Coach's Guide to Athletics Australia Youth Competition Under 13-Under 20 2026/27

From the Athletics Australia able-bodied technical specifications (sprint hurdles updated 1 August 2019, in the 1 May 2025 document). Distance to first hurdle / between hurdles in brackets.

Men

• Under 20: 110m, 10 x 0.991m (13.72m / 9.14m)
• Under 18 and Under 17: 110m, 10 x 0.914m (13.72m / 9.14m)
• Under 16 and Under 15: 100m, 10 x 0.838m (13.00m / 8.50m)
• Under 14 and Under 13: 90m, 9 x 0.762m (13.00m / 8.00m)

Women

• Under 20: 100m, 10 x 0.838m (13.00m / 8.50m)
• Under 18 and Under 17: 100m, 10 x 0.762m (13.00m / 8.50m)
• Under 16 and Under 15: 90m, 9 x 0.762m (13.00m / 8.00m)
• Under 14 and Under 13: 80m, 9 x 0.762m (12.00m / 7.00m)

Short track (60m), 5 hurdles: men Under 20 0.991m, Under 18 and 17 0.914m; women Under 20 0.838m, Under 18 and 17 0.762m. Distance to first hurdle is 13.72m (men) or 13.00m (women), and between hurdles 9.14m (men) or 8.50m (women).

Source: https://www.athletics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/AA-Technical-Specifications-2025-05.pdf

From the Athletics Australia able-bodied technical specifications (1 May 2025). Hurdles are 10 for 200m and 400m, and 7 for 300m.

Men's long hurdles

• Under 20: 400m or 300m, 0.914m.
• Under 18 and Under 17: 400m or 300m, 0.838m.
• Under 16, Under 15 and Under 14: 200m, 0.762m (18.29m to the first hurdle and between hurdles).

Women's long hurdles

• Under 20, Under 18 and Under 17: 400m or 300m, 0.762m.
• Under 16, Under 15 and Under 14: 200m, 0.762m.

Steeplechase barrier height

• Men: Under 20 3000m at 0.914m; Under 18 and Under 17 2000m at 0.838m; Under 16 and Under 15 2000m at 0.762m; no event for Under 14.
• Women: Under 20 3000m at 0.762m; Under 18 to Under 15 2000m at 0.762m; no event for Under 14.

Source: https://www.athletics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/AA-Technical-Specifications-2025-05.pdf

Under the Athletics Australia able-bodied technical specifications (1 May 2025):

Men

• Open, Under 20, Under 18 and Under 17: decathlon.
• Under 16 and Under 15: heptathlon (100mH, SP, HJ, 200m, LJ, JT, 1500m), using the 110mH tables to calculate the 100mH.

Women

• Open, Under 20, Under 18 and Under 17: heptathlon.
• Under 16 and Under 15: heptathlon, using the 100mH tables to calculate the 90mH.

Source: https://www.athletics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/AA-Technical-Specifications-2025-05.pdf

From the Technical Regulations (8 April 2026) and the 2026-27 entry standards:

• Athletes who turn 11 or younger in the year of the competition may not enter any events.
• Under 14 athletes are those turning 12 or 13 in the year of competition, where suitably qualified.
• Under 13 athletes (turning 12) may only enter Under 14 events in Pole Vault and Hammer Throw, and only where suitably qualified using the Under 14 standards or the first three placings at the Under 14 Member Association championship. There is no eligibility by any notional determination of the first three Under 13 athletes at Member Association Under 13 championships.
• Athletes must be turning at least 16 in the year of competition to enter any men's open throwing, hurdles or steeplechase event.
• Where "NO EVENT" is shown in the Entry Standards document, athletes cannot enter higher age groups in the same or similar event.

Sources: https://www.athletics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026-Australian-Track-and-Field-Championships-Technical-Regulations-2026-04-08.pdf, https://www.athletics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2027-AB-Standards-2026-09-01.pdf

At the Australian Athletics Championships (entry standards 2026-27 and Technical Regulations, 8 April 2026):

• Athletes must be turning at least 14 years of age in the year of competition to enter any steeplechase or 3000 metres event.
• Athletes must be turning at least 16 years of age in the year of competition to enter any event over 5000 metres.
• Steeplechase distances for under-age groups are 2000m (Under 15 to Under 18) and 3000m (Under 20). There is no steeplechase for Under 14.
• In Under 14 to Under 18 events of 1500 metres and over, and all age groups for events over 1500m, if more entries are received than fit in one race the slower athletes may be placed in a B division, with the result decided on a timed-finals basis using current year data.

