England Athletics CEO Chris Jones looks back on another successful track and field season and also forward to future plans for England Athletics, whilst sharing updates on our programmes and competitions.

The summer is a great time for track and field. The sun is shining, the summer season is underway, and athletes of all ages can enjoy our sport. However, September often poses a different challenge, as children head back to school and focus turns away from sport. We recently caught up with Poole Runners on the Dorset coastline to learn about how they have seen such fantastic growth in members of all ages and abilities. The club have smashed their seven out of seven Club Standards, and are making a real difference in their local community.

England Athletics can share the following update regarding the English Schools’ Athletics Association’s (ESAA) current position of deciding against the implementation of the new age groups in its competitions effective from 1 April 2026.

England Athletics is pleased to announce the renewal of our long-standing strategic partnership with Sportshall Athletics.

On behalf of everyone at England Athletics I would like to wish all those competing in this summer’s England Athletics outdoor track and field championship programme the very best of success and enjoyment. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our hard-working volunteer Technical Officials and Event Staff, without whom this event programme would not take place and to whom we are deeply grateful for their commitment, focus, and dedication. I would like to also thank our host venues, particularly Birmingham Alexander Stadium but also partners at the Manchester Athletics Arena.

Last week, some of the best young athletes from across the country travelled to Alexander Stadium, Birmingham to compete in the 2025 English School Track and Field Championships. To enable the athletes to perform at their best, each team has a handful of Team Managers available to support the athletes.

At the beginning of each month, the number of under 11s registered by clubs are monitored by England Athletics, and for every 30 x U11s registered, clubs receive a free place on our Coaching Assistant course. This scheme is in place to offer support and benefits to each club that chooses to register their under 11 athletes as a commitment to supporting clubs in need of more volunteers and coaches. To see the real impact of this initiative, we recently caught up with Ian Jennings, Quad Kids and multi-event coach at Aldershot Farnham & District. We explored how registering their under 11s has led to parents and older athletes stepping up into volunteering and leadership roles within their club.

This week, the five UK sports councils have announced their backing for the creation of a UK-wide approach to safe sport, creating the Safe Sport Report.

England Athletics notes the English Schools' Athletics Association’s (ESAA) decision to pause implementation of the new age groups effective from1 April 2026, pending a further review of the impact on schools’ athletics. ESAA have indicated that they intend to conduct this review during 2026.