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Fiji Primary Schools’ Athletics Association
Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 2, August 2016
Providing avenues to develop beyond the classroom
Health is Wealth! Challenge every child to
take on athletics. (Source: WHO
International)
Confirmed Dates for Divisional Competitions & Entries Due Dates
The dates for the Divisional Championships are as follows:
Northern: Thursday – Friday, 20th – 21st October, 2016. Entries Due: Wednesday, 21st September, 2016
Western: Friday – Saturday, 11th – 12th November, 2016. Entries Due: Wednesday, 12th October, 2016
Central: Friday – Saturday, 18th – 19th November, 2016. Entries Due: Friday, 21st October, 2016
Ms. Cheer (Trisa) will be managing all entries. All divisions’ president/secretary are requested to liaise with Trisa
in this regard. She can be contacted on mobile number +679 9294885 and her email address is
tiacheer@yahoo.com
All divisions are responsible for the running of their respective meets. Team Managers from the different
districts will need to be in touch with their respective president/secretary in regards to their concerns.
Key Points to Remember:
1. Uniforms: Co-Sponsor logos are allowed, as long as they do not produce the same products as FMF and
we must ensure that the FMF Chow Games logo is the dominant logo.
2. Competition Rules & Guidelines: Ensure that your division stay as close as possible to the National Rules &
Guidelines
Are you Ready? | #GoFijiGo
FPSAA is grateful to the
sponsor, FMF Foods
Limited for bringing this
nation building event to
your doorstep this year.
This term, the primary
schools will be focusing
on athletics. Through
athletics, students gain
skills that make them
the best players on the
court, track, field or in
the pool. It is also an
opportune time to
boost friendship and
build relationships
between peers.
Encourage every child
to participate!
DID YOU KNOW? Children who run 15
minutes before class were less distracted
and more attentive to school work.
Also In This Issue
Confirmed Competition Dates
Northern organisers elected
FPSAA Office Bearers 2016
Workshop Updates
2015 Flashback
Newsletter Spotlight
Remember “this may
be the only platform
that some of the
athletes may have to
participate in such a
wonderful event”
Please click Like on our FB page. If you need the Uniform format, copy of the Rules & Entry Forms?
Download from our FB page: Fiji Primary Schools’ Athletics
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TM & MM Workshop was a Success!
The key to a successful meet is advanced planning and
utilizing the right resources. The FPSAA president, Mr.
Cavu emphasized in his annual report during the AGM,
the need to always strive for excellence.
In its effort to take the Chow Games to the next level,
FPSAA conducted the Team Manager Software and
Meet Manager Software workshops. These are
computerized softwares that manage your team data
and manage your meet on the competition day.
20 participants attended the Team Manager workshop.
3 were from 2 prominent secondary schools, 2 from
Athletics Fiji, 1 from a primary school in Naitasiri and 14
from the Suva primary schools.
The final workshop for the year is the Officials’ workshop scheduled for Saturday, 15th October, 2016.
You can register your interest for the Officials’ workshop by contacting us by e-mail fpsaapffice@unwired.com.fj or
call +679 3623017. Note the closing date.
Details of the upcoming workshops are as follows:
WORKSHOP DATE VENUE FACILITATOR TARGET AUDIENCE
Officials’ Workshop
Closing Date: Friday
30th September
Saturday, 15
October 2016
Conference Board
Rooms 1 & 2,
FASANOC house, 27
Bau Street
Vuli Waqa
Individuals who are
willing and will be
able to officiate at
divisional games
Organizers’
Workshop
In the pipeline for
2017
To be confirmed
Patrick Bower and
co-facilitator Atma
Maharaj
Individuals who are
looking to be future
managers or
coordinators for
sporting events.
Team Managers and Coaches are encouraged to attend the Officials’ workshop. Some of the topics covered will
be relevant to the coaching and training of athletes for example the general rules of track and field. The
knowledge of the rules governing the competition day for both track and field will be beneficial to the managers;
particularly in cases like “what should be done when an athlete has a clash of event.”
Support from the Ministry of Education
On the 24th of May, 2016, the office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education emailed FPSAA granting the
approval for the release of teachers and students to the competitions. This email has been circulated to the
division’s organizing committee to assist them when confirming the status of their preparations and meet dates with
their respective District Education Officer.
Chow Games 2016 & to the Future
Yet again, we thank FMF LTD for their commitment to sponsor the Primary Schools’ Athletics competition for this
year 2016, and for the next two years.
This will be the 9th year of sponsorship and FPSAA is extremely grateful that through this continued support, we are
able to promote and broadcast the principles of participation in sports in the area of track and field.
TEAM MANAGER WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS:
Eugene Vollmer from Athletics Fiji (back) and Sisilia
Cokanauto from Gospel Primary School (front) wait as
Litia Ashley (back-left) assist in downloading the
software.
