Junior Running Coaching & Athletics Training | North Shore & Northern Beaches
Help your child get faster, stronger, and more confident! From school cross country to elite track meets, we provide expert, coach-led training designed to improve performance in running and all team sports.
Expert junior running coaching led by Richard Sarkies (Level III Athletics Coach). Helping Sydney’s young athletes run stronger and injury-free since 2007.
The Search for the Best Running Training for Kids Ends Here
At Hooked on Running, we believe that junior athletes thrive when they have the right mix of scientific structure and a supportive environment.We provide more than just a kids running club. We offer a structured approach to athletic development for 8 to 18-year-olds. Whether your child is aiming for a podium finish at State Championships or simply wants to improve their fitness for Saturday morning sports, our program is built for them.
Your junior athlete will develop at a pace that is safe, effective, and—most importantly—fun. Our program is built around four core pillars to ensure every runner finds their stride:
- Competitive Performance: Specialist coaching for track, road, and junior cross country training.
- Team Sport Speed: Targeted speed and agility training for soccer, rugby, AFL, and netball.
- Fitness & Foundations: Building running confidence in children through better mechanics.
- Flexible Formats: Choose from local groups, private junior running coaching, or online running programs.
Why Parent Choose Our Youth Athletics Training
- Expert Coaching: Led by Richard Sarkies (Level III Athletics Coach & Bachelor of Human Movement). Your child learns from a professional with over 30 years of experience in the sport.
- Scientific Approach: We use the Measure, Monitor, Modify method. From beep tests to timed sprints, we track data to ensure your child is making measurable progress.
- Injury Prevention for Young Runners: Growing bodies are prone to “overuse” injuries. Our running drills for kids focus on biomechanics and strength to keep them on the field and off the sidelines. We check in with every athlete at the start of the session to gauge fatigue levels from school or other sports, adjusting their workload accordingly.
- Better Performance in All Sports: Running is the foundation of almost every sport. Our training develops the speed, power, and stamina that helps kids excel in soccer, netball, rugby, and AFL.
- Elite Mentorship: Our advanced running coaching for high school athletes provides the technical edge needed for Regional, State, and National level competitions.
What to Expect at a Junior Training Session
Our sessions focus on building a well-rounded athlete. We utilize local sports fields such as Lindfield oval and Lionel Watts reserve, bush trails, and synthetic tracks to keep training engaging and varied.
Technique & Biomechanics: Every session starts with running drills for kids to improve form, posture, and efficiency.
Interval Training: We use scientifically-backed youth sports performance coaching methods. High-intensity intervals build the “engine,” while recovery periods allow for coaching feedback.
Game-Specific Speed: We incorporate “Mini Sets” focusing on explosive power and speed and agility, essential for kids who play team sports.
Cross Country & Track Prep: Seasonal training cycles ensure kids are peaking just in time for school carnivals and Athletics NSW events.
Our sessions are designed so that no one is left behind. Our more advanced runners are challenged with different distances and recovery times, while newer runners work at their own pace.
Junior Locations and Timetable
We offer junior running groups across the North Shore and Northern Beaches. Our locations are chosen for safety and variety, utilizing grass ovals and trails.
- Lindfield Junior Running Group :Meets at Lindfield Oval on the top oval in front of clubhouse. (Serves Chatswood, Roseville and Killara)
- Frenchs Forest Junior Running Group: Meets at Lionel Watts Reserve near the skatepark and rugby league clubhouse (Serves Belrose, Davidson, Forestville and Killarney Heights).
- Killara Junior Running Group: Meets at Beaumont Rd public school, outside main gate. (Serves Lindfield, St Ives and Gordon)
- Junior Cross Country Races: Various locations around Frenchs Forest
Weekly Timetable
Day | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|
Wednesday | Lindfield Oval | 7:45-8:45 am
|
Thursday | Frenchs Forest | 4:15-5:00 pm |
Frenchs Forest | 5-6 pm | |
Friday | Killara | 7:45-8:30 am |
Saturday | Cross Country Series: More info. | 4-5pm |
Membership Pricing
Option | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|
Drop-in Session | Testing the waters or occasional attendance | $17
|
Full Term (10 weeks) | Athletes committed to consistent improvement | $145 |
Full Term – Unlimited | Athletes chasing PB goals | $240 |
Private Coaching | In person and online. 1-on-1 junior training for specific goals | Contact for quote |
Team Training | Running Groups for local sports teams (rugby,soccer, AFL,netball) | Contact for quote |
Hooked on Running is an approved Active Kids provider
Is Our Kids Running Club Right for Your Child?
We cater to a broad range of abilities, ensuring every child feels challenged but never overwhelmed.
- The Competitive Runner: Needs advanced running coaching and a peaking plan for school or club athletics.
- The Active Kid: Wants a junior running program for general fitness and a way to stay healthy outside of team environments.
- The Team Sport Athlete: Needs match-day stamina and explosive speed for Saturday morning sports.
- The Social Athlete: Kids who love the social side of sport, enjoy a challenge and want to train with other motivated juniors
- The Whole Team: We can even organize a running group for your kid’s football team to give the whole squad a competitive edge.
