Age Group changes: 2024 round up
Since proposed changes to age groups were confirmed by UK Athletics in January, England Athletics and the other Home Country Athletics Federations (HCAFs) have worked on numerous strands of the plan to implement the changes, when they come into effect on 1 April 2026.
With 2024 drawing to a close, we have summarised this year’s activity and, via Project Co-ordinator Dean Hardman, looked ahead to how the implementation plans will develop and accelerate in 2025.
Video summary of 2024
January 2024: UK Athletics confirm the age group changes which were proposed by the HCAFs following a consultation with athletes, parents, clubs, coaches, member bodies and officials.
February 2024: Appointment of Dean Hardman announced. Dean was appointed to co-ordinate a wider project, looking at participation in track and field, of which the age group changes is one strand of work.
March 2024: Webinars held to inform athletes and parents; coaches; and clubs, competition providers and officials or exactly what the changes will mean for them, as well as what the implementation process will look like.
April 2024: Series of regional forums staged, with the aim of collating opinions and suggestions on age groups, but more widely on the issue of athlete retention in track and field.
April 2024: England Athletics and the HCAFs open applications for implementation project sub groups, to advise and work specifically on areas including: competitions, records/technology, para-athletics, technical events, off-track.
May, June and July 2024: After an encouraging response to the opening of applications, sub-groups are formed, and begin to meet.
September 2024: England Athletics and the HCAFs release a draft plan for the changes, and open a three-month window for feedback from everyone within the sport.
October 2024: Feedback gathered, and survey launched for competition providers, enabling them to share their future plans, and us to build a picture of what the post-April 2026 competition landscape will look like..
November 2024: England Athletics presented the current status of the age group change process to the English Schools Athletics Association’s AGM in Birmingham. A meeting between both parties is scheduled for early 2025. The survey closes for responses.
December 2024: Age group changes are discussed at the England Athletics Competition Conference in Birmingham. Para-athletics leads from UK Athletics and the HCAFs meet and send recommendations for how para-athletics can be integrated into the process.