Key information/terms that may help when considering joining Medway & Maidstone Athletic Club!
Club Membership
Our membership year runs from April to March. This year’s new junior membership is £110 and adult membership £120. This includes an athlete’s England Athletic registration fee (£17 for 2023/24) which is a requirement so athletes can compete in competition. This fee will also help towards payment for some competition and league fees.
If joining from October we offer a reduced membership fee which is currently £65.
Individual Championship entry and Open meetings are paid for by the athlete. League competitions are generally paid for by the Club.
Member Mojo
We use a membership portal called Member Mojo. You can complete membership registration and payment through Mojo. Automated membership reminders will be sent. From time to time, you will receive Club information by email through Mojo. Please keep a check on your junk mail as emails may end up here!
England Athletic registration – Unique Registration Number (URN)
This is known as an athlete’s Unique Registration Number (URN)and allows you to compete in athletic competition. Once registered, this number will never change and needs to be renewed each year by the Club upon receiving your membership payment. England Athletic will confirm your number but we can advise on this if needed. It can be found on Member Mojo. Keep it to hand as you will need this for entering individual championship competition and Open meetings. Team Managers need this number to enter athletes into league competitions.Information can be found here: Becoming a Registered Athlete – Athletics & Running (englandathletics.org)
Open Meetings
Athletes enter themselves to Open meetings. These meetings are a great way to chase PBs (personal bests) and help get used to competition. Coaches can help you with deciding what event(s). These can cost approximately £6-£10 per event. M&M have three this year and other Clubs around the County and further also have Open meetings.
Power of ten (Pof10)
Athletic competition results can be found on here. It gives each registered athlete their individual profile recording personal bests.It also lists future events Power of 10 (thepowerof10.info)
Athletics Coach
On joining you will be allocated a Coach and sometimes an Assistant Coach/Parent Helper will help. This will be a coach relevant to the area of athletics you enjoy and want to train in. Young athletes do not always know what events they want to try so there is always the chance to try other events. For example, if your main training group is for middle distance, you can always try other events on one of the training days. This can be discussed with your coach. Group moves are always considered but you need to talk to your coach about this and coaches need to discuss this too.
Team Managers
Each competition will usually have a Team Manager or two! They will email you before each competition to check availabilityand help support athletes when new to competition. Please give them the courtesy of responding to emails as Team Managers are volunteers giving up their time!
Club Vests for competition
You will need to buy a Club vest which is £15. It is best to get a vest in good time of your first competition as it is a requirement to participate in league competition. You can get these at the trackat MP or SV. Please ask a coach who can point you in the right direction.
Kit for training
Shorts, running tights/track suit bottoms, short sleeve or long sleeve running top (depending on the weather). Waterproof or light running jacket, hoodie too if cold. Gloves. Trainers.
If continuing we also have other Club kit https://clubshop.fastraxrunning.com/product-category/medway-maidstone-ac/
Track/Cross Country spikes
Coaches will be able to help but some useful information here Everything You Need to Know About Running Spikes – Running Bear
Track safety
Your coach will speak to you about safety around the track. Never cross the middle of the track even when throwing events are not taking place. This is a Club rule for your safety.
Inclusivity
The tracks have a varying number of groups using it. No one has priority over another group but athletes need to keep safe and always be aware of other users. We have athletes training from age 11 to Masters 70 years and disability athletes all working towards their own goals but varying abilities. Coaches will talk to you about keeping safe whilst using the track. Importantly please be respectful to all.
Things to think about when considering joining
We are a competitive Athletics Club and not a fitness club or just a way to get fit for other sports. We belong to different leagues and expect our athletes to commit to training and to participate in competition. Though we are competitive, we are a friendly Club and want athletes to enjoy their training and competition. Coaches are mainly volunteers who give up their time to coach so like to see their athletes compete.
Parents need to be aware that there may be some travel involved. Kent league competitions are in Kent. Currently Youth Development Leagues (YDLs) are mainly Kent or close to Kent. The Southern Athletic League (SAL) matches will have further travel, for example, West London, Bracknell. If matches are further, the Club may contribute towards fuel costs but encourage to car-share.
Your Help!
On joining it is hoped that parents will want to get involved.Athletics only continues due to volunteers such as our officials. We are always on the lookout for officials and other support. If attending matches with children there is always time to watch your child’s event but also get involved on the day!
Training at Medway Park, Gillingham
Tuesdays and Thursdays evenings and Saturday mornings – times advised by your coach)
We hire the track from Medway Council. Medway Park charge an entrance fee to go through to the athletics track. This is in addition to our club membership. Please speak to Medway Park reception for information on discounted entrance fees for M&M athletes/families. We would suggest after trialling sessions and you wish to continue, you purchase a Centre membership. This is currently around £20 for a child for the year. There is also the option to pay a family Centre membership. Please enquire at Medway Park reception for latest costs. It’s a big saving compared to spending an additional individual entry fee just to access the centre each time.
Training at Sutton Valence School, Maidstone Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays as advised by your coach.
Cross Country (October to March) U13s and above
Team Managers will be in contact if you would like to be entered in Kent, Southern and National competitions.
Sports hall (October to February)
A team manager is responsible for entering junior athletes intothis competition
Indoor competition
Speak to your coach if interested in running indoors as athletes enter individually. The most local competitions can be found here but there are other indoor areas with competition.
https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/lee-valley/athletics-centre
Track and Field Leagues (March to September) U13s and above
Team Managers will be in contact to take part in competition.
Kent County Athletics League (KYAL) (Under 13s and U15s)
Kent County Athletics Association – Home Page (kcaa.org.uk)
Youth Development League (YDL) (this year only Upper age group (U17s and U20s)
Southern Athletic League (SAL) (U17s and Seniors)
Southern Athletics League – Home
Age groups (School competitions have different age boundaries)
Under 13 Boys and Girls (School Years 6 and 7)
Track and Field competition for Under 13’s shall be confined to competitors who are aged 11 or 12 on the 31st August within the Competition Year.
Under 15 Boys and Girls (School Years 8 and 9)
Track and Field events for Under 15’s shall be confined to competitors who are aged 13 or 14 on 31st August within the Competition Year.
Under 17 Men and Women (School Years 10 and 11)
Track and Field events for Under 17’s shall be confined to competitors who are aged 15 or 16 on 31st August within the Competition Year.
Under 20 Years Junior Men and Women
Track and Field events for Juniors shall be confined to competitors who are 17 or over on 31st August within the Competition Year, but Under 20 on 31st December in the calendar year of competition.
For the Cross Country season
Under 13 Boys and Girls (School Year 7 and 8):
competitors who are aged 11 or 12 on 31st August Prior to the Commencement of the Competition Year (PCCY)
Under 15 Boys and Girls (School Year 9 and 10):
competitors who are aged 13 or 14 on 31st August PCCY
Under 17 Men and Women (School Year 11 and 12):
competitors who are aged 15 or 16 on 31st August PCCY
Under 20 Men and Women (School Year 13 plus):
competitors who are aged 17, 18 or 19 on 31st August PCCY