Funetics at Tadcaster
Running, jumping and throwing for 5 to 7 year olds. Games first, technique underneath.
Funetics is England Athletics’ introduction to the sport for young children. Your child spends 45 minutes sprinting, jumping and throwing, and every bit of it is based on games. They will come out having learned the fundamentals of athletics but without once ever realising they were training.
The point at this age is not times and distances. It is learning to run with good technique, jump with coordination and agility, throw with the whole body, and enjoy moving fast. Those are the things that make everything else easier later, whether they stay with athletics or go off to football, netball or swimming.
Sessions are led by England Athletics licensed coaches who are Enhanced DBS checked, and there is a mix of ability in every group. Nobody is picked last and nobody is timed against anybody else.
Got an older one too? Our athletics group for all age groups trains on the same site straight afterwards, 6.30 to 7.30pm. That session is for club members rather than a drop-in, but plenty of families do both on the same evening and only make one trip.
The details
- Day & time
- Mondays, 5:30–6:15pm
- Starts
- Monday 14 September 2026
- Venue
- Tadcaster Grammar School, Toulston, Tadcaster LS24 9NB
- Ages
- 5 to 7
- First session
- Free, no membership needed
- After that
- Junior membership, £14.50 a month
- Coaches
- England Athletics licensed with enhanced DBS
What they actually do
Sprinting faster, jumping higher, throwing further, and playing games that make learning athletic ABCs (agility, balance, coordination and speed) fun. Different activities every week, so there is no chance of getting bored.
What to bring
Clean trainers, comfortable layers, and a water bottle. No need for spikes, no kit to buy, nothing else to prepare. Just turn up and have some fun.
What comes next
At 8 they can move up into our junior athletics groups, U10 through to U18, where they can start competing locally, regionally and nationally. Many do. But plenty just keep coming for the enjoyment of athletics.
First session free. Come and see how they get on.
Mondays, 5:30–6:15pm at Tadcaster Grammar School, starting 14 September. Leave your details and we’ll sort the free trial.