Age Groups
The age groups for athletics competitions can be confusing and coaches and club officials are often asked how they work, so we hope this summary explains them. Please note, from April 2026 these age groups will change.
2024/25
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The current athletics ‘competition year’ runs from 1st October 2024 to 30th September 2025.
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Within this, the summer competition year runs 1st April 2025 to 30th September 2025 and the winter competition year runs 1st October 2024 to 31st March 2025.
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Juniors (i.e. under 13/under 15/under 17 athletes) move into their new age groups on the 1st of October every year.
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Under 13 boys and girls
School years 6 and 7 – for summer track & field season 2025
School years 7 and 8 – for winter road running, cross country and indoor track & field season 2024/2025
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Under 15 boys and girls
School years 8 and 9 – for summer track & field season 2025
School years 9 and 10 – for winter road running, cross country and indoor track & field season 2024/2025
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Under 17 men and women
School years 10 and 11 – for summer track & field season 2025
School years 11 and 12 – for winter road running, cross country and indoor track & field season 2024/2025
NB: historically, England Athletics have always designated under 17’s as men and women, rather than boys and girls, even though they are still juniors.
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Under 20’s men and women
School years 12 and 13 – for summer track & field season 2025
Anyone aged 17, 18 or 19 on 31st August prior to 1st October 2024 – for winter road running, cross country and indoor track & field season 2024/2025.
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NB: Under 11’s
UK Athletics rules do not specifically cater for athletes under the age of 11 years. This does not mean they cannot compete but if competition organisers put on events for under 11’s, the distances run are likely to be reduced and lighter implements will be used. (Under 11 athletes will mainly be in school years 4 and 5).
2026 Onwards
​From 1 April 2026, the age groups in which young athletes compete under UKA rules will change from U13, U15, U17 and U20, as is currently the case, to U14, U16, U18 and U20.
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Primary school-aged athletes will be encouraged to compete in U10 and U12 age groups in competitions that will utilise multi-event based run, jump, and throw formats.
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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.
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Athletes will move into their new age group on 1 April 2026, following the indoor and cross country seasons. An athlete’s age group is determined by their age on 31 August of that year.
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You can use this calculator to work out what age group your athlete will be in for the 2026 Track & Field Season and beyond.