Runner's Guide to Athletics South Africa Cross Country U16-Masters 2026

Under ASA Rule 23.1:

• U18: 16 or 17 on 31 December of the year of competition.
• U20: 18 or 19 on 31 December of the year of competition.
• Senior: older than U20.
• Masters: from your 35th birthday, with your masters age group set by your age on the day of the race (the first day for multi-day events).
• Open: everyone eligible for the event, of the same gender, whatever their age.

The ASA championship programme also has a U16 cross country race. Other age groups may be used for a particular championship if the provincial or ASA board approves them.

For races on the ASA national or provincial fixtures list you need either a permanent licence (bought through a registered club, valid 1 January to 31 December) or a temporary licence bought for that race (ASA Rules 24.3 and 26).

• Championships: only permanent licence holders may run in ASA national and inter-provincial championships. ASA says this applies at any age: even a child entering a young age category at the ASA Cross Country Championships must have a permanent licence before being entered.
• Wearing it: permanent licence holders wear two licence numbers, front and back; not wearing both leads to disqualification.
• Temporary licence holders can win individual prizes (and age prizes if they wear age tags and can prove their age) but never count for teams.
• School events: inter-school events where runners wear school kit are treated as development events, and no licence is needed up to municipal district level (Rule 26.4.5).

A permanent licence also includes ASA medical cover, subject to the policy terms.

Under ASA Rule 34.5, cross country teams are scored on finishing positions, not times:

1. The team size is stated in the competition manual or flyer, and is the same for men and women.
2. Runners competing as individuals, and runners from other categories, are removed from the finishing list so they don't affect the positions.
3. Add the finishing positions of the club's (or province's) first runners up to the team size. The lowest total wins.
4. In a tie, the team whose last scoring runner finished closest to first place wins.

Team members must be permanently licensed members of the same club and province, wearing full club colours. Runners wearing a temporary licence compete as individuals and never count for a team.

ASA's spike rule (ASA Rule 25.19.1, following World Athletics shoe rules) applies:

• The part of each spike sticking out from the sole or heel may be no longer than 9mm (12mm is allowed only in high jump and javelin).
• At least the half of each spike nearest the tip must fit through a 4mm square gauge.
• If the venue operator sets a shorter maximum, that limit applies.

ASA notes that pyramid-shaped spikes give grip on grass, needle spikes suit hard surfaces, and blanks can fill unused spike holes.

Under ASA Rule 34.2 and 34.3:

• Loops: championship and national courses use a 1km small loop and a 2km large loop, combined to make up each age group's distance. Each large loop should have at least 10m of climbing.
• Surface: open or wooded ground, mostly grass, with natural obstacles. Road crossings are kept to a minimum and covered with grass, earth or mats.
• Obstacles: avoid obstacles higher than 0.5m, ditches deeper than 0.5m, hidden or dangerous climbs and descents, and thick undergrowth. No narrow gaps in the small loop or the first 500m of the large loop.
• Marking: taped on both sides, about 5m wide away from the start and finish. The start area is at least 10m wide, with a false start line 1-5m behind the start line.
• Qualifying courses also need: no slippery areas, thick sand, loose pebbles or rocks; gradients no steeper than 1:10; bends of no more than 90 degrees; at most one chicane (at least 2m wide) on the 2km loop and none on the 1km loop; and no more than 10 speed reductions (bends, obstacles, waterhole) per 2km loop or 5 per 1km loop.
• Measurement: ideally by calibrated mountain bike or measuring wheel, with the report lodged with the province (and with ASA for championships).

Under ASA Rule 34.2.13, the takeover zone in a cross country relay is marked by two lines 50mm wide, 20m apart, across the course. Unless the organisers specify otherwise, the takeover is a physical touch between the incoming and outgoing runner, and it must be completed inside the zone.

Age tags (ASA Rule 23.3): in open cross country races with age-group prizes, you must wear two age category tags (front and back, above your licence numbers, red on white, at least 6cm high) to be eligible for any age-category prize other than Senior. Without both tags you're considered for Open and Senior prizes only. Tags aren't needed in races limited to one age group, such as age-group championships.

One category per competition (Rules 23.1.2 and 23.1.4): you may not compete in more than one age category in the same competition unless there's no matching event in your own age group, and you must declare your category when you enter. Masters may choose to enter a younger age category, down to Senior.

• Entered by your province: every athlete at an ASA championship must be authorised and entered by their provincial athletics body (ASA Rule 24.1).
• Not selected? Qualifying athletes who aren't picked for the provincial team may still enter as individuals, but only through the provincial office, and must run in club colours that meet advertising rules (Rule 24.2).
• Permanent licence required: only permanently licensed club members may take part. Temporary licences are not allowed at ASA championships, whatever your age.
• Provincial kit: provincial team clothing is compulsory, and licensed athletes not in provincial colours may be refused entry (Rule 25.14).
• If you withdraw: an athlete selected for a national or provincial team who declines or doesn't turn up may not compete in any other athletics competition for 8 days either side of that event, unless the ASA or provincial board waives this (Rule 24.4).

Provincial selection criteria are set by each province.