What age groups are there in school rowing, and which one is my child in?

Question

Accepted Answer

School rowing has four age groups: U14, U15, U16 and Open. Within each age group, crews are divided by ability: A, B, C and so on for U14 to U16, and 1st, 2nd, 3rd and so on for Open. How the age group is set Your child is placed in an age group at the start of the season in September. It doesn't change when the school year rolls over in January. Under the RowSA Rules of Racing, a rower is U14 until 31 December of the year they turn 14, U15 until 31 December of the year they turn 15, and so on. Juniors race all season in the category that applies to the January to June part of the season. Birth years for the 2025/26 season (SA Schools Championships, March 2026): Age group Born in U14 2012 or later U15 2011 or later U16 2010 or later Open Grade 12 born 2008 or later, or any other registered rower born 2009 or later Boys race as "Junior Men" and girls as "Junior Women".

Age group	Born in
U14	2012 or later
U15	2011 or later
U16	2010 or later
Open	Grade 12 born 2008 or later, or any other registered rower born 2009 or later