Junior Section

Junior Athletics

Training

We run multiple junior sessions each week:


Mondays: A mixed athletics programme at Archway, open to all age groups

A running-focused group for U12s and above at Stratford Park or Archway based on conditions


Wednesdays: Track and field training at Blackbridge Athletics Track, Gloucester, for U12s and above


Weekends: Varied running, jumps and throws sessions for U12s and above (date dependent)

Waiting List

We are currently over-subscribed and run a waiting list for those wishing to join. We have 2 intakes each year, in Spring and Autumn. 

Please only register your child if they are over 7 years of age as children can only attend aged 8 years and upwards on September 1st (School Year 4).

Please follow this link to sign up to the waiting list.

Competition

In the winter months, the club help organise and compete as a team in Sportshall Athletics for Juniors of all ages. On the running front, the club compete at the Midland Counties Cross Country Championships and the National Road and Cross Country Relays. In summer, we encourage our athletes to compete individually in a number of local and national track and field events. 

For those who may not be aware, team competitions are open to all Stroud junior athletes and are included within your membership. We also strive to provide travel to team competitions which are hosted outside of Gloucestershire. We strongly encourage participation: not only does competition build confidence and resilience, but it also provides an excellent foundation for an exciting summer of track and field.

All of the club's sessions are delivered by dedicated volunteer coaches who are passionate about helping young athletes maximise their potential. In return, we ask that athletes represent Stroud AC in at least two competitions per year and make the most of the opportunities available to them. Please ask the coaches for more details about any of the above.

Please note that UK age groups will be changing to align with global age groupings. For more information, please see the UKA announcement here: https://www.englandathletics.org/about-us/age-group-changes/ 

Membership

As you can appreciate, providing this level of coaching, facilities, competition entry, and transport comes at a cost. Membership fees have remained unchanged for many years at £54 per annum, which includes £20 for UK Athletics affiliation. This leaves just £34 per member to support all club activities. Unfortunately, this is no longer sustainable.

After careful consideration, the committee has therefore made the difficult decision to increase membership fees from 2026:

U10s: £75 per year - U10 age group is school year 4 only

U12s and above: £100 per year

All junior membership includes UKA registration

We believe that this still represents excellent value for money — at less than £2 per week — for the range and quality of provision offered. We have benchmarked our fees against comparable local clubs and continue to compare favourably.

If this change presents a barrier to your child’s participation, please do get in touch with us in confidence. We have support measures in place and will also offer flexible payment options to help ease the impact. We will also take measures to subsidise kit for all junior members.

Finally, none of this would be possible without the time, commitment, and energy of our coaches and volunteer helpers. We are always in need of additional support, and even an hour a week can make a huge difference. If you find yourself waiting during sessions and would like to get involved, we would love to hear from you.