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2016 Northern Division Organizers that were Elected at their Annual General Meeting in
Labasa
At the Northern CMB meeting held on 25 August 2016 at St Mary’s Primary School, the following office bearers were
present: Patron – Mosese Cabecuva and President – Eliki Vuakaca.
One of the organizing committee’s priorities is to secure their venue for the Game which is hoped to be staged at
Subrail Park. Also, the zonal games will be conducted before Week 6, on Friday 30th September, 2016.
5 primary school teachers attended the meeting. Mr. Curuki who is the Treasurer has retired from service and Semi
Ramaqa is the Interim Treasurer until such time that the new treasurer be elected. This was not possible due to the
fact that they could not make up a quorum for the meeting.
The Northern Chow Games will be the first divisional meet out of the 3 divisional meets for this year, 2016. It will be
exciting, bigger and better as it will be the first time that the organizing committee will be using the Photo finish
equipment. A team from the FPSAA’s main office in Suva will join them in the North to assist the committee in
facilitating with their electronic timing and photo finish.
FACEBOOK SNAP SHOTS OF THE NORTHERN DIVISION’S ORGANISING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OUTCOME
New executive committee members for the FPSAA
were voted in at the 2016 Annual General Meeting that
was scheduled on Saturday, 7 May 2016.
14 people attended the AGM, predominantly from the
Central division with 1 from the Northern division.
The revised Constitution received a unanimous vote.
The revised Constitution can be downloaded from the
FPSAA face book page: Fiji Primary Schools’ Athletics.
For general business, Mr. Bower presented the highlights
of the FPSAA’s 5 year plan which included the capacity
building workshops and clinics for athletes,
administrators and leaders.
To support the Secondary Schools in applying rules
consistent to IAAF, FPSAA will use IAAF rules in all their
competitions.
The following Executives were voted to serve for:
1. President: Paula Cavu
2. Vice President (North): Eliki Vuakaca
3. Vice President (Central): Robin Dayal
4. Vice President (Western): Albert Wise
5. Vice President (Eastern): Division Education
Officer.
6. Treasurer: Henry Elder
7. Secretary: Patrick Bower
8. Assistant Secretary: Maka Teanganaki
FPSAA SPECIAL ROLE TITLES FOR VOLUNTEERS
At the AGM, Mr. Bower raised a motion for FPSAA to
recognise the roles of current volunteers by assigning
role titles to each volunteer and this motion was
unanimously accepted by the members present.
To date, we regret to say that the Communications and
Networking volunteer had to leave for personal
commitments. In contingency, two of the other
volunteers, will work together to fill in this important role.
The following volunteers with their roles make up the
team that will assist at the Divisional meets:
1. Trisa Cheer – Communications &
Database/Meet Manager Specialist.
2. Maka Teanganaki – Communications &
Networking.
3. Mesake Masi & Michael Khelan – Computer
Networking & Photo Finish Specialists.
On board the team, we are privileged to work
alongside Mr. Selwyn Williams. He will be in charge of
the team’s logistics when the team is out on the field
and to assist the divisions with equipment.
You may contact Selwyn for your equipment need on
his mobile number +679 9919874 or email him at this
address: fpsaaoffice@unwired.com.fj
Eliki Vuakaca Mosese Cabecuva
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Preparations – ensure that
the “ball” is already rolling
FPSAA Secretary, Patrick Bower
The final term for 2016 has arrived and with it comes
the challenges of executing your Divisional
championships amidst the task of preparing your
students for their end of year examinations
accompanied with the huge responsibility of finalizing
their reports.
I thank you all for your encouraging co-operation to
make this year’s Divisionals another memorable
occasion for so many of our students. Remember, this
may be the only platform that some of the athletes
may have to participate in such a wonderful event.
To make this special for them (i.e our athletes) we need
to ensure that the “ball” is already rolling. To this end, I
wish to congratulate all Divisions for having already
chosen their organizing committee for this year’s 2016
FMF Divisional Chow Games.
Please note the following so that our Championships
will run with minimal disruptions and that there is fair
play on our fields of participation.
1. Entries must be in on schedule. CHECK YOUR
CLOSING DATES
2. School & Zone meets should take care of birth
certificates. This should NOT be an issue at the divisional
level.
3. Read the entry rules carefully so that athletes are not
unduly punished by an incorrect entry or entries.
4. Choose your District Manager NOW so that he/she is
able to start leading.
5. Remember always, that your athletes are precious
gifts from God. Treat them with “kid gloves”.
Again, thank you for your continuing support. Time is of
the essence so we need to on track!
God’s blessings and guidance for your preparations.
FPSAA Secretary, Patrick Bower
2015 National Championship flashback!
Spot yourself in the crowd.