Consultation highlights concern with proposal of bringing UK age groups in line with those in place globally under IAAF rules

The UK Athletics (UKA) rules advisory group will not be recommending any change to current age groups as part of the proposed amendments to the 2016-18 rule book, the national governing body has announced.

A rule change consultation was launched earlier this year, with the alteration of age groups to bring British athletics in line with International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) rules among the proposals.

UKA is set to adopt the IAAF rule book from April 1, 2016. The age group consultation looked at whether the adoption of the rule book should include changing UKA age groups from the current under-20, under-17, under-15 and under-13 categories to the IAAF s under-20, under-18, under-16 and under-14 categories.

After what UKA described as a “healthy response” to the consultation from members and clubs across the country, there were deemed to be two principle concerns with the age group proposals. They were the impact that the age group alterations would have on the cross country season, with a change of year happening on January 1, and the potential impact on schools athletics, especially competitions organised by the English Schools Athletic Association. That concern is said to relate to different cut-off points for school years and the possible impact of having 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,” read an update from the advisory group. “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.”

Click here to read more about the age group changes that had been proposed.

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