Frequently Asked
Questions

No. Our age categories go to 100+.

Officially, masters-level athletics in Australia starts the age grading at 30 years old.

You're welcome to volunteer at QMA events and we'd love to have you come and cheer on your friends and family at any age. Athletes, if you're under 30, you'll need to sign up with your local club to compete in athletic events.

That said, many of the training sessions and coaches on our ‘Find a Training Session’ page are open to adults of all ages, and QMA events are often open to guests. If you’re having trouble finding where you fit in, please feel free to get in touch.

We look forward to you joining us in the future. Athletics is for life.

Most events can be scaled to meet you where you are. If you're not fit, athletics is a great way to get fit.

See above. We don't start good, we get good.

We'll also point out that all events pair well with a complementary strength and conditioning program. The more you get into the sport, the more you'll want to tune your body to get the most out of it.

Movement is medicine, but it may be advisable to see your GP or physiotherapist before taking up a new sport.

Because QMA scales to athletes over 100 years, many of us have accumulated a few battle scars. You'll be in good company once your doctor or physio has given you the all clear.

Yes, it's fun, but don't go full tilt on your first session, or you'll tear a hamstring. Find a good program and scale up over a few months, or find a coach to guide you.

Same as above. You might need to ease into an event over at least a few sessions, sometimes weeks, but more often months.

Adults aren't made of glass, but we do need to build up tolerance across multiple systems, not just skeletal muscle. Bones, tendons, and the nervous system need time to catch up. We want you to have a long athletic career.

Movement does increase the risk of movement related injury in the short term, but protects against falls, sarcopenia (muscle loss), dementia and chronic disease long term. The types of exercise we do in track and field lead to gains in most of the factors associated with health span (the number of years you live in good health) such as VO2 max (cardiopulmonary health) and explosiveness (influencing how quickly you can catch yourself in a tumble).

You risk a little to gain a lot.

That said, athletics can be addictive. The better you get, the more you'll want to push yourself. In that case, please visit our injury prevention section, where we talk about topics such as sensible programming and rest and recovery.

No problem, you have several options to dip your toe in the water before registering.

Join in with a scheduled training session in your area: search for details of regular sessions on our Training page. Sometimes the way a session is run or a particular coaching style doesn't work for you, so we understand if you want to try a few.

Or just attend a local track meeting to have a look around. When you feel ready come along and compete as a visitor. You can compete 3 times before being required to register as a QMA member.

You can also join for free as a volunteer, so you can jump straight into a meet by helping, no money required.

Training happens year round.

Track and field competition seasons vary depending on your location in the state.

In the southeast, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Toowoomba mostly compete from September to early April, and North Queensland (sensibly) runs most of its competitions through the winter months.

Check the various calendars for details.

Athletics is one of the most affordable sports. Running in the park or on the footpath costs nothing. Costs to consider include:

• Equipment: if you have a coach or are a club member, this may be provided. But as people get into the sport, they may like to purchase their own equipment, for example javelins, discus, poles. We can be gear nerds, but it is worth waiting until you get a coach or can talk to a few experienced athletes before you make any purchases.
• Shoes: oh, this rabbit hole. Shoe culture is a thing inside track and field, but not quite to the extent of, say, basketball and marathon running. You can start out with a decent pair of cross trainers and purchase a dedicated pair of spikes or event shoes as you learn more about your event. Specialised spikes can cost over $200, but they are not required.
• Track fees: if you access an athletics track, you usually pay the facility a fee each time you use it. For example, QSAC in Brisbane charges $6 for a training session. If you are with a coach, the coach may include this as part of their fees.
• Coaching: it depends on what sort of coaching you want. There is a range of fees, services and payment options. If you are a member of a club, some 'free' coaching may be included, such as with QMA. Outside clubs, we have seen between $0 and $40 per casual group session. For private one-on-one training, expect to pay between $50 and $150.
• Squads: we do not have too many non-coached squads in Queensland.
• Club fees: registration as a QMA member, 2026 rates, is $65 for a full year ($55 concession), which also provides you insurance through Queensland Athletics and allows you to compete. This differs if you live in North Queensland, see the Join page for detail.
• QMA competitions: QSAC, Brisbane, on competition days a track fee of $12 applies (2026 rates), for as many events as you like to enter. Gold Coast is between $10-15, and Toowoomba is $5.
• QMA and AMA championships: costs vary, and there may be a requirement to wear the QMA uniform, available for purchase from QMA.
• Travel: travel and accommodation may be another expense to consider if you are competing away from home, as QMA does not organise this for you.
• Uniform: required for certain championships. Not required for local meets unless specified.

They are most welcome, provided they are under the supervision of a responsible adult guardian. There are no entry fees for spectators at QMA events or championships.

Yes, but check the venue as it may have additional restrictions (for example bans on tripods and professional equipment). If you publish or upload pictures to social media, seek permission from individuals before including their name, as not everyone wants to be internet searchable.