Coach's Guide to UK Athletics Youth Competition Rules Under 14-Under 20 2026/27

Under UKA Rule TR3 S2, at one athletics meeting:

For all of these age groups, an athlete doing a combined event (pentathlon, heptathlon and so on) can't compete in any other event that day. When a walk is included for Under 14s and Under 16s, the total distance covered must not exceed their race walking maximum (3000m and 5000m), and athletes in a track walk can't also run a track event of 600m or more that day.

Under UKA Rule TR3 S2:

Race walking maximums (track and off-track): Under 14 3000m, Under 16 5000m, Under 18 15,000m, Under 20 20,000m, Seniors unlimited.

UKA Rule TR3 S4 sets one table of maximum distances for all off-track disciplines (road, cross country, multi-terrain, fell, hill, mountain and trail), by age on the day:

Recommended distances for age-group races are shorter:

Under 12 guidance: 3km recommended, with maximums of 3km at age 10 and 5km at age 11. Mass-participation races without age-group categories must keep each young runner within the maximum for their age on the day. UKA notes that shorter races are often better for long-term development.

Under 14 and Under 16 (UKA Rule TR22 S1, 2.7kg toppling weight):

Under 18 (World Athletics Rule TR22.3): men 110m at 0.914m, 300m and 400m at 0.838m; women 100m, 300m and 400m at 0.762m.

Home country federation guidance for Under 12s (outside the rules): boys 75m and girls 70m, both at 0.685m with 8 hurdles.

Steeplechase barriers are 0.762m for the U16 1500m steeplechase.

Minimum weights under the UKA Rules 2026 (U14 and U16 from the UKA supplements TR33 S1, TR34 S1, TR36 S1 and TR38 S1; U18 from World Athletics specifications):

Boys / men

Girls / women

Home country federation guidance for Under 12s (outside the rules): shot 2kg to 2.72kg, discus 0.75kg, hammer 2kg, for boys and girls.

When an athlete competes in an older age group's field event, they must use that older group's implements.

One age group up, under UKA Rule TR3 S2:

Apart from Open Graded competitions, Under 14s and Under 16s can't enter competitions for any older age group than the one above. In graded meetings, younger athletes may race older ones only where the conditions don't break the distance or event limits.

Where field events for different age groups run at the same time on the same site but are clearly separate competitions in the timetable, these mixing rules don't apply.

Under 14 and Under 16 (UKA Rule TR16 S2), and all athletes in Open Graded races that U14s or U16s may enter, whether or not a start information system is used:

• Individual events: the first false start earns a warning (yellow and black card); an athlete responsible for two false starts is disqualified.
• Combined events: warning first; disqualification on the athlete's third false start.

Under 18 and older (World Athletics Rule TR16.8): except in combined events, any athlete responsible for a false start is disqualified (red and black card). In combined events, the first false start in a race warns everyone, and anyone making a further false start is disqualified.

What counts as a false start (TR16.7): after taking the final set position, commencing the start before the gun. In a crouch start, that's a hand or foot losing contact with the ground or blocks; in a standing start, a foot losing contact with the ground. Movements that don't break contact are not false starts, but delaying, not settling promptly or disturbing others can earn a warning for improper conduct, and a second such warning in the competition means disqualification.

In England, England Athletics and UK Athletics require everyone in the sport with significant contact with children or vulnerable adults to hold a UKA Enhanced DBS check. That includes new and existing coaches, Leaders in Running Fitness, technical officials and guide runners.

Applying for the DBS check:

1. Log in to the myAthletics portal and open Personal Details.
2. If your status is red or amber, choose "Access online DBS" and complete the form.
3. Show three forms of ID to your evidence checker, who completes their part online.
4. Optionally join the DBS Update Service within 30 days of receiving the certificate (free for volunteers, renewed annually).

To renew a coaching licence, coaches also:

• complete the mandatory Tier 2 safeguarding and first aid modules (leaders and coaching assistants do Tier 1, but Leaders in Running Fitness working with under-18s do Tier 2)
• accept the licensing codes of conduct on myAthletics
• upload a new licence photo if the current one is more than 10 years old