How old does my child need to be to enter competitions?
Rule- UK
- British Gymnastics
- Recreational gymnastics
- Rise Gymnastics
- Preschool to school age
- 2026/27
- Parents
British Gymnastics policy is that a gymnast must be at least 9 in the calendar year of an event that leads to a national or UK final. For younger gymnasts it recommends:
| Age in the year of competition | Highest level of competition |
|---|---|
| 6 | Within the club, school or leisure centre only |
| 7 | Up to county and County Sports Partnership level |
| 8 | Up to regional and home country level |
| 9 | Up to British Gymnastics / UK-wide national level |
These guidelines are there to stop very young children being put under too much pressure. Some disciplines set a higher national minimum (for example, 10 for women's artistic national events).
If your child doesn't want to compete, British Gymnastics also offers festivals (including GymFusion), reward schemes and other non-competitive opportunities through clubs.
Added 21 Oct 2026