In early 2024, England Athletics announced that from 1 April 2026, the way young athletes are grouped in competitions will change — marking one of the biggest structural updates in decades. The aim? To make athletics simpler, fairer, and more supportive for young people as they develop through the sport.

Why It’s Happening

England Athletics and the Home Country Federations consulted with thousands of clubs and coaches before confirming these changes. The new structure aims to:

• Simplify the system so families and clubs can navigate age bands more easily.
• Keep more athletes in the sport by making transitions between age groups smoother.
• Reduce pressure on young people, aligning competition schedules better with school exams.
• Ensure fairer and more appropriate competition, with age bands that better match stages of development.

It’s all part of a wider effort to support participation and enjoyment at every level.

Technical Adjustments

Changes will also include updates to:

• Implements and hurdle heights, ensuring consistency with existing international standards.
• Event specifications for throws, jumps, and hurdles.
• Para-athletics guidelines, including revised implement weights.

England Athletics has already published detailed technical guidance and will run training sessions to help coaches and athletes adapt ahead of 2026.

Timeline & Transition

• 2025–26 winter season will be the last to use the current age groups.
• From April 2026, all licensed competitions must follow the new age group system.
• Clubs may have flexibility to trial new formats or adjust which groups they include in competitions during the transition.