Competition Age Group changes: overview

From 1 April 2026, the age groups in which young athletes compete under UKA rules will change from U13, U15, U17 and U20, to U14, U16, U18 and U20. These changes are grounded in a desire to support athletes with their progression through the sport, to help grow participant numbers and to retain more young participants in the sport.

Primary school-aged athletes are encouraged to compete in U10 and U12 age groups in competitions that will utilise multi-event based run, jump, and throw formats (Quad Kids).

25/26 School Year*	Age this summer 2026	Date of birth	Age group this summer season	Age group in 2026/27 (from Oct 2026)	School Year in 2026/27 competition year*
Year 3	7 - 8 Years	Sept 2017 - August 2018	U10	U10	Year 4
Year 4	8 - 9 Years	September 2016 - August 2017	U10	U12	Year 5
Year 5	9 - 10 Years	Sept 2015 - August 2016	U12	U12	Year 6
Year 6	10 - 11 Years	Sept 2014 - August 2015	U12	U14	Year 7
Year 7	11 - 12 Years	Sept 2013 - August 2014	U14	U14	Year 8
Year 8	12 - 13 Years	September 2012 - August 2013	U14	U16	Year 9
Year 9	13 - 14 Years	Sept 2011 - August 2012	U16	U16	Year 10
Year 10	14 - 15 Years	Sept 2010 - August 2011	U16	U18	Year 11
Year 11	15 - 16 Years	Sept 2009 - August 2010	U18	U18	Year 12
Year 12	16 - 17 Years	Sept 2008 - August 2009	U18	U20	Year 13
Year 13	17 - 18 Years	January - December 2008	Senior T&F athletes are those aged 20 or over on 31 December in the calendar year of competition - those younger are U20		Year 14
Year 14	18 - 19 Years	Jan - Dec 2007

*Although aligned to School Years with a cut-off date of 31 August, the UKA age category is determined by the athlete's date of birth, therefore an athlete who is in a different school year groupto their peers will compete according to their date of birth and not their School Year group.

Read more on the England Athletics website: https://www.englandathletics.org/about-us/age-group-changes/