Moving to a new age group
Does this apply to you? Only if your federation uses age groups and moves competitors between them. How ages are counted, and whose age counts in a couple, is the federation’s rule. The examples below are common, not universal. Ask your federation or club how it works for you.
An age transfer (age move) is when your couple or team moves to the same class one age group up, for example from Juniors to Youth. You do not apply for it. The federation moves competitors at the start of each season.
What you need to do: before the first competition of a new season, check which age group your couple is in, and register in that one.
How your age is counted
- By birth year, not by birthday: your age is the year the season ends minus your birth year. If the season runs August 2026 to July 2027, you count as the age you turn in 2027.
- From the birth date on your account. If it is missing or wrong, fix it in your account settings.
When a couple moves up
It depends on whether your current age group has an upper age limit.
| Your age group | You move up when | Can you stay? |
|---|---|---|
| Has an upper limit (for example Juniors 13–15) | The older partner goes over the limit. | No. You have outgrown the group. |
| Has no upper limit (for example Adults 21+, Senior 35+) | You reach the starting age of the next group. | Usually yes. Under most federation rules you may stay in the old group, and you are moved once you start competing in the new one. |
For a couple, the federation’s rules decide whose age counts. In many federations the older partner decides up to Adults, but the Senior groups need both partners to have reached the age. The class list at registration shows whether your couple fits a class, and why not if it does not.
The federation’s side of this, including what can block a move, is on Age moves.
What moves with you
- Your class level stays the same: you move to the same class, one age group up.
- Your promotion points usually carry over. The federation can set a different amount.
- Rankings follow the federation’s rules. A federation can carry all or part of your counted results into the new age group’s ranking. Without such a rule, the rankings are not changed by the move.
If something looks wrong
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| The registration only offers an age group you did not expect | Check the birth dates of both partners on your accounts. |
| You think you should have moved, but you have not | Ask your club or federation. The federation moves competitors in one batch and may not have run it yet. |
| One partner is too young for the age group above | Ask your federation. Their rules decide whether the couple may move. |
Ask before the season starts if one of you is close to an age limit. Do not assume last season’s age group still applies.
Next step
Continue to Class transfer if your class level is also changing.