Sources: https://www.athletics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2027-AB-Standards-2026-09-01.pdf, https://www.athletics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026-Australian-Track-and-Field-Championships-Technical-Regulations-2026-04-08.pdf, https://www.athletics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/AA-Technical-Specifications-2025-05.pdf

From the Australian Athletics Championships Technical Regulations (8 April 2026):

• Under 20 athletes may enter their own age group plus Open.
• Junior Championships (Under 14 to Under 20), able-bodied: an athlete may enter a maximum of two age groups in the same or similar event, with at least a two-year age gap. For example, the same or similar event cannot be entered in both Under 15 and Under 16, or Under 16 and Under 17. Open can also be entered if qualified.
• Same or similar events means 80/90/100/110m hurdles; 200/400m hurdles; 3000/5000m and 1500/3000/5000m walk; and each of the throwing events (regardless of change in weight of implements).
• Under-age para athletes may enter only one under-age competition (in addition to Open).
• Where a separate age group event is run but an athlete competes out of their age group, throwing implement weights are based on the athlete's age.
• There is no restriction on athletes competing in both the Australian Athletics Championships and the Australian Little Athletics Championships. For Under 14 athletes, Australian Athletics recommends parents manage the risk of too many events.

Sources: https://www.athletics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026-Australian-Track-and-Field-Championships-Technical-Regulations-2026-04-08.pdf, https://www.athletics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2027-AB-Standards-2026-09-01.pdf

At the Australian Athletics Championships the boards are fixed and will not be changed:

Source: https://www.athletics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026-Australian-Track-and-Field-Championships-Technical-Regulations-2026-04-08.pdf

At the Australian Athletics Championships:

• Under 15 to Open (able-bodied): the World Athletics rule applies. Except in combined events, any athlete responsible for a false start is disqualified.
• Under 14 and below: one false start per race (not per athlete) is allowed without disqualification of the athlete who made it. Any athlete who makes a further false start is disqualified from the race.
• An athlete eligible for an Under 14 or younger group who competes in an older age group is subject to the rules of the older group.
• Combined events: only one false start per race is allowed without disqualification. An athlete responsible for any further false start in that race is disqualified.

Source: https://www.athletics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026-Australian-Track-and-Field-Championships-Technical-Regulations-2026-04-08.pdf

At the Australian Athletics Championships (Technical Regulations, 8 April 2026):

• Under 13 to Under 18 (including para): all athletes get three trials. The top eight then get one further trial. The competition order changes after round 3 only (not in para events).
• Under 20 and Open (including para): all athletes get three trials. The top eight then get three further trials, with the order changed after round 3 only.

The Technical Delegates set automatic qualifying heights or distances where qualifying rounds are held. If fewer than 10 athletes reach the automatic mark, the next best athletes are added to make a final of 10.

Sources: https://www.athletics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026-Australian-Track-and-Field-Championships-Technical-Regulations-2026-04-08.pdf

Under the 2026-27 able-bodied entry standards:

• An athlete must achieve the standard with the correct implement weight, or hurdle or steeple height and distance, for the applicable age group.
• Wind readings of qualifying performances are required. They may be up to 4 m/s for under-age events and 3 m/s for Open events.
• Performances used for seeding in a Championship are the best performance since 1 January in the year of the Championship.
• There must be three or more confirmed athletes for an event to be contested in its own right.
• The first three athletes in their own State or Territory Championships (not for events over 5,000m) may enter without meeting the standards. Vertical jump starting heights and triple jump take-off boards are not reduced for them.

Source: https://www.athletics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2027-AB-Standards-2026-09-01.pdf

Australian Athletics says affiliated clubs must ensure all coaches hold an active accreditation, recognised by the Australian Sports Commission. Coaches also need a Working with Children Check or a valid exemption. Its four track and field levels are:

• Youth Coach (Level 1): athletes up to 13 years old (the accreditation matrix legend says 12 and under). Aimed at coaches of athletes aged 3-12. You must be 16 or older. Generally about $270, with 7 hours of facilitated learning and 5 hours online.
• Development Coach (Level 2): athletes aged 12 and over, preparing for state-level competition. You must be 16 or older. Assessment is a planning assignment plus a practical coaching assessment signed off by an approved assessor. Generally about $360, with 16 hours facilitated, 12 hours online and 2 hours of assessment.
• Performance Coach (Level 3): athletes aged 16 and over aiming for State or National Championships.
• High Performance Coach (Level 4): athletes aged 16 and over targeting major international events.

Prices are set by each State or Territory Athletics Association. First-time accreditation holders get one year of complimentary coaching membership and insurance. Australian Athletics advises against training with non-accredited coaches, who are not covered by coaching insurance and cannot coach within affiliated clubs.

Sources: https://coachathletics.com.au/athletics-coaching-accreditation-standards, https://coachathletics.com.au/level-1-youth-coach, https://coachathletics.com.au/level-2-development-coach