The program is aimed at children aged from five to eight years and focuses on the development of basic motor skills such as running, jumping and throwing, through fun activities and games in a non-competitive environment.

Ballarat YMCA sport development officer Tim Walshe said "Run, throw, jump'' would benefit children who perhaps took a little longer to master the basics.

He said the thinking behind the program was that young children were less likely to take part in organised sport if they did not have the skills to run, jump and throw - skills for all sports.

Athletics Australia national coaching manager Michael Poulton said children were more likely to choose an active lifestyle when they had the confidence in their own skill level and had been exposed to positive environments

that promote skill development through play and games activity.

"The Ballarat YMCA has given thousands of kids an opportunity to learn to swim over many years of aquatic education, and this pilot program is an exciting development for the sport of athletics," Poulton said.

"More importantly, it will assist in preparing a new generation of kids to have the skills to be active for life," he said.

Walshe said if children did not get involved in sport from a young age they were less likely to do so through their teen and adult years.

"This program will be another tool to address the sedentary or inactive lifestyles of kids by giving them the confidence to get involved in activity from an early age," Walshe said.

The program will begin tomorrow and runs on Thursday evenings for eight weeks.

As this is a pilot program, Ballarat families will be able to take advantage of the discount price of just $50 for the full term. More information: Ballarat Aquatic Centre 5334 2499.