Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find a series of questions which are most frequently asked about Bolton United Harriers. Please look below before contacting us directly. The information you seek is likely to be here...simply click on the questions below for further information. However, if you cannot find the information you seek, feel free to use the enquiry form on the Contact Us page.
How old do you have to be to be a Harrier?
My child is a member, can I stay and watch? What if I am late picking them up?
How much does it cost to be a Harrier?
What equipment will I need for training?
Where is the club based and how do I find it?
What is the club's policy on photography?
What happens if me or my child is involved in an emergency?
Does the club have any rules and regulations I need to be aware of?
How Old Do You Have To Be To Be A Harrier?
Anyone aged 6 or over can be a member of Bolton Harriers. We have only recently dropped the minimum age for membership from 8 years to 6 years. All members aged 6-8 will be enrolled as Hawks, which is a special group set up to cater for very young athletes. They train only on Tuesday nights, starting at 6.30pm through to 7.15pm. Training is provided more in terms of games and activities and the emphasis is very much on fun and participation. Older children are classified as "Young Athletes" and are split into the following age groups; U11, U13, U15, U17 and U20 - according to UK Athletics guidelines. Athletes older than 20 years are classified as Seniors and those over 40 (males) and over 35 (females) have the dubious pleasure of becoming Veterans. The qualification for the age groups listed is based on the athletes age at midnight on 31st August in the current season.
If you child is a member (or is considering being a member) parents are actively encouraged to stay and watch their child train. In fact, parents who feel they would like to get more involved in their child's training are encouraged to help out in any way they can on training nights. Feel free to ask your child's coach in what way you can be of assistance. Alternatively, if it is not possible for you to stay once you have dropped your child off at the track, then just ask your child's coach what time the session is planned to end and you can simply leave and return at the appointed time to collect your child. Please make every effort to be on time to collect your child, but please rest assured that no child will be left unsupervised if parents are late in picking them up.
Training nights are officially Tuesday and Thursday each week - 52 weeks a year. What time you start is basically down to the age group you are in. Hawks are the only exception to this, they train on Tuesdays only. The U11's are treated slightly differently than the rest of the club because this age group is very popular and numbers of attendees are generally larger than other groups within the club. They are split into two groups (Yellow and Blue groups) and train at different times of the evening. The following table gives the training times for each group.....
| Hawks | Tuesdays only | 6.30 to 7.15 pm |
| U11's - Yellow | Tuesdays and Thursdays | 6.30 to 7.30 pm |
| U11's - Blue | Tuesdays and Thursdays | 7.30 to 8.30 pm |
| All other age groups | Tuesdays and Thursdays | 7.00 to 9.00 pm |
Additional training times may be applicable, but these are at the discretion of your coach.
How Much Does It Cost To Be A Harrier?
Membership of Bolton Harriers is extremely good value for money, especially compared to other sports or recreational activities provided in the locality. Subscriptions are paid annually (due on the 1st April each year) with discounts for new members and prompt renewals. Subscriptions are based upon the age of the athlete and new members pay only on a pro-rata basis from the month they join in the first year.
| Category | Subscription Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hawks | £20.00 per annum * | Includes anyone aged 8 and under |
| Juniors | £29.00 per annum * | Includes anyone aged 8 - 18 years, all full-time students and unemployed |
| Seniors | £41.00 per annum * | Includes any individual aged 19 - 60 years not covered by another category |
| Family | £65.00 per annum * | Includes any number of people living at one address |
| Over 60's | £29.00 per annum * | Includes anyone over the age of 60 |
* New members get a £5 discount off the rates indicated. The same discount applies to all members who renew their membership in the month of April.
On top of your annual subscription, the only additional payment you will need to make is for a Track Pass. This is paid to the local authority and the pass allows you the use of the track facility at Leverhulme Park, both on training nights and at any other time that the track is not booked for matches. Please consult the reception staff at the track for current pricing. Apart from this, membership of Bolton Harriers will cost you nothing. Coaching is provided free of charge. The total cost to the member of each session could be considerably less than 75p!
For those who aren't really sure if athletics is for them, the club also operates a "try before you buy" scheme called temporary membership. The athlete can pay a £5 fee for a 30 day trial period before committing to joining the club as a full member. If the athlete upgrades to full membership at the end of the 30 day trial, the £5 fee already paid is deducted from any subscriptions due.
Once you have paid your subscription, you will be issued with a membership card for the current year. This can be collected from Mark Power or Major Carr at the track on training nights.
What Equipment Will I Need For Training?
This will depend upon the event(-s) in which you compete. As a general rule, you will need comfortable clothes for training (vest/t-shirt and shorts, socks, training shoes, track suit) along with a shower-proof top when the weather is wet. It is advisable to bring an additional top when the weather is cold. You may also need to obtain event-specific footwear (such as spikes) for the discipline that you choose to compete in, but your coach will advise you what is needed once you start to train. Implements that are necessary for track and field events will generally be provided for training and competitions.
Bolton Harriers prides itself on the depth of coaching expertise at the club. We are continually striving to increase the number of qualified coaches and the level of qualification(-s) that each coach has. We have an excellent pool of theoretical and practical knowledge to draw on across the whole spectrum of events, with most coaches being either active or former athletes themselves. Qualifications and experience vary from event to event, so come down to the track and discuss what we have to offer with either Ilse Hemming (coaching co-ordinator) or Shaun O'Donnell.
Bolton Harriers are based at the Leverhulme Park Athletics Stadium on Long Lane, Bolton. For more detailed information on how to find us click here to go to the About Us page where you can download a map and instructions on how to find us.
What Is The Club Policy On Photography?
These are very sensitive times and the club is very aware that some parents have understandable concerns over who comes into contact with their children. This also extends to photography, which is an essential part of running an athletics club. We therefore seek the permission of every member of the club - on the membership application form - with respect to the taking and usage of photographs of them. Only authorised photographers (i.e. those that have signed a photography declaration form) are allowed to take photographs at training and matches at Leverhulme Park. We cannot guarantee, however, that this will be the case at other venues where your child may compete. Where photographs are taken for publications such as club newsletters, the club website or for use in the local press we will try and seek the permission of the athlete concerned (or their parent/guardian) before doing so.
What Happens If Me Or My Child Is Involved In An Emergency?
In the very unlikely event of an accident or emergency, we will do everything we can to ensure that the member concerned is treated appropriately and promptly. We keep a register of emergency contact numbers for ALL members at the track, so that we can contact a parent, relative or next of kin to inform them of the situation, what we are doing about it and consult them as to what needs to be done, if necessary. We also keep on file a record of any medical conditions declared by every member of the club, so that we can respond correctly (or inform the emergency services) in case of an accident or emergency. Please note that it is your own interest to declare any medical conditions when you join the club and to keep the club informed of any changes in your medical status when they occur.
The club tries to keep rules and regulations to a minimum, for obvious reasons. Having said that, we expect our members to behave at all times as responsible members of the community and, as such, we do have a Club Constitution which provides a framework within which members of the club must operate and we have a Code of Conduct, adherence to which is a condition of membership. We want our members to be proud to be Harriers and we want the local community to be proud of the Harriers. To achieve this we expect our members to show common sense, respect and decency towards others and a sense of sportsmanship. The two documents mentioned provide guidelines as to how this can be achieved.