Athletics for the little ones: Kindergarten awakens a passion for sports!

Athletics for the little ones: Kindergarten awakens a passion for sports!

The sport of athletics is becoming increasingly popular, especially among the youngest children. A notable example of this is the “Athletics in Kindergarten” initiative, which is part of the LAC-Klagenfurt’s grassroots sports program. This measure was expanded to the Feldkirchnerstrasse kindergarten in 2025, which is an important sign of the promotion of sport in early childhood. Kindergarten teacher Miriam Mlekusch launched this initiative to introduce children to the basic sport of athletics.

In this context, the “beetle group” has already gained initial experience in throwing, jumping and running. Günther Gasper from LAC competently guided the children in these activities. The aim of the initiative is to stimulate children's interest in sporting activities, which is obviously a success as the interest of children in the club has increased significantly. More than 20 kindergarten children are currently training under the supervision of Maria Mertlitz and Elisabeth Scheibert.

Growing interest and support

The high number of participants in kindergarten shows how important early experiences in sport are for the development of young people. The children's training is also organized by the KLC and LAC athletics clubs and is aimed at children aged 6 and over and young people. The training courses are designed to offer a playful approach to athletics that benefits children's motor skills.

The training takes place in age-appropriate groups and includes a variety of coordination exercises, games and basic elements of athletics. The regularity of training not only strengthens the children's physical skills, but also promotes social skills and team spirit.

Training times for committed young athletes

For those interested in the area, the KLC offers training all year round and in all weathers, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. The contact persons are Betina Germann and Robert Kropiunik. The LAC, on the other hand, also trains on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but a little earlier, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., under the direction of Günther Gasper.

In addition, the DLV Academy emphasizes that play is a central aspect of child development. It allows children to discover their environment and simultaneously promotes different skills in areas such as language, motor skills and coordination. This shows how important it is to offer children an accompanying and supportive learning environment through activities such as play or fun athletics.

Overall, these offers reflect the high relevance of sport in the development of children. Through playful approaches and early experiences, not only is the enthusiasm for sport conveyed, but important life skills are also developed that will be of use to the children on their journey into life together.