Statement on ESAA decision around Age Groups

England Athletics notes the English Schools' Athletics Association’s (ESAA) decision to pause implementation of the new age groups effective from 1 April 2026, pending a further review of the impact on schools’ athletics. ESAA have indicated that they intend to conduct this review during 2026.

As a long-term funding partner, we have supported ESAA since 2008, with a shared vision of promoting the enjoyment of athletics in schools and encouraging the development and discovery of athletic talent. We first engaged ESAA on age group changes in April 2024 and we are therefore surprised at the ESAA’s decision not to implement the age groups from the 2026 season and disappointed with the time it has taken to reach this outcome.

The age group changes for competition are being implemented across the sport UK-wide from 1 April 2026, and specifically across track and field, cross country and road disciplines. England Athletics has supported and advocated for the changes as part of a wider need to help modernise the sport and provide an improved developmental pathway to retain athletes in their teenage years, particularly when young athletes are at the top of their age group when undertaking GCSE and A-Level examinations.

Whilst the initial focus of the age group change proposal was primarily clubs, it became very clear through ongoing consultation and feedback from the wider sport that alignment between activity in both clubs and schools would be optimal given the cross over of participants, coaches, officials and volunteers working in both areas. England Athletics has therefore advocated alignment through our recent discussions with ESAA.

Other volunteer-led competition providers across the UK, including the Youth Development League and the Scottish and Welsh Schools' Athletics Associations have already indicated their intention to adopt the new age groups, which will be included in the 2026 UKA Rules for Competition.

We strongly believe that it is in the best interests of athletes, parents and coaches across the UK for all competitions to be delivered under the same rules, using the same implements and technical specifications. We had offered to work with ESAA to address their concerns with managing these transitional arrangements during the last year and had provided practical solutions to address such concerns - and that offer remains open.

We do recognise ESAA’s key role in the pathway for young athletes and have committed to working with ESAA, where practicable, to ensure the best possible experience for athletes in the context of their decision. However, there are key questions that will need to be answered by ESAA in the coming
weeks. These centre around how athletes will qualify for ESAA championships if competing using different implements, hurdle specifications and race distances; how they will undertake SIAB selection (given the other schools' associations will adopt the new age groups); licensing; and funding from 2026.

Any queries around the rationale for this decision should be submitted directly to the ESAA.

In the meantime, we are conscious that the immediate focus should be on a successful delivery of the 2025 ESAA Track and Field Championships, which takes place in Birmingham during early July. England Athletics will continue to support ESAA with funding to deliver this year's event and we are naturally keen to ensure that this decision does not prove a distraction from the importance of delivering a great athlete experience.

We will provide a further update in due course.