Age Group changes: overview
From 1 April 2026, the age groups in which young athletes compete under UKA rules will change from U13, U15, U17 and U20, as is currently the case, to U14, U16, U18 and U20. These changes are grounded in a desire to support athletes with their progression through the sport, to help grow participant numbers and to retain more young participants in the sport.
Sitting outside of the formal rules of competition, primary school-aged athletes will be encouraged to compete in U10 and U12 age groups in competitions that will utilise multi-event based run, jump, and throw formats, such as funetics multi-challenge.
For guidance on which age group you, your child, or an athlete you coach will be in, following the age group changes being implemented on 1 April 2026, please see our latest FAQs relating to implementation further down this page.
Find out more about the consultation process Download technical information (XLS 38kB)Why were these changes proposed?
The objectives of the age group changes are to:
- Simplify age group dates for all disciplines
- Support athletes in their long-term development
- Retain and recruit more young people in athletics
- Provide a clear, simplified pathway for all areas of the sport, from U10s - Seniors
- Provide better gradual progression for all athletics events
- And in creating an additional age group, better support age and stage appropriate competition formats & events
It’s important to point out that the age group changes alone are not viewed as the sole answer to the challenges we face as a sport in retaining and recruiting athletes and are part of a wider approach to arresting participation decline and increasing the number of young people engaged in track and field particularly.
Read more about the implementation planIn July 2025, the UKA Board unanimously approved the recommendations in a paper from the Rules Advisory Group in relation to changes in the UKA Rules for Competition relating to competition age groups that will come into effect on 1 April 2026.
Read more from the UKA Board on the updated Rules of Competition| Current School Year* | Age this summer season | Date of birth | Age group this summer season | Age group in 2026/27 (from October 2026) | School Year in 2026/27 competition year* |
| Year 3 | 7 - 8 Years | September 2017 - August 2018 | U10 | U10 | Year 4 |
| Year 4 | 8 - 9 Years | September 2016 - August 2017 | U10 | U12 | Year 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 - 10 Years | September 2015 - August 2016 | U12 | U12 | Year 6 |
| Year 6 | 10 - 11 Years | September 2014 - August 2015 | U12 | U14 | Year 7 |
| Year 7 | 11 - 12 Years | September 2013 - August 2014 | U14 | U14 | Year 8 |
| Year 8 | 12 - 13 Years | September 2012 - August 2013 | U14 | U16 | Year 9 |
| Year 9 | 13 - 14 Years | September 2011 - August 2012 | U16 | U16 | Year 10 |
| Year 10 | 14 - 15 Years | September 2010 - August 2011 | U16 | U18 | Year 11 |
| Year 11 | 15 - 16 Years | September 2009 - August 2010 | U18 | U18 | Year 12 |
| Year 12 | 16 - 17 Years | September 2008 - August 2009 | U18 | U20 | Year 13 |
| Year 13 | 17 - 18 Years | January - December 2008 | Senior T&F athletes are those aged 20 or over on 31 December in the calendar year of competition - those younger are U20 | Year 14 | |
| Year 14 | 18 - 19 Years | January - December 2007 |
*Although aligned to School Years with a cut-off date of 31 August, the UKA age category is determined by the athlete's date of birth, therefore an athlete who is in a different school year group
to their peers will compete according to their date of birth and not their School Year group.
FAQs
What is being changed?
The current age groups – categories in which young athletes compete – are to be revised. From April 1, 2026, young athletes will compete in the following age groups:
- U10: school years 3 and 4
- U12: years 5 and 6
- U14: years 7 and 8
- U16: years 9 and 10
- U18: years 11 and 12
- U20: year 13+
These new age groups will replace the existing U13, U15 and U17 groupings and will ensure that athletes compete across the school year (in England) from October-September in the same age group through cross country, road and then track and field competition.
The rules will be effective from 1 April 2026, so athletes will compete in the 2026 track and field season in the above age groups. For example, for track and field, an athlete currently in year 7 will compete in the U13 age group in the 2025 summer season and will be in year 8 – and therefore U14 – in the 2026 track and field season.
Why is it being changed?
The change was initially proposed as one of several ways in which the significant drop-off in track and field participation amongst teenagers could be addressed. Research and insight show that one of the contributing factors to this drop-off is the clash with exam commitments, which leads to pressure to perform both academically and physically. The age group changes will mean that athletes are competing at the top of their age group in non-exam years, therefore relieving some of that pressure.
Are the changes designed to make the process of selection for International U18 Teams easier?
The Home Country Athletics Federations have successfully selected competitive teams for Commonwealth Youth Games since their inception in 2000, while UKA have also selected teams for a number of world and European youth championships. These games do not take place every year and impact only a minority of athletes. Selection for the Commonwealth Youth Games or other youth international competitions was therefore not a factor in these changes being proposed and approved.
Who decided to change it?
The proposal for change was put forward to UK Athletics by the Home Country Athletics Federations (HCAFs) –Â Athletics Northern Ireland, England Athletics, Scottish Athletics and Welsh Athletics – following a period of consultation with athletes, parents, clubs, coaches, member bodies and officials.
This consultation process included a webinar series and a survey process, which allowed those within the sport to provide feedback and opinion on the proposals as either an individual or a collective group representing a club or member body. The webinars were attended by 330 people, while the club survey received 122 responses, and 821 people responded to the individual survey.
Was there unanimous support for the changes?
The consultation process invited differing opinions on the proposed changes, and saw robust discussion and debate.
While the changes garnered significant support from young athletes and their parents, there was uncertainty among other stakeholders, including clubs (committees and officials) and member bodies.
What happens now?
Informed by stakeholder opinion and the debate within the consultation, the decision was taken to add a requirement allowing time to seek expert guidance on the implementation of the changes which will aim to provide detailed clarity and minimal disruption to athletes taking part in age-group competition, meaning that they will come into effect on 1 April 2026.
Over the period of time between now and that date, the HCAFs will work alongside stakeholders to ensure that opinions and concerns are taken on board and addressed, and that the benefits of the age group changes are felt by all those within the sport.
Will the schools athletics associations’ age groups change?
All the information about this is in the statement published on our website in June last year, and our recent update in February this year.
Any queries around the rationale for this decision should be submitted directly to the ESAA.