Dates for next year’s Youth Development League (YDL) have been released. Grantham Athletic Club athletes will once more compete as part of the Notts Lincs Alliance (us, Bourne, Sleaford and Newark athletes). The Alliance will compete against Derby AC, Mansfield Harriers, Northampton AC, Rushcliffe AC, Sutton-in-Ashfield Harriers AC and Saffron AC.

In the 2019 season, the matches are as follows:

Sat 27/04/19 at Derby AC
Sat 18/05/19 at Derby AC
Sun 23/06/19 at venue TBC (Northampton or Rushcliffe)

Further details will be provided as and when they’re received. All the dates are in the calendar on the website.

As part of the preparations for the forthcoming YDL season, GAC is to put together a series of short “Get Ready for Competition” workshops on training nights where athletes will be taught how to do legal starts and finishes, track and field protocol and the expectations of performance athletes so that they know what will happen on competitions days and can compete to the best of their ability.

Athletes and their parents or guardians are encouraged to speak to team manager Jo McGrath or their coaches about taking part.

U13 Competitors must be aged 11 or 12 and U15 athletes must be aged 13 or 14 on the 31st August in the competition year. Athletes can compete in a maximum of three events plus a relay. They can run either the 800m or the 1200/1500m but not both at the same meeting.

There will be a YDL sign-up sheet on the notice board in the stadium in the New Year. Just add name, select three events plus a relay, along with the dates for which they’re available.

Although every effort is made to ensure that athletes get to compete in the events of their choice, this can be affected by the number signing up for each event. Once the team is selected, Jo will communicate direct with athletes’ parents and brief them on what to expect, travel arrangements and how to prepare their kids. She also sends out timetables and is the team manager on the day ensuring athletes get to their events on time are happy, have their numbers on and, most importantly enjoy the day.