1. What is Age Grading?

Age grading is a method used to compare athletic performances across different age groups. It allows athletes of different ages to compare their performances on an equal basis by calculating how their performance compares to the world record for their event.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the age grade formula:

Where:

• \( World\ Record \) — Current world record for the event (in same units as performance)
• \( Performance \) — Athlete's performance (in same units as world record)

Explanation: The formula calculates what percentage of the world record your performance represents. Higher percentages indicate better performances.

3. Importance of Age Grading

Details: Age grading is particularly important in masters athletics (for athletes over 35) as it allows fair comparison between athletes of different ages and helps track performance changes over time.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the current world record and your performance in the same units (seconds for time events, meters for distance events, etc.). Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good age grade percentage?
A: Generally, 90%+ is world class, 80%+ is national class, 70%+ is regional class, and 60%+ is local class.

Q2: Does age grade account for different events?
A: Yes, each event has its own world record which should be used for that specific event's calculation.

Q3: Where can I find current world records?
A: Official world records are maintained by international federations like World Athletics for track and field events.

Q4: Can I use this for team sports?
A: This calculator is designed for individual athletic performances. Team sports require different comparison metrics.

Q5: How often are world records updated?
A: World records can be broken at any time, so it's important to use the most current record for accurate age grading.