New UKA Rules for Competition are due to come into effect on 1 April, in time for the new competition season. These include important changes regarding compulsory athlete registration in competitions held under UKA Rules. It is important that athletes are aware of their registration details, including their EA unique registration number (URN).
It is important that athletes (and parents of younger athletes, UKA Rules apply from the Under 13 Age Group upwards) take responsibility for their role in ensuring their club registration is up to date. Be aware the volunteers at your club are involved in carrying out a wider range of activities to support athletes so playing your part is important.
We recommend that athletes:
- Ensure you pay your club membership fee, including England Athletics’ registration fee, promptly
- Make clear to your club that you are a competing athlete and need to be registered with England Athletics if your club also has non-competing athletes
- Be aware of your club’s membership renewal process – when do you need to pay and how?
- Ensure you know your URN/ licence number (also sometimes referred to as licence number or England Athletics number) – more below
- You can also use www.englandathletics.org/licencechecks to find your URN (also sometimes referred to as licence number or England Athletics number)
- You should also log in at www.englandathletics.org/myprofile to ensure your details are correct on your profile. If necessary use the forgotten username and/ or forgotten password functionality. Please check your:
- First name – especially if your name can be abbreviated
- Surname
- Date of Birth
- Email address
- You can also check your registration status. Your URN/ Licence number (also sometimes referred to as England Athletics number) is given at the top of your Summary/ Personal Details
- When you are sent your athlete pack keep hold of your registration card
- Remember
- The new affiliation year begins on 1 April
- Previously registered athletes who have not renewed their registration by 30 June will become ‘unregistered’ at that point
Guidance is also available for the following people:
- Membership Secretaries – click here to view advice for membership secretaries
- Team Managers – click here to view advice for team managers
- Coaches – click here to view advice for coaches
- Event organisers – click here to view advice for event organisers
You can read UKA’s announcement at www.britishathletics.org.uk/media/news/2016-news-page/february-2016/08-02-16-rule-book-update.
While athlete registration has been a part of the rules of the sport for a number of years these changes mean it is essential that athletes are registered and aware of their registration details.
While road runners will still be able to compete unattached, athletes, who wish to represent their club (and claim the registered athlete discount on entry fees) in road running events, will need to be registered.
Checks on registration
As rules have stated, athletes should be registered and for a number of years England Athletics has worked with a number of major competition providers to carry out registration checks at point of entry and after events. The number of unregistered athletes has been low and decreasing. There are also competition organisers who have already been carrying out their own checks on athlete registration.
We have already spoken to a number of major competition providers and will continue to approach others over the coming weeks and months.
Random checks will also be carried out.
Checks on an athlete’s registration status can be made at www.englandathletics.org/licencechecks. Competition providers can also upload spreadsheets of entrant/ competitor details for automated checks.
England Athletics is working with partners, including clubs and competition providers, to minimise the number of instances in which disqualification due to ineligibilty occurs. In the event of an athlete being disqualified after competing, Power of 10 will delete marks achieved by the athlete.
