Athletics

Athletics is a fully inclusive, year-round sport which covers a collection of running, jumping, throwing, and other athletics events.
Athletics 1.jpg

What is athletics?

Athletics is one of largest sports in the School Games and provides year-round competition formats, including Sports Hall Athletics in the winter, to traditional athletics competitions in the summer. From intra- and inter-school to county and national competitions, athletics competitions can be delivered with limited equipment.

Athletics is a highly inclusive sport, where every child can take part and be recognised for both their success and their own personal achievement. The skills of running, jumping, and throwing underpin almost every other sport and athletics can be used to enhance the wider PE and sports offer.

Find out more about how to run athletics formats.

Equipment needed

  • Suitable indoor or outdoor space
  • Cones
  • Howlers
  • Batons
  • Gym mats
  • A variety of balls (e.g. soft, tennis, etc) and beanbags
  • Stopwatch
  • Suitable space for long jumps
  • Bibs

Get involved

The School Games is inclusive to all young people and provides opportunities for everyone to get involved, either within school, against other local schools, or at county or regional level.

School Games Organisers

School Games Organisers (SGO) help schools coordinate appropriate competitive opportunities for all young people from Key Stage 2-4, to recruit, train and deploy a suitable workforce, and to support the development of club.

Sign up to find your local SGO

School Games formats

Learn more about the School Games formats suitable for athletics competitions:

PDF

Athletics Primary Challenge

Vortex Howler Throw, Standing Long Jump, Continuous Relay
PDF

Athletics Primary Competition

Quad Kids
PDF

Athletics Secondary Competition

Continuous Relay, Sports Hall, Quads
PDF

Why Athletics?

Try Quadkids Primary, Sports Hall Secondary, Sports Hall Primary, Super8 Junior / Inter, Super8 Start, Quadkids Secondary, Quadkids Start

Quick and easy athletics activity resources

Be it 10-minute or lesson-length activities, we have a range of activities suitable for all ages and abilities to encourage young people to stay active throughout the day.

10 Minute Shake Up: Race with Woody

10 Minute Shake Up activities are Disney themed games that aim to inspire children to have fun, rebuild confidence in being physically acti…

Duration:

Less than 10mins

Equipment:

Basic

Key stage:

Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2

Nudge Up Athletics: Throwing

Nudge Up Throwing is a fun target activity which enables different ways to throw an object to hit a target. Activity: Individual Purpose of…

Duration:

Less than 30mins

Equipment:

Basic

Key stage:

Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2

Nudge Up Athletics: Balance

Nudge Up Balance is a fun challenge activity which develops balance and coordination by trying to touch objects whilst balancing on one foo…

Duration:

Less than 30mins

Equipment:

None

Key stage:

Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2

Nudge Up Athletics: Long Jump

Nudge Up Long Jump is a fun challenge activity to practice different ways of jumping.Activity: Individual Purpose of Activity: Increase pup…

Duration:

Less than 30mins

Equipment:

Basic

Key stage:

Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2

Nudge Up Athletics: Bear Crawl

Nudge Up Bear Crawl is a fun challenge activity which develops core strength, balance, and coordination. Activity: Individual Purpose of ac…

Duration:

Less than 30mins

Equipment:

None

Key stage:

Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2

Commonwealth Games Para Athletics Challenge

The Commonwealth Games are being held in Birmingham this year, a wonderful opportunity to see lots of different sports come together. This …

Duration:

Less than 30mins

Equipment:

Basic

Key stage:

Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2

Quad Kids Athletics

Quad kids is a fun team competition based upon the athletic events of 75m sprint, 600m run, standing long jump and howler throw. It aims to…

Duration:

30mins or more

Equipment:

Sport-specific

Key stage:

Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2

Olympic & Paralympic Athlete Activities

Here you can find a session plan to be used by teachers or coaches to run an activity session based around simple challenges. These activit…

Duration:

30mins or more

Equipment:

None

Key stage:

Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4

10 Minute Shake Up: Find Your Way like Forky

10 Minute Shake Up activities are Disney-themed games that aim to inspire children to have fun, rebuild confidence in being physically acti…

Duration:

Less than 10mins

Equipment:

Basic

Key stage:

Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2

Athletics: Fun Movement Development

England Athletics continue to explore creative ways in how to support young people stay active and get back on ‘track’ through Funetics – a…

Duration:

Less than 10mins

Equipment:

None

Key stage:

Key Stage 1, Key Stage 3, Key Stage 2, Key Stage 4

10 Minute Shake Up: Black Panther's Time Trial

10 Minute Shake Up activities are Disney-themed games that aim to inspire children to have fun, rebuild confidence in being physically acti…

Duration:

Less than 10mins

Equipment:

Basic

Key stage:

Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2

Nudge Up Athletics: Aiming

Nudge Up Aiming is a fun target game for the 5-7 age group which develops accuracy and an understanding of keeping your eye on the ball. Ac…

Duration:

Less than 30mins

Equipment:

Basic

Key stage:

Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2

10 Minute Shake Up: Captain Marvel's Space Flight

10 Minute Shake Up activities are Disney-themed games that aim to inspire children to have fun, rebuild confidence in being physically acti…

Duration:

Less than 10mins

Equipment:

Basic

Key stage:

Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2
See all resources