of question regarding the competition, including but not limited to;
- Check in Questions (including if an athlete did not receive their check in link)
- Assistance in locating field event sites
- Any questions on the rules of competition
- Record paperwork
- To scratch from an event
- To enquire about protests or appeals
- Any other questions regarding the competition
No Call room is offered to provide a more relaxed and less officious experience for athletes.
Once checked in, track athletes must report to the start area of the event at least 10 minutes before the scheduled starting time and field to report to the field site at least 20 minutes before so warm ups can be completed. Please note: parents, coaches and spectators are not allowed to access the Field of Play.
Uniforms/Bib Numbers
Yes, you need to wear the uniform of the club that you are representing.
If you have competed in a Coles Zone or Region Championships, no you cannot, you must compete for the club you represented in these competitions
If you did not compete in these competitions, you may providing you a member of another club under the multi-club policy. Please contact us here if this applies to you.
Athletes will be issued a Championship specific competition bib which will be collected at the front gate with their accreditation.
Centre issued bibs will not be required for this competition.
You are not required to wear your age patch, but you are more than welcome to if you wish
Timetable
Draft timetables are prepared with historical data to provide an indication of the time events will take place.
Once we receive the entries, we modify the timetable based on actual entries so we can accurately provide detail on the time you will compete. We understand athletes need to prepare for competition, including a structured warm up and that accurate start times are important to optimal performance.
It is essential that athletes check the final timetable to confirm the time they are competing.
Usually, events change times by minutes to up to an hour. Sometimes more drastic changes are required but these are generally rare.
Generally, no. The timetable is carefully constructed based on several different factors. Common doubles are accounted for, but it is not possible to construct the timetable to account for all personal preferences.
We do check where there are multiple athletes competing in two events at the same time and can move one of these in the final timetable process.
No clash managers will operate at the NSW Juniors. Athletes are responsible in navigating their event schedule, but will be assisted by the event officials.
If you are in two events follow this simple process
- Go to the field event site first and check in for your event. When you see the officials, inform them that you are in a clashing track event.
- Keep track of the time and inform the officials if you need to leave. The officials will also help you manage this.
- Once your track event is over, please report back to the field event site immediately and inform the officials you have returned.
Note- while all endeavours will be made to facilitate this process, it is the athlete’s responsibility to manage the clash. Please note while certain leniencies can be provided to athletes (such as throwing out of order) once the round has been completed it is completed, and the athlete will be deemed to have passed that attempt.
Venue
The Warm Up Track is available for the duration of the competition. There are limited events taking place on the Warm Up Track, so it will be primarily used as a Warm Up Venue.
Coaches or parents will need a valid ticket to enter the Warm Up Track.
No warm ups is permitted on the main competition arena, apart from the allocated time prior to a field event.
Yes, all spectators (non-competing athletes) will need a valid ticket to enter the venue if they are 10 or older.
Tickets are cheaper if purchased online prior to the 11th March
No. Athletes will gain access to all 4 days of the NSW Juniors using their Juniors Athlete Accreditation. This is collected from outside the front gate.
Rules
On the events page here.
Please note that the rules of the competition are based on this document and the rules of World Athletics. The Rules of the ROC will not be followed at this competition.
Starting blocks must be used for all events up to and including 400m, except in the 13s age group who may use blocks but are under no obligation to do so.
Block usage for para-athletes will be as per the relevant WPA rule for the athletes’ classification.
An athlete who wishes not to use blocks (in Para and 13s age group), may still wear spikes.
Only blocks provided by the venue may be used.
Implements must be weighed and checked by Technical Manager at the Technical Room no later than 90 minutes before the scheduled starting time of your particular event.
The Technical Room will be located in the shed at the 100m start line.
Things to note:
- A maximum of two implements are allowed.
- You must collect your implement/s from the Technical Room after the event.
- You must provide your own vaulting poles. Athletics NSW will not provide vaulting poles.
Seed performances at Juniors are based on the best performance that an athlete achieves from the 1st of October 2025. They are not restricted to the Region Championships.
Seed performances will be submitted through the confirmation process and will be checked against ranking lists.
Timed finals will be seeded with the slowest heat first. Races will be seeded based on the performances since 1st October 2025
Not until 45 minutes prior to the event commencing.
Athletes are required to check in for their events at least 60 minutes prior to their event. This process allows us to remove athletes that are not participating, and only add 'confirmed' athletes into the lane draws. This allows a more fair and equitable allocation of heats to ensure that all athletes are provided the best opportunity to progress to the Final.