Gather Round Sprint

We are on the hunt to find the fastest community footballer! There’s a prize pool of over $30k to be shared by both players and footy clubs - so get ready to put on the boots, don the guernsey and sprint it out against the best. 

Registrations are FREE and open now with a maximum of two representatives from each Club, per category, and a sprint distance of 70 metres. All registrants must have been registered to an affiliated community football club in the 2024 season to qualify (excludes AFL and AFLW listed players). 

The sprint will take place at Barossa Park in Lyndoch at the Barossa Park Live Site - adjacent to the main ground where the official AFL Gather Round matches are played.

All registrants will receive:

• Gather Round Sprint Branded Can Cooler
• 1 x Ticket to the AAMI State Game: SANFL v VFL - Saturday 12 April 2025

All Sprint Finalists will receive:

• Gather Round Cap

Open Male & Female Winner (each)

• $10K Cash Prize ($5K to the winning player + $5K to their registered Footy Club)
• 2025 Gather Round Sherrin Replica Match Ball
• 2 x Tickets to the SANFL 2025 Grand Final
• 4 x Category 1 Tickets to the opening game of the 2026 AFL Gather Round
• Free entry to compete at The Bay Sheffield in the Open category

Under 14, Under 16 & Under 18 Male & Female Winners (each)

• $2K Cash Prize ($1K to the winning player + $1K to their registered Footy Club)
• 2025 Gather Round Sherrin Replica Match Ball
• 4 x Category 1 Tickets to the opening game of the 2026 AFL Gather Round
• Free entry to compete at The Bay Sheffield in their nominated category

Featuring live commentary by Stawell Gift’s commentator Ollie Wurm and facilitated by the South Australian Athletic League (SAAL) who deliver South Australia’s most prestigious foot race The Bay Sheffield, the official Gather Round Sprint is an exciting addition to the 2025 AFL Gather Round calendar, not to be missed. 

This Gather Round Sprint promises an exciting on-field rivalry of a different kind – so do you have what it takes?

Spots are limited and registrations close 5pm, Monday 7 April, 2025

Register with SANFL via PlayHQ through the link below and we’ll see you at Barossa Park! 
https://www.playhq.com/afl/register/81dfb2

Saturday 12 April 10am-12noon

• Heats for the Under 14, Under 16 & Under 18 Male and Female Sprints
• Finals run at half-time of the North Melbourne v Gold Coast 

Sunday 13 April 10am-12noon

• Heats for the Open Male and Open Female Sprints & Exhibition races from SAAL Pro Runners
• Finals run at half-time of the Richmond v Fremantle 

After the heats, all competitors, friends and family are welcome to stay and enjoy the free activities at the Barossa Park Live Site including live DJ, food vendors, AFL Play

TERMS OF ENTRY

• Entrants must have been registered with an affiliated community football club (across any state or territory of Australia) for the 2024 season, excludes AFL & AFLW listed players.
• Sprint registration is free for all listed categories. Maximum registration limits apply per category and accepted on a first registered basis. 
• For each race category, a maximum of two (2) competitors from the same football club will be permitted to compete.

Race Categories:

1. Under 14 Male
2. Under 14 Female
3. Under 16 Male
4. Under 16 Female
5. Under 18 Male
6. Under 18 Female
7. Open Male
8. Open Female 

• Entrants are only permitted to race under one (1) category (either underage or open)
• Entrants competing in the underage category must be under the age at the time of competition (12 April 2025)
• All registered competitors must wear their registered football club guernsey during the race (inclusive of heats and finals) and appropriate footwear is required (bare feet not permissible)
• The sprint distance is 70 metres in length with all runners starting from scratch.
• The winner of each heat (up to a maximum of 8 heats) will qualify for the category final. The winner of each final will be declared the winner of the race for the respective category
• Registered competitors agree to sign a participation waiver ahead of the event
• Total Gather Round Sprint prize pool is AUD$32,000 and split across categories as follows:

1. Underage Male & Female Categories (under 14, under 16 & under 18) - AUD$1,000 to the category winner + AUD$1,000 to the category winner’s registered Football Club
2. Open Male & Female Categories – AUD$5,000 to the category winner + $5,000 to the category winner’s registered Football Club