Mini Athletics Cambridge and Saffron Walden

Running, jumping and throwing are important.

But before any of that, we need the children looking forward to walking through the door.

Mini Athletics uses stories, games and plenty of imagination to help children build confidence, coordination, listening skills, independence and the fundamentals of movement — without it feeling like a lesson.

They’re learning.

They’re developing.

They just think they’re having fun.

Our classes return after the August break and September is one of our busiest times for new tasters.

If you’ve been watching our page wondering whether Mini Athletics would suit your child, September is the perfect time to find out.

Classes for walkers up to 7 years across Cambridge and Saffron Walden.

Book a September taster through the link in our bio or message us “TASTER” and we’ll point you in the right direction.

Next up in our celebrations is Noam, one of three children who graduated from our Impington sessions just before the August break!

Noam has been such a brilliant part of Mini Athletics that he actually spends both Saturday AND Sunday mornings with us, attending Trumpington and Impington every week.

When Noam first joined us last year, due to English being his second language, he was still finding the confidence to communicate. What stood out immediately, though, was how well he watched, listened and followed instructions throughout his taster.

His mum loved the session so much, and could see how much Noam was getting from it, that she decided two sessions a week would really benefit him.

Since then, the difference has been amazing to see.

When Coach Ryan first met Noam, he barely said anything to him or his peers. As the months went on, he gradually came out of his shell. By the end, he was confidently approaching Coach Ryan, asking questions about the games, checking the rules and wanting to know what was happening next.

We regularly hear similar feedback from nurseries we work with too — children who are still developing their English can really thrive through consistent Mini Athletics sessions. So much of what we do involves watching, copying, movement, repetition, simple instructions and interacting with other children, meaning they can get involved even before they have all the words.

That has made watching Noam’s progress particularly special for us.

His mum recently told us:
“Our son has made real progress, gaining confidence and improving his motor skills, all while having a great deal of fun.”

From quietly following along when English was still very new to him, to confidently questioning Coach Ryan about the rules — what a journey.

Congratulations on graduating, Noam. We have absolutely loved seeing your progress and we really hope we get to see you again in the future!

Movement gives children an opportunity to do far more than use up energy.

During one Mini Athletics session, they may practise:

Reacting to instructionsChanging direction safelyControlling their speedRecognising spaceTaking turnsCoping when a game changesWorking alongside other children

The session should look fun because it is fun.

But behind the game is a carefully planned structure designed to help children develop physically, socially and emotionally.

September tasters are open now.

Parents are an important part of our sessions—but the coach should still be leading.

We want children to begin listening to another trusted adult, following a group routine and attempting activities independently.

You will still encourage them. You will still join selected games. You will still be there when they need reassurance.

But you should also get the opportunity to stand back and watch them discover what they can do.

That independence begins gradually.

Book a September Mini Athletics taster today.

LEO’S SECOND BRONZE CERTIFICATE

Two years of Leo at Mini Athletics, and somehow our very own Lightning McQueen just keeps getting faster.

But one of the best things has been seeing how much he’s grown up.

Not just in size, but in confidence, maturity and the way he handles himself in sessions.

One of Coach Ryan’s favourite Leo moments actually had nothing to do with winning a race.

Leo was on the start line, completely focused, waiting for Coach Ryan to say “GO!”

Then his mum walked into the session and stood just behind him.

Leo turned around...

And the smile on his face genuinely filled the tennis courts.

Coach Ryan absolutely loved that moment. One second he was completely focused on racing, the next he had spotted his mum and nothing else mattered.

Those little child-and-parent moments are sometimes the ones that stick with you most.

We’ve loved having Leo in our sessions for the last two years, watching Lightning McQueen do his thing and, more importantly, watching the boy behind the racing grow up along the way.

And now he has his SECOND Bronze Certificate to add to everything he’s achieved.

We can’t wait to see what else you earn with us, Leo!

Trumpington Saturdays will be BACK this September.

After our annual August break, Mini Athletics will return to Trumpington — and we’re opening up taster spaces for families who want to come and see what our sessions are all about.

Running. Jumping. Throwing. Racing. Listening. Taking turns. Building confidence.

Every week brings different games and themes, but the structure stays familiar so children can grow in confidence, independence and ability as the weeks go on.

If you’ve been watching us for a while and wondering whether Mini Athletics would suit your child, September is a brilliant time to try us.

Our Saturday classes are for children from walkers through to 7 years old.

Click on our Story or get in touch with us today to book your September taster.

We’ve had our August break.

Now we’re ready to get those Saturday mornings moving again.

Toddler classes can easily become 45 minutes of Mum or Dad doing most of the work.

Our Didees classes are designed to gradually change that.

There will absolutely be games where we ask grown-ups to join in because it makes the activity better, more exciting or helps their child understand what to do.

But outside of those moments, week by week, we coach our Didees to become more independent.
Listening to the coach. Waiting for their turn. Trying something themselves. Running, jumping and throwing with more confidence.

They won’t get it right every week. They don’t need to.
That’s why we coach them.

If September feels like the right time to give them something new to look forward to, book a Didees taster with Mini Athletics Cambridge & Saffron Walden.

Walking age to 3½.

Book here: https://www.miniathletics.com/mini-athletics-cambridge-and-saffron-walden-summary/

GEORGE’S BRONZE CERTIFICATE

When George’s mum shared her post about how far his confidence has come, there were things Coach Ryan genuinely didn’t realise — like how worried George once was about jumping and going over hurdles.

But there is one moment Coach Ryan remembers VERY clearly.

It was only George’s second session.

Coach Ryan asked the group, “Does anyone remember my name?”

And from nowhere, louder than everyone else…

“COACH RYAN!”

It completely caught him off guard. Usually at that stage there are still a few blank faces while the grown-ups whisper his name from the side!

But George knew it.

And for some reason, that moment has always stuck with Coach Ryan.

Since then, we’ve watched George grow into someone who gives things a go, races with everything he has and keeps going even when something isn’t easy.

And George LOVES to win!

But one of the biggest things we’ve seen is how good he has become at understanding that he won’t win every time. If a race doesn’t go his way, he’s learning to take it, move on and get himself ready for whatever is coming next.

That’s a huge part of what we want children to learn through Mini Athletics.

Looking through the photos his mum has shared, Coach Ryan hadn’t even realised quite how long George has been part of Mini Athletics.

He’s even taken part in THREE of our charity events along the way!

We absolutely love having him with us each week.

So having BW Sports Photography there to capture the day he received his Bronze Certificate made this one feel even more special.

Very well deserved, George. We can’t wait to see what else you achieve with us!