House system brings extra buzz to Prospect Little Athletics

Prospect Little Athletics launched a new house system on Saturday 10 October, bringing fresh excitement, friendly competition and a stronger sense of community to the club.

The initiative aims to encourage greater participation and keep athletes engaged throughout the season, particularly older members who have traditionally been less likely to return after January.

Prospect Little Athletics’ Lee Brigandi said the launch exceeded expectations.

“The kids absolutely were going nuts about it. It was just the buzz,” Brigandi said.

“Kids who didn’t even know each other were already cheering on their houses, and that was just on day one.”

Inspired by the traditional school house system, athletes have been divided into four houses: William, Lawson, Myrtle and Pond. The names have been developed from the club’s home ground, William Lawson Reserve on Myrtle Street, and the large pond located at the back of the grounds.

The names were chosen by the club’s 'Kids Committee', who spent four weeks building excitement ahead of the launch. On the day, every athlete received a coloured wristband showing their house, with teams balanced across age groups so everyone had an equal chance to contribute.

The system rewards participation and personal achievement. Athletes earn one point for weekly attendance and for every event completed, three points for a personal best, five points for entering zone competitions or club championship day, and ten points for breaking a record.

The response from athletes and families has been enthusiastic, with children proudly displaying their house colours on wristbands, hats, watches and even shoelaces.

The system has also created opportunities for athletes of different ages to connect. Younger members have been introduced to senior athletes in their houses, and cheering, encouragement and friendly rivalries are already part of the weekly competition experience.

Behind the scenes, the club has developed a spreadsheet that automatically calculates house points from competition results, keeping the system manageable for volunteers.

“It’s all system-based. It’s really simple,” Brigandi said. “As soon as we import the data off the results, it just calculates it all for us.”

That simplicity hasn’t taken anything away from the excitement. With athletes already embracing their house colours and cheering on their teammates.

Prospect’s new system shows how a simple initiative can strengthen club connections, celebrate individual achievements and give every athlete another reason to return each week.

📸Prospect Little Athletics