The Social Side

We believe the social side of belonging to a club is important. Running alone is fine but it's far easier to run with others, particularly on a cold winter's night. Shared experiences and sharing knowledge is what belonging to a club is all about.

On the last Tuesday of the month we meet at the White Hart in Tonbridge Road after our Tuesday club run for a drink and something to eat which provides a relaxed way to talk about running plans and to share experiences.

At Christmas we have an informal club dinner with a low key fancy dress theme, and in the summer we try to fit in a BBQ. On occasions weekend trips to take in a race at distant venues including in northern France are arranged.

Young Athletes

NB. We currently have a waiting list for junior members. Potential new members should contact the membership secretary Kerri Folkesson ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) so that she can place them on the list. Please note we are now so oversubscribed that we will not begin to offer taster sessions for new members until they start in Year 5.

Where and When We meet
Club night for the junior section is on Tuesdays. There are two groups: under 11s and over 11s. Each week's training is different, but whatever you do you'll be working on your stamina and your fitness, and the idea is to have FUN.

We meet for training every week at Sevenoaks School. Registration takes place from 18:30. When the evenings are light enough, we train outside on the track. In the winter months, we move indoors to the gym. Training starts with a warm up at 18:45 and ends at 19:45 after a warm down.

Coaching
All sessions are run by qualified coaches but we always appreciate the assistance of parents, especially with the under 11s. If you are interested in helping, please see this document for more information.

What We Do
In the summer months, when we train outside, we work on Track and Field events skills or jog around Knole Park. In the winter, we do indoor activities such as circuit training as well as working on athletics skills.

Throughout the year, there are competitions to enter, usually against other clubs in the area. The main events for the under 11s are the Sportshall Athletics competitions. For the older juniors, we enter several cross country events and track and field competitions. The Kent Young Athletes League is specifically for the U13 and U15 age group, where there is a full programme of events for boys and girls.

Please click on the blue text to see what is currently on our calendar

Every year, there is a special presentation ceremony to celebrate the achievements of the club's junior members. We hope you'll be able to attend, as there are medals and certificates for all levels of achievement.

Kit
There is no special kit required for training, but please remember to bring a sweatshirt for the end of the session, and a drink. Don't worry about buying spikes to begin with; just wear trainers with well-cushioned heels. The club is currently making arrangements to provide all junior members with a blue club T-shirt, which can be worn for training and the Sportshall Athletics competitions.

Minimum age
We normally ask that juniors are a minimum age of 9, but please note we are currently so oversubscribed that we will not begin to offer taster sessions for new members until they start in Year 5. (In exceptional circumstances, and when not oversubscribed, we do accept younger athletes, but it is usually on condition that an adult responsible for that child is available to assist with coaching. A child under 9 should not be left at a training session if the adult is not coaching that evening.) For further information please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Subcriptions
Juniors who are thinking about joining the club are welcome to attend for 3 trial sessions, free of charge. We will then ask for a completed membership form, and payment of the membership and hall and track fees (see below) if you decide to join.

You may download a membership form by clicking on the blue text. The form is a pdf file. If you do not have the Acrobat reader installed on your PC, click on icon for a free download. (Returning members please also use the above form.)

The form is also available in Word format here.

Biannual subscription fees include the cost of hire of facilities at Sevenoaks School, and England Athletics registration for over 11s, and are shown on the form.

One final note: please make sure you have an adult to collect you at 19:45  when it is time to go home. If your parent is late, just wait with one of the coaches until you are collected.

Child Protection
Please read our child protection policy which applies to all juniors under 17 years of age.

Background

UK Athletics has recommended that all Athletic Clubs appoint a Child Protection Officer, and have a clear procedure set down in writing to which parents can refer if they or their child has any issue or complaint which they wish to raise in relation to the Club's coaches. The following policy has therefore been adopted by Sevenoaks Athletics Club.

Principles

The following policy sets out a code of practice to be followed by the Club should any complaint be received regarding the improper behaviour of a Club member with or towards a child in their care and control at training or other Club sponsored events. It also sets out the coaches and parents responsibilities whilst children are in the coaches care and control. The policy is in no way meant to inhibit the coaches ability to pass on their knowledge to younger members of the Club and parents should understand that sometimes a 'hands on' approach is necessary, particularly with younger children when showing them how to perform new exercises and techniques correctly.

Definitions

'Child' means any child that has not yet reached the age of seventeen ; it should be noted however that the Club does not normally accept children under the age of nine.'Child Protection Officer' is a person appointed by the Club Committee to be a point of contact between the Club, parents, the Police, the Social Services etc; 'Occurrence Book' is a record held by the Child Protection Officer of complaints received or injuries received whilst children are in the care or control of the Clubs coaches.

Complaints Procedure

1. If a child or parent has any complaint regarding any aspect of the behaviour of a coach with or towards their child, the initial complaint should be made to the Child Protection Officer. The Child Protection Officer appointed by the Club Executive Committee is Paul Tabor who can be contacted in confidence on  07731 333391 .

2. If the complaint appears to be an allegation of a criminal offence, the complainant will be advised to report the matter immediately to the Police. A record of the complaint should be made as soon as possible in the Occurrence Book together with a note of any action taken. The complaint should be referred to the Club Committee who will meet at the earliest opportunity to decide whether the person complained of should continue in their coaching capacity during or at the conclusion of any subsequent Police enquiry.

3. Where the complaint is not one that involves the Police, and it can be resolved in an informal manner, then a record should again be made of the complaint and the way in which it was resolved.

4. If the complaint cannot be resolved this should then be referred to the Club Committee whose decisions on the matter will be final. The Committee reserves the right at all times to dispense with the services of any coach or suspend the membership of any club member.

5. It is the policy of the club that coaches be vetted by the Police as to their suitability to perform that role.

Responsibilities of Coaches & Parents

1. The coach is responsible for making a record or causing a record to be made in the occurrence book of any injury sustained or complained of by a child, or any serious concern or anxiety expressed by the child, whilst a child is in their care or control.

2. The parent is responsible for ensuring the coaching staff have an up to date contact number in case of an emergency

3. The parent is responsible for dropping off and collecting their children from training and Club events. Coaches cannot be responsible for children away from the track or the sports hall

4. The coach is responsible for the child until he or she is collected. The child will not be left on their own in the event of the parent being delayed. This reinforces the need for an up to date emergency number to be provided by the parent.

5. Unless prior arrangements have been made the parent is responsible for transporting their child to and from training and club events.

6. The coach reserves the right to refuse to coach disruptive children. Initially the coach should work with the parent to encourage the child to behave in a more appropriate manner. If however this behaviour continues the coach can ask the child to sit out of the training session until the arrival of their parent.

7. Any observations by a child or parent as to the ability of the coach should normally first be taken up with the coach concerned. If the problem cannot be resolved amicably, then the parent should write to the Chairman of the Club who will, again, try to resolve the query. As a last resort, if the parent is not happy and cannot resolve their concern they can of course withdraw their child from the Club

Joining Sevenoaks AC

(Younger age groups please go to “Young Athletes” page here)

Three Free Sessions Offer  - if you'd like to come along and try the club, our “three free sessions” offer allows you to try what the club offers without obligation before committing to join. Most new members try out our Tuesday evening session first but you can choose another session. You will be surprised how cheap joining a running club is compared with other sports clubs. We pay an annual subscription and after that all club sessions are free.

You may download a membership form by clicking on the underlined text. The form is a pdf file. If you do not have the Acrobat reader installed on your PC, click here for a free download. Returning members please also use the above form.
     
The form is also available in Word format here.