New Age Rules - EADA Press release
(see also NSC Age Range changes for 2007)

At a Meeting of the British Dance Council on the 29th October a number of changes were made to the Rules. The following rule changes affect amateur competitors and are effective immediately. The only exception is that if the closing date for entries for any competition has passed then the old rules will apply.

Rule 8b(i).
The word “15” has been deleted and replaced by the word “14”.
The new rule now reads: “A Junior may, upon reaching the age of 14, on request to the relevant National Amateur Dancesport Association, elect to be upgraded to adult status with a partner who is at least 16 years of age. Once a competitor has competed in adult competitions he/she may not, in any circumstances, revert to junior competitions but must remain in the higher age group.”

EADA look forward to receiving requests IN WRITING from any couples who would like to take advantage of this alteration.

Rule 8b(iii).
The words “from the 1st of January that year” have been removed.

The new rule now reads: “When one of the junior partnership reaches their 16th year, providing their partner has reached their 15th year, they will be able to dance in the appropriate National Amateur Youth Selection competition in addition to junior competitions and championships, but excluding National Amateur Junior Selection competitions. Once a couple has competed in a National Youth Selection competition they may not revert back to National Junior Selection competitions.”

This will effectively cease to discriminate against those with a birth date at the beginning of the year.

Rule 9b
Addition. “When necessary rules pertaining to age groups may, for National Chart Rated Selection Competitions conform to the requirements of the relevant National Amateur Dancesport Associations.”

These changes will not take effect until the new Chart Rated Events commence in January 2007, by which time EADA will have had the opportunity to issue a more comprehensive briefing document and inform all C.R.E. promoters of the full implications of these changes.

The principal changes will be that we will use the Year of Birth rather than the Date of Birth and make Over 50’s Charts the new Senior II Chart Rated Events.

In broad terms the age groups for National Selection Competitions in 2007 will be:

• Juvenile born 1996 or later
• Junior born 1992/1993/1994/1995
• Youth born 1989/1990/1991
• Amateur born 1988 or before
• Senior I born 1972 or before
• Senior II born 1962 or before

(Note: Youth and Senior couples may also compete in adult [amateur] events if they so wish)

We are most grateful to the British Dance Council for their co-operation in this matter and delighted that this will help to create a level playing field for all our couples dancing Internationally.

Submitted by David Corfield President 31/10/2006