IAAF Kids’ Athletics is one of the biggest grassroots development programmes in the world of sports. Created in 2005, IAAF Kids' Athletics has been implemented in 134 Member Federations and has reached an estimated cumulative audience of more than 13 million children.
The IAAF objectives of the programme are to make Athletics the number one participation sport in schools, to educate kids into sport in general and athletics in particular and thus promote a balanced and healthy lifestyle, and to attract and sustain the potential sporting stars of tomorrow.
The IAAF Kids’ Athletics aims to ensure a steady and sustainable policy of development of the sport of Athletics. The aim of which is to introduce children to Athletics at a basic level.
The programme is not intended only for clubs and Member Federations but also for schools and all institutions who are interested in the well-being of children.
The IAAF aims to popularize athletics in the six areas through a programme of several competitions called “A Team Event for Children”, which comprises of three event groups: Sprinting/Running Event Group, Jumping Event Group and a Throwing Event Group. There are three age categories targeted by the programme: 7-8 yrs, 9-10 yrs and 11-12 yrs.
The IAAF has also initiated a programme to educate the lecturers and coaches who run individual IAAF Kids' Athletics competitions.
