AGE CATEGORIES / ATTENDING AN EVENT / COMMUNITY GAMES:

AAI AGE CATEGORIES FOR 2023

For all Athletic Clubs affiliated with the Athletic Association of Ireland Age categories are calculated to the 31^st of December in the year of competition, i.e., the age your child turns between January 1st and December 31st.

• No athlete may obtain a birthday in the year of competition and compete in that age.
• Some Cross Country Events are ‘even’ age only or ‘uneven’ age only.  If your child’s age category is not listed then they compete in the next age group up.
• For further information click 👉  Athletics Louth Operational Booklet   /   Athletics Leinster Event Booklets   /   Athletics Ireland Juvenile Competition Booklet
• For the Year 2023 (January 1st to December 31st 2023)…

Born 2016	Under 8	Born 2012	Under 12	Born 2008	Under 16
Born 2015	Under 9	Born 2011	Under 13	Born 2007	Under 17
Born 2014	Under 10	Born 2010	Under 14	Born 2006	Under 18
Born 2013	Under 11	Born 2009	Under 15	Born 2005	Under 19

ATTENDING AN EVENT

Parents, please read the following guidelines on attending an event and if you have any further queries please speak to your child’s coach or WhatsApp the club mobile:

AAI  –  All events attended by our Juveniles are AAI approved (Athletic Association of Ireland approved) and all competitors must be Club and AAI registered – To register or renew your membership click 👉  JOIN. 

EVENT ATTENDANCE  –  We require that all parents confirm their child’s availability to attend the Louth, Leinster & National events listed in ‘Track & Field’ and/or ‘Cross Country’ 3 weeks before each event.  The Club is bound by a 2 week deadline for the entry and payment of our athletes and your co-operation would be deeply appreciated (if you are late confirming your attendance please contact our Club Registrar).

EVENT MEETING POINT  –  When attending an event look out for our Club Flag or Club Tent.  We require all coaches and athletes meet at least 45 minutes before the event start time (or your child’s race start time).  This allows time to attach race numbers, check out the race route/track facilities and complete the all important warm up.

EVENT CHANGES  –  Any changes to upcoming events will be given at training and/or published via a Club’s WhatsApp Notification service from the club’s mobile 085 765 4578 or posted on our Facebook page.  Please save our Club Mobile No., to your phone’s Contact List to receive WhatsApp Notifications (if our mobile number is not saved to your phone you will not receive these notifications). 

SINGLETS  –  All members must wear our Club Singlet when competing in Louth, Leinster & National Championships and at other open Cross Country & Track & Field events.  A plain white t-shirt must be worn until a Singlet is purchased.

• Singlets can be ordered directly from our Club – WhatsApp our Club Mobile 085 765 4578.
• Sizes: 26 (ages 5/6); 28 (ages 7/8); 30 (ages 9/10); 32 (ages 11/12) – Price: €20.00
• Sizes: 34; 36; 38; 40; 42; 44; 46; 48 & 50 (for all ages from 13 years up) – Price: €25.00
• Other club t-shirts, 1/4 zip, jackets, hats/gloves, hi-vis, etc., can also be ordered through the club shop – click 👉  JOIN/CLUB SHOP.

SPIKES  –  Spikes are optional but advisable especially for competing members and at cross country events.  Regarding Spike Pins… For Track & Field, ‘pyramid spikes’ must be no greater than 5mm especially on Mondo track surfaces (i.e., Morton Stadium, Tullamore Track) and for Cross Country, ‘pyramid spikes’ or ‘needle spikes’ can be up to 10mm in length.  Our Juveniles use pyramid spikes only.  For links to online shops to purchase spikes click 👉  JOIN/CLUB SHOP.

ROAD RACES/FUN RUNS  –  If you enter your child into a fun run/road race not listed on our juvenile schedule of events please ensure that you accompany your child in the race or have an appointed guardian to run with them (children aged 14 or under must be accompanied by a parent/guardian).  Also, the wearing of club colours/singlets is not permitted.  The following is an AAI Ruling regarding the attendance of underage athletes at 5ks, 10ks, etc….. “Juveniles can partake in races greater than that of their Age Group, but can only do so with parental/guardian consent and they CANNOT wear club colours/singlets:  Age Groups – Up to 11yrs – 1.5k / 12-13yrs – 2k / 14-15yrs – 3k / 16-17yrs – 4k / 18yrs + 10k / The minimum threshold for a 5k is 16yrs & for a 10k is 18yrs”.

COMMUNITY GAMES

• Who can enter? – The Community Games run separately to the AAI (Athletic Association of Ireland) with their own rules & age categories and are open to all children in our community, not just club members so invite your family, friends and neighbours from your community (Our Area Community Games are Ardee/Reaghstown/Collon).
• What can I wear? – For the Community Games, ‘athletic club colours’ are not permitted, so no singlet.  Spikes are not permitted for those children competing in the U8 & U10 age group events.
• Further Information – checkout these websites 👉 Community Games  or  Louth Community Games
• Competing Age Groups – athletic events both track & field – U8, U10, U12, U14, U16 (exception U13 & U15 Mixed 4x100m Relays).
• Athletic Events (please note – not all Area Games host all these events).
  • U8 – 60m, 80m
  • U10 – 100m, 200m, 60m Hurdles, Relay (Mixed 4x100m)
  • U12 – 100m, 200m, 600m, Long Jump, Ball Throw, Relay (Boys & Girls 4x100m)
  • U13 – Relay (Mixed 4x100m)
  • U14 – 100m, 800m, 80m Hurdles, Long Jump, Shot Put, Javelin, Relay (Boys & Girls 4x100m)
  • U15 – Relay (Mixed 4x100m)
  • U16 – 100m, 200m, 1500m, High Jump, Discus, Relay (Boys & Girls 4x100m and Mixed 4x200m)
  • Click into the following link to see the Community Games’ Rule Book for all these events 👉  Community Games Rule Book.

• How to calculate your child’s age category – Click into the following link to see what Age Group your child can compete in.  This is an online calculator on the Community Games Website 👉  Community Games Age Calculator.
• Competition Dates 2023
  • Ardee/Reaghstown Area Community Games – Tuesday, 16th May 2023 @6.30pm – hosted by Ardee & District AC, Boys’ School Field, Ardee – No entry fee (4 qualifiers in each event go to the Louths).
  • Louth Community Games – Saturday, 28th May 2023 – Lourdes Stadium, Drogheda – Entry charge at the gate (4 qualifiers from each track event go to the Regionals and 2 qualifiers from each field event go direct to the Nationals (exception, only 1 qualifying relay team go straight to the nationals).  All qualifiers representing Louth were the Louth County Singlet at both the Regionals and Nationals – To get one, Facebook message 👉  Louth Community Games Facebook page).
  • Regional Community Games (Track events only) – Sat, 19th August 2023 – Tullamore, Co. Offaly – Online entry tickets via Community Games Website €10.00 for competitors & spectators (4 qualifiers from each event go through to the Nationals).
  • National Community Games – Saturday, 26th August 2023 – SETU Campus, Carlow – Online entry tickets via Community Games Website €10.00/competitors & €15.00/spectators.