Young Athletes Section
Run, Throw, Jump disciplines all coached to young athletes at school year 5 and later. If you are a parent or guardian make an enquiry here and we will provide all you need to know!
Young Athletics
Discover Athletics with Haywards Heath Harriers
Young athletes develop their running, jumping and throwing skills with qualified coaches in a friendly club environment
All Abilities Welcome
From newcomers to experienced competitors
Qualified Coaching
England Athletics qualified coaching in endurance running and track and Field disciplines
A Welcoming Community
Train, compete, and enjoy the sport together
Try Before Joining
Meet the club, the people, and experience some training sessions first!
What Do We Do?
Harriers provide loads of opportunities to take part in local and regional club runs, fun runs and competitions - too many to cover here but they do include....
West Sussex Fun Run League
Winners in 2024 and 2025 we LOVE the Fun Run League with 12 5-8k trail races throughout the year all over West Sussex
The South Downs Way Relay
The annual highlight for many of the club. A 100 mile relay race, against many of the Sussex running clubs, from Eastbourne to Winchester.
Sussex Athletics Track and Field Meets
Some fantastic track meets mixing 100m to 5km racing with a wide assortment of field events. Plenty to have a go at.
The Blackcap Challenge
Our annual club handicap racing from Ditching Beacon to Blackcap beacon and back again in the glorious summer sun.
Sussex Sports Hall League
Great indoor inter-club competition for Years 5 through 10 in running, throwing and jumping events
The Bill Page Road Racing Championship
10k to marathon
Sussex Grand Prix Race Series
12 Races across the year between 5k and 15 miles
Southern Athletics League (SAL)
Area athletics meet for U17 to Vets held during Summer in athletic stadiums across the South
parkrun
Tourism
Once a month we gather as a club at a fairly local parkrun and proudly run in our Beetroot vests
Sussex Cross Country League
A tremendous mudfest (usually) across half a dozen XC events - GREAT fun!
Run
Sprinting - Middle Distance - Relays - Cross Country
Jump
Long Jump - High Jump - Other Jumping Disciplines
Sprint
Posture - Drills - Foot Strike
Throw
Shot - Javelin - Discus
A place to discover athletics.
From Year 5 onwards.
No previous athletic experience necessary.
Develop at their own pace.
Young athletes don't have to choose an event when they arrive. We help them experience different disciplines and discover what they enjoy.
Your First Trial Session: What To Expect
What Should My Child Wear?
Comfortable sports clothing and trainers are all they need to get started.
Do They Need Specialist Stuff?
No. We'll provide the specialist equipment they need for the session.
Do They Need Previous Experience?
Absolutely not! Come along and try things out.
What Happens When We Arrive?
We'll let you know where to meet and introduce your child to the coaches and their group
Can We Try Before Joining?
Absolutely you can! Come along and try a couple of sessions before deciding whether Harriers is right for you.
What Do Our Young Athletes Learn
Skills
Running, jumping and throwing technique
Fitness
Speed, strength, coordination and endurance
Confidence
Learning, improving and achieving
Teamwork
Training and competing alongside and against other young athletes
Membership Fees
If you enjoy your trial sessions, what next?
Our Club Annual Membership Fee
Ranges from £25 for an associate member, to £65 for a senior athlete
England Athletics Membership
You can also join England Athletics at the same time for £23 - this gives discount entry to races. Take a look at: https://www.englandathletics.org/take-part/athlete-registration/
Club Vest
You can pick up a club vest in your size at Wisden Sports on South Road, Haywards Heath for c.£20 when you are ready to compete.
Application Form
We'll provide all this information to you and talk you through the application form when you are good and ready to join us.
The Practical Stuff
When Do We Train?
Tuesdays
6:00pm-7:00pm Young Athletes - School Years 5,6,7,& 8
7:00pm - 8:00pm Intermediate Athletes - School Years 9 & 10
Where?
In the Summer we meet and train on Whitemans Green in Cuckfield. In the Winter we meet and train at Warden Park School in Cuckfield.
Who coaches the children?
We have a number of England Athletics qualified coaches who specialise in key skills and have many years experience in working with junior athletes supported by a number of experienced club volunteers
Do the children specialise?
At Harriers we focus on the building of core athletic skills and providing the opportunity for our junior athletes to grow in multiple disciplines.
Are the children safe and supported?
The welfare of our young athletes comes first, with a designated club Welfare Officer and well-established safeguarding procedures.
Want To Give Athletics A Go?
Just fill out the details in the form below and we will arrange a couple of trial sessions for you to try out the club and see if you have fun!
Harriers Enquiry Form
What Do Our Current Athletes Think Of Us?
"The training sessions are perfect for me. I feel challenged but able to take it at my own pace. Great stuff!"
Sarah
"There are so many opportunities to race with this club and in all kinds of running."
Steve
"The camaraderie amongst the group is a great motivation. The support from across the club is terrific."