Top tips for competition providers to prepare for age group changes
From 1 April 2026, the age groups in which young athletes compete will change from U13, U15, U17 and U20 - as is currently the case - to U12, U14, U16, U18 and U20. These changes are grounded in a desire to support athletes with their progression through the sport.
We recently posted some top tips for athletes and parents to prepare for the changes, and also top tips for clubs to prepare for the changes, and we’ll be following with tips for coaches and officials too.
Here are our top tips to help prepare competition providers for the changes:
📖 Take a look at our Competition Guidance document for the new age groups
We’ve prepared a handy document for you to find which level of competition to provide for each of the new age groups – download it below to make yourself familiar with the information.
Download competition format guidance (PDF 322kB)🧠 Understand what’s changing and why
Read through our FAQs to understand how the changes affect different disciplines.
📚 Check technical rules and event specifications early
Check on event progressions for the new age groups for all event types including details on new hurdles heights, steeplechase details, throws implements, and Combined Events disciplines to ensure events are compliant.
Download technical information (XLS 36kB)⬇️ Download the new Combined Events scoring tables
New Combined Events scoring tables will come into effect to ensure results remain accurate and aligned across all competitions. These updated tables reflect the revised age groups and must be used for any combined events taking place on or after this date.
We strongly encourage all competition providers to familiarise themselves with the changes now and ensure the correct tables are applied within your results systems.
The full PDF scoring tables are available to download below and should be shared with your relevant officials and the results providers for your competitions (Roster, OpenTrack, Entry4Sports etc.). These updated tables reflect the revised age groups and new approach, and must be used for any combined events taking place on or after 1 April 2026.
Download scoring tables (PDF 2MB)✍️ Review and update competition age categories
Update entry systems, event schedules, results templates and timetables to reflect the move from U13/U15/U17 to U14/U16/U18, alongside U20, Senior and Masters age groups.
🏃 Plan for off-track distance requirements
When organising cross country, road, trail or multi-terrain events, ensure distances align with the maximum permitted distances for each age group.
Event organisers must fully consider all factors when identifying distance and age groups permitted within their races, including but not limited to – severity of route, route appropriateness, road closures, rural settings, course marshals, welfare and safeguarding of young and vulnerable groups.
Find out more about off-track disciplines📊 Read up on new para-throws implement weights
We have also developed a set of recommendations for competition providers regarding para-throw implement weights under the new age group classifications. To support this, we’ve compiled reference documents outlining the relevant specifications from World Para Athletics and World Athletics, along with updated weight guidelines for para-throws.
Download new age group implements for para throws by age (PDF 256kB) Download new age group implements for para throws by class (PDF 252kB)💭 Decide whether to pilot the new age groups ahead of April 2026
Competition providers have flexibility to trial the new age groups and technical rules during the 2025–2026 indoor season, which may help identify and resolve issues before full implementation.
Contact our licensing team for more information👧 Prepare for U10 and U12 participation formats
Although outside the formal rules of competition, primary school-aged athletes are encouraged to compete in U10 and U12 multi-event formats, with an emphasis on participation rather than formal competition.
Competitions solely for this age group will not need to be licensed, as they will not be included in the UKA rulebook, but we encourage competition providers to include opportunities for U12 athletes to compete, through events like funetics multi-challenge and Sportshall. We would of course recommend county championships events also include U12 events.
🗣️ Join the conversation
Book a place on our scheduled drop-in session on 25 February (6-7pm) to ask questions and get clarity.
Submit questions in advance via emailThe objectives of the 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 to Seniors
- Provide better gradual progression for all athletics events
- And in creating an additional age group, better support age and stage appropriate competition formats and 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.
As part of the upcoming age group changes from 1 April 2026, the England Athletics board agreed to support a wider review of track and field participation, and are pleased to see progress with the vision following the group's first webinar. You can find out more about the vision and sign up here.
Learn more about the age group changes