Age group changes: information for athletes and parents
From 1 April 2026, the age groups in which young athletes compete changed from U13, U15, U17 and U20, to U12, U14, U16, U18 and U20. These changes are grounded in a desire to support athletes with their progression through the sport.
Top tips for athletes and parents
🎯 Know your new age group
🧠 Understand what’s changing and why
🧭 Stay ahead of technical tweaks
🏋️♂️ Adjust your training plan
💬 Join the conversation
Downloadable information
Download changes quick reference guide (PDF 2MB)FAQs for athletes and parents
What is being changed?
From April 1, 2026, young athletes 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 have replaced the existing U13, U15 and U17 groupings and 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 are effective from 1 April 2026, so athletes compete in the 2026 track and field season in the above age groups.
Will the dates of the competition year be changed?
The competition year will run from 1 October to 30 September and so athletes will compete in the same age group from October through to September in cross country, road, and track and field.
What will be the club competition opportunities across the U12, U14, U16, U18 and U20 age groups?
As is currently the case, the HCAFs will offer national championship competition for U16s upwards and will provide guidance and recommendations to competition providers on the competition formats and approaches suitable at each age group.
The Youth Development League have confirmed that they intend to offer competition to secondary age athletes – U14 and U16 (Lower) and U18 and U20 (upper).
Other organisations such as leagues, counties, areas and open competition providers will make their own decisions on which of the newly implemented age groups they wish to cater for.
All permitted/licensed events need to comply with the rules of competition, which will be amended to reflect the changed age groups.
What happened to U11s?
The U11 age-group was an optional age-group that many competitions and clubs used to introduce children to adapted age-appropriate athletics. The UKA rules for competition did not cater for U11 athletes and there was no requirement to affiliate U11 athletes with the Home Country Athletics Federation. An U10 optional affiliation and competition age-group has replaced U11s.
Athletes aged in school year 6 and below continue to access local competition opportunities with an emphasis on personal improvement, building a love of the sport and being part of a team. Sportshall Athletics and funetics Multi-Challenge are just two examples of the types of competition for this age group.
Can U12 athletes compete as U14s?
No, U12 athletes will not be able to compete as U14s, and have competition opportunities within their own age group – just as U11s previously had.
Which age groups will the YDL and NAL meetings use?
UK Youth Development League (YDL) meetings have confirmed their age groups. U14 and U16 athletes compete in lower age group YDL meetings, while U18 and U20 athletes compete in upper age group YDL meetings.
The National Athletics League (NAL) have also confirmed their age groups for competition, with U18, U20 and Senior athletes set to compete (standards for U18 athletes must be achieved before they are allowed to compete in the NAL).
How does this affect off track athletics?
From winter 2026 onwards, athletes will switch to their new age group on 1 October and will compete in that same age group for cross country, road and then track and field.
So in summary, for off track, the date at which an age group is judged is changing from the beginning of the competition year to the end of the competition year.
Will the changes affect eligibility to compete in road running and multi-terrain events?
Road running and multi-terrain eligibility to compete over set distances is unchanged.