In January 2024, following a consultation process involving all Home Country Athletics Federations (HCAFs), UK Athletics’ decision to approve changes to the current competition age groups was announced.

This means that 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 from 1 April 2026.

The objectives of the age group changes are to:

1. Simplify age group dates for all disciplines
2. Support athletes in their long-term development
3. Retain and recruit more young people in athletics 
4. Provide a clear, simplified pathway for all areas of the sport, from U10s - Seniors
5. Provide better gradual progression for all athletics events
6. And in creating an additional age group, better support age and stage appropriate competition formats & 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.

Ahead of the implementation of the new age groups, the HCAFs have been undertaking further consultation with the sport as well as convening a task group and associated sub groups to ensure a smooth transition.

The key objective of phase one of the implementation process was to establish clear principles around the transition and to establish the key technical aspects of the change.

For more information see the England athletics website. Link here.