Meet Your Head Coach: Richard Sarkies
With over 30 years of experience, Richard brings elite-level knowledge to every session. Having coached in primary and secondary schools for years, he knows how to motivate juniors to develop a lifelong love of movement.
- Bachelor of Human Movement (UOW).
- Level III Middle/Long Distance & Level II Sprints/Hurdles – Athletics Australia
- Level II Strength & Conditioning Coach.
- Former TAFE NSW Lecturer in Fitness.
Richard’s philosophy is simple: Develop a lifelong love of exercise through smart, structured, and rewarding training.
Richard also continues to enjoy competing on the road, track, and cross country in events ranging from 1500m to the marathon. He completed the 2019 Sydney Marathon as part of a fundraising campaign for The Indigenous Marathon Foundation, raising $10000
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Does my child need to be a “fast” runner to join?
A: Not at all. We use standardized benchmarks to group athletes by current ability. No child is ever “left behind”; we use interval-based training so the whole group stays within the same area while working at their own specific intensity.
Q: What events do you prepare for?
A: We prepare athletes for Athletics NSW events, school-level carnivals (Zone/Regional/State), ParkRun, and our own Hooked on Running Cross Country Series.
Q: My child plays soccer; will this help?
A: Absolutely. Our speed training for junior football focuses on acceleration and repeated sprint ability, which are the most critical running skills on the pitch.
Q: Do you offer online running programs for junior athletes? A: Yes! For families who can’t make it to Frenchs Forest or Lindfield, we offer remote coaching and online youth running plans tailored to your child’s goals.
Q: Can you train my child’s whole sports team? A: Yes. We often run private speed and agility training sessions for local football, netball, and rugby teams looking to improve their overall fitness.
Ready to see your child reach their potential?
Give them the tools to run faster, stay injury free, and gain confidence on the field or track. Come along for a no-obligation trail session.
What some of our members say
Sam, 15 yrs,St Ives…….
”I recently came on board with HR Athletics, with one of my main aims to qualify for the Maccabiah Games, Israel. By attending the face2face sessions, I know exactly what certain drills and interval sets are in the written program, having seen Richard explain and demonstrate at our training venue”
Harriet, 14, Belrose…..
”this is my 4th year with the club, having started in the young beginners group and progressing to the older advanced one now. I really enjoy the group atmosphere, finding it motivating to push myself more than I would by myself. My overall fitness, times, and consistency in training keep improving as a result”
Liam, 17yrs, Frenchs Forest…..
”I have been with HR Athletics for the last six years and my running has improved tremendously. I have been able to achieve much more than I ever expected with Richard as my running coach. Before I joined I could only make it to Zone cross country and Zone athletics. Richard’s running sessions have improved my fitness and made me a better runner. My most memorable experience was making it to National Cross Country in 2016, and have repeated this for the past 4 years .
The reason I first joined this athletics club was because I came second at my school cross country and I was determined to win it the following year. Richard has always been prepared to give me extra one on one running sessions in preparation for a race. I value Richard not only as a running coach, but a friend as well. I highly recommend Richard as a running coach to anyone”
Some Of Our Members
Liam O’Brien, 17
Liam started with us over 8 years ago after placing 12th in his first Zone Cross Country. He’s come a long way since then, competing in the last 4 National Cross Country Championships, and in the 2019 NSW 3000m Championship.
Sam Goldin, 15
Sam recently joined us with a long term goal to make the team for the Maccabiah Games, Israel, 2021. He’s also aiming to continue his cross country and distance track competition at national level.
Alex Harvey, 13
Alex represents his school in cross country and track events and is a regular Park Runner, with a PB of 19 minutes and 55 seconds. When he’s not setting his own Park Run PB, he’s pacing his mum to her next PB.
Owen Dalton, 12
Harriet Sweeting, 14
A very versatile athlete, Harriet competes in a range of events, including 1500m on the track, cross country races, and triathlon. In 2019 she placed 9th in the 2019 CSSA Triathlon
Will Carter, 12
Another versatile athlete in middle distance and sprints. Will raced the 200m at the NSW Championships in 2019, and was also just 1 place away from area cross country selection.
Jack Dalton, 12
Jack is a long term member and a regular competitor at Area Cross Country and Athletics. A step up in training and competition has seen his results improve dramatically, in particular in our winter cross country series, with a current pb of just under 13 min.
Max Bregozzo, 11
Max is a versatile runner with bundles of energy for sprints and distance. His highlights being selected in the NSW Merit Team for Cross Country 2020 and was the most consistent competitor at our Winter Cross Country Series in 2020. Just recently Max set a new PB of 11 min 14s for 3000m and 2 min 39s for 800m on the track
Lachie Sheather, 11
Skye Blair, 11
Skye recently competed in her first Athletics NSW event, the NSW Short Course Cross Country Champs, placing 26th in the U/12 2km. She’s been a consistent performer at our 2020 Winter Cross Country Series, and always puts in 100% at training.
Will Hadfield, 10
Another versatile athlete at sprints and distance, Will came 7th in the 100m final of Area Athletics 2019, and competed in Zone Cross Country 2019. He is another of our athletes who has benefited from Online Coaching.
Arabella Handley, 12
Arabella has a competitive nature which she combines with a fun loving attitude. She loves competing in sprints, distance, and surf events.
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