How is the AGE CATEGORY determined for Junior players?
- Rajeev C R
- Apr 11, 2019
- 1 min read
Updated: Apr 13, 2019
My child turns 13 only in November and the tournament is in June. Can my child play in the Under 13 category? This is the sort of query that I get at least a dozen times a year. How can we find out whether a player is eligible to play in a particular age category in a tournament?
The various age categories for juniors are Under 11, Under 13, Under 15, Under 17 and Under 19 years.
The eligibility calculation is based not on the DATE of birth, but only on the YEAR of birth. The simple logic is that the age of a player should not reach or exceed the specified age in the category any time during the YEAR in which the tournament is held.
Here is the simple formula to find out the eligible age categories.
YEAR in which tournament is held - YEAR of Birth + 1 = Lowest eligible age category
Example 1:
YEAR in which tournament is held = 2019
YEAR of Birth = 2005
2019 – 2005 + 1 = 15
The lowest age category for which the player is eligible is Under 15 years. The player is also eligible for the higher age categories (Under 17 and Under 19).
Example 2:
YEAR in which tournament is held = 2019
YEAR of Birth = 2004
2019 – 2004 + 1 = 16
There is no Under 16 age category. So the lowest age category for which the player is eligible is the next age category - Under 17 years. The player is also eligible for the higher age category (Under 19).
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I was born in December, (say) I will turn 17 in December but all tournaments are before that when Im 16. Isn't it the wrong rule. My body growth is like a 16 year old boy but I am not allowed to play in U 17 category. Players born in January have more benefits, they are older than other players. I have a friend who's born jan 2006 and I in dec 2006, He is 16 years and 9 months old and I'm 15 years and 10 months old and yet we both will be transferred to U 19 category this January. This Is not fair. Rules must be changed