Parent's Guide to AusTriathlon Junior Triathlon Ages 7-17 2026/27

• Age cut-off: age is determined by age on 31 December during the season of the triathlon competition. (For Under 23, Junior and Youth draft-legal competition it is 31 December of the year of the coming World Triathlon Championship competition.)
• Non-competitive / novelty: the rules label Under 7 and ages 7 to 11 as "Non-Competitive/Novelty".
• Competitive: ages 12 and over are labelled "Competitive".
• Under 19 category: reserved for triathletes in the 7 to 19 years age groups.
• Draft-legal pathway: WT Youth is for competitors turning 14 and 15 in the World Triathlon competition year, and WT Junior for those turning 16 to 19, in each case endorsed by their state or territory triathlon association.
• AusTriathlon keeps national distance recognition for the 14-15 and 16-19 age groups at Sprint distance.

Source: AusTriathlon Race Competition Rules, June 2026, Appendices C, D and E.

Helmet (all ages): compulsory and approved by a testing authority recognised by a national federation affiliated with World Triathlon. No alterations or additions, including to the chin strap, and no omitted parts. It must be securely fastened from the moment the bike is taken off the rack until it is racked again after the bike leg; the buckle cannot be locked or unlocked in that time.

Extra equipment rules for competitors aged up to and including 13 in age-group categories:

• The bike may be on-road, off-road or youth style. No time trial style or recumbent bikes.
• Only standard drop, straight or curved handlebars. No clip-on or time trial bars.
• Wheels must have at least 16 spokes, with no composite-fibre rims.
• No disc wheels or wheel covers.
• Only detachable (clincher) tyres and tubes; "singles" are not allowed.
• No time trial style helmets.

All ages: an operational brake on each wheel, handlebar ends plugged, no fixed-gear bikes, and a bike no more than 1.85 m long.

Source: AusTriathlon Race Competition Rules, June 2026, rules 3.3 to 3.5, 3.12 and 3.13.

It depends on the event type.

Non-drafting events (rules 3.7 to 3.13):

• Drafting is not allowed. The draft zone is 12 metres behind the front wheel of the bike ahead; a passing rider has 25 seconds to get through it. Breaking the rule may earn a blue card time penalty.
• Passing on the inside (left-hand side) may earn a blue card; blocking may earn a yellow card. Moving safely to the left of the cycle lane at every opportunity avoids a blocking penalty.

Draft-legal events: these rules cover Elite, Under 23, Junior and Youth competitors and AusTriathlon approved teams. The World Triathlon Competition Rules apply, with only traditional plugged drop handlebars, no clip-on bars and no disc wheels. WT Youth is for competitors turning 14 and 15 in the World Triathlon competition year who are endorsed by their state or territory triathlon association to compete in draft-legal triathlon (WT Junior is for those turning 16 to 19).

For age-group juniors in a draft-legal event, wheels must have at least 12 spokes, disc wheels are not permitted, only plugged traditional drop handlebars are allowed and clip-on bars are not permitted.

Source: AusTriathlon Race Competition Rules, June 2026, rules 3.7 to 3.11, 3.14, 3.15 and Appendix D.

For age-group competition (which includes the Under 19 category), outside World Qualifying races, a wetsuit is forbidden at a water temperature of 24.6 C and above and mandatory at 15.9 C and below, for all distances.

WT Junior and WT Youth (draft-legal pathway) competitors fall under a separate rule: for swims up to 1500 m a wetsuit is forbidden at 20.0 C and above, and for swims of 1501 m and longer at 22.0 C and above. It is mandatory at 15.9 C and below.

Other wetsuit rules:

• Water temperature is read 24 hours before the start and 1 hour before the start, and a wetsuit ruling is then advised.
• The Technical Delegate may change the wetsuit temperatures for safety, and the swim can be shortened or cancelled.
• A wetsuit cannot exceed 5 mm thickness anywhere, must fit tightly, must not cover hands or feet, and (when mandatory) must cover at least the torso. Socks are allowed only when wetsuits are mandatory.

Source: AusTriathlon Race Competition Rules, June 2026, rules 2.1, 2.5, 2.6, 2.8 and Appendix A.

• Warning (no card): for a minor or unintentional infringement where no advantage has been gained, an official can ask the competitor to change their behaviour and let them continue straight away.
• Yellow card (stop-start): a minor infringement, such as mounting before the mount line, blocking or a helmet not securely fastened. The competitor stops with an official and resumes only when told.
• Blue card (time penalty): for example drafting or an illegal pass. It is 2 minutes if the bike course is 90 km or less. Two or more blue cards on a bike course under 80 km may lead to disqualification by the Head Referee after the race.
• Red card: a major infringement, such as outside assistance, failing to obey an official, or not completing the entire course. No time penalty is served; the competitor may finish and the Head Referee rules afterwards.
• A competitor may complete the event even after being shown a card, and must confirm their race number and obey the official's instructions when shown one.

Source: AusTriathlon Race Competition Rules, June 2026, rule 11 and Appendix B.

• No accompanying on the run: a competitor cannot be accompanied by non-competitors, team members, team managers or pacemakers on the course or alongside the course. Nor can they be accompanied by a non-competing person in the finish chute, unless a special rule approved by the sanctioning officer or Technical Delegate allows it.
• Officials and volunteers may provide only authorised drinks, nutrition and medical needs.
• Other competitors may help only with drinks, nutrition, pumps, tyres, inner tubes, puncture repair kits and safety repairs to equipment.
• Anything else is outside assistance, including mechanical repairs (unless an official or official mechanic instructs or guides the repair so the competitor can continue safely) and replacing a wheel after the event has started. Outside assistance is a red card example.
• A competitor cannot physically help another competitor's forward progress; this may result in both being disqualified.
• Competitors must withdraw immediately if event medical personnel inform them they appear to present a danger to their own or others' health or welfare.

Source: AusTriathlon Race Competition Rules, June 2026, rules 1.3, 1.4 and 4.4, Appendix B.

• Mount and dismount: mount the bike after the mount line and dismount before the dismount line, with one complete foot on the ground. Mounting early or dismounting late are yellow card examples.
• Racking: a competitor racks their own bike only at their own rack location, by the seat or both brake hoods, and keeps all equipment there.
• Transition contents: only equipment used in the race can be left in transition; all other belongings must be removed before the race starts. Marking a position is forbidden.
• Torso: a bare torso is allowed only between the swim exit and the transition area; on the bike and run the race suit or uniform must cover the torso, and shoes must be worn.
• Race number: displayed clearly on the bike course, and on the front on the run. Not complying may earn a yellow card, but a number lost unintentionally is not penalised.
• Swim cap: if the Race Director provides a cap, it is worn on the outside of any other caps, and from the June 2026 edition it must be worn for all swim legs.
• Shoes: must comply with the World Athletics Shoe Regulations for road events.

Source: AusTriathlon Race Competition Rules, June 2026, rules 1.1(p), 2.7, 3.6, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1 to 5.7.