No change to Age Group categories

Tuesday 29th September 2015

Action from the 2015 Age Group Champs – photo by Bobby Gavin

Age Group Champs ‘legacy’ at Grangemouth

Following a recent consultation exercise across the UK, it has emerged there will be NO CHANGE to the current Age Group Categories being operated both in track and field and cross country in Scotland.

The cross country season and the forthcoming 2016 Indoor Season in Scotland will therefore operate with U13, U15 and U17 age bandings as well as U20 and Senior.

And with the imminent new rule-book in place for 2016-2018, these will stay in place for a minimum of a further three years.

Here’s the statement released on the British Athletics website:

‘Further to a request from the Home Country Athletic Federations (England Athletics, scottishathletics, Welsh Athletics and Athletics Northern Ireland), supported by the UK Members Council, the UKA Rules Advisory Group conducted an extensive survey of clubs and competition providers across the sport to establish views on the pros and cons of bringing UK age groups in line with those in place globally under IAAF rules.

The consultation elicited a healthy response from members and clubs across the country. It was clear that the two principle issues causing concern with any change to the Age Groups were:-

1) the impact on the Cross Country Season (with a change of year happening on January 1)

2) potential impact on schools athletics – especially competitions organised by English Schools Athletics Association. That concern relates to different cut-off points for school years and possible impact of different hurdle heights and implement weights.

It was clear from the responses received that the majority were not in favour of adopting IAAF Age Groups, and consequently the Rules Advisory Group will not be recommending any change in the current Age Groups to the Board of UK Athletics as part of the proposed amendments to the 2016-18 Rule Book.

The Rules Advisory Group would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who contributed to the consultation process.’