> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.gymart.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.gymart.org/settings-reference/age-groups-and-competitions-settings.md).

# Age groups and competitions settings

These settings define the competitions within a level and the age groups gymnasts fall into. You find them on the Age Groups tab of a level, reached from within an open meet. Gym Art places and ranks gymnasts by birth-date windows: the dates you set here decide both who is eligible for a competition and how they are grouped.

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## Competition type

**What it does.** Sets what kind of competition you are creating within the level.

**What it affects.** Determines how gymnasts are grouped and ranked, and whether birth-date fields apply. For artistic apparatus and all-around finals, the birth-date fields are turned off because finalists are decided by qualification results rather than age.

**When to use it.** Choose the type that matches the round you are setting up. Qualification is the standard competition; add a final type when you run a separate finals round.

**Options.**

| Option              | What it means                                                                         |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Qualification       | The main competition round                                                            |
| Qualification day 2 | A second qualification round on another day                                           |
| Team final          | A separate team finals round                                                          |
| All-around final    | A separate all-around finals round                                                    |
| Apparatus final     | A per-apparatus finals round; the available apparatus depend on the meet's discipline |

**Default.** Qualification.

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## Earliest birth date

**What it does.** Sets the oldest gymnast allowed in the competition by birth date.

**What it affects.** Gymnasts born before this date are outside the group. With both birth-date fields empty, the competition includes all ages.

**When to use it.** Set it to the date of birth of the oldest eligible gymnast. Leave it empty for no upper age limit. Clear it with the field's clear button.

**Default.** Empty (no limit).

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## Latest birth date

**What it does.** Sets the youngest gymnast allowed in the competition by birth date.

**What it affects.** Gymnasts born after this date are outside the group. With both birth-date fields empty, the competition includes all ages.

**When to use it.** Set it to the date of birth of the youngest eligible gymnast. Leave it empty for no lower age limit.

**Default.** Empty (no limit).

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## Reference date

**What it does.** Shows the date that ages are calculated from for this meet.

**What it affects.** Display only. The age labels shown for each group are computed as of this date, which is set for the whole meet.

**When to use it.** Read it to confirm the date your age groups are anchored to. It is hidden for apparatus and all-around finals, where age does not apply.

**Default.** Set from the meet (not editable here).

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## How to make age groups

**What it does.** A built-in guide that explains the four ways to set birth-date fields.

**What it affects.** Nothing; it is reference content inside the create-competition dialog.

**When to use it.** Expand it when you are unsure how to express an age band. It covers all ages (both fields empty), an age and older, an age and younger, and a bounded range.

**Default.** Collapsed.

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## Age range visualizer

**What it does.** A bar chart that shows each competition's age band and plots the registered gymnasts on it.

**What it affects.** Display only. It helps you see gaps and overlaps between competitions at a glance.

**When to use it.** Check it after creating or editing competitions to confirm every gymnast falls into a group and the bands cover the ages you expect.

**Default.** Not applicable (a display).

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## Add competition

**What it does.** Opens the dialog to create a new competition in this level.

**What it affects.** Adds a competition with the type and birth-date range you set, then groups matching gymnasts into it.

**When to use it.** Use it to build out the level's age groups one competition at a time.

**Default.** Not applicable (an action).

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## Edit competition

**What it does.** Reopens an existing competition's settings.

**What it affects.** Lets you change the type or birth-date range. The default competition for a level cannot be edited.

**When to use it.** Use it to adjust an age band or correct a competition. After editing, refresh age groups so gymnasts re-sort.

**Default.** Not applicable (an action).

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## Delete competition

**What it does.** Permanently removes a competition from the level.

**What it affects.** Deletes the competition and its gymnast assignments. The default competition for a level cannot be deleted.

**When to use it.** Use it to remove a competition you created by mistake or no longer need. Gymnasts in it move back to the level's default grouping.

**Default.** Not applicable (an action).

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## Refresh age groups

**What it does.** Recalculates age groups and refreshes sessions for the level.

**What it affects.** Re-sorts gymnasts into competitions based on current birth dates and competition settings, and ensures every gymnast has a result record. It asks for confirmation first.

**When to use it.** Run it after you add or edit competitions, or after roster changes, so the groupings reflect the latest data.

**Default.** Not applicable (an action).

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## Reset level results

**What it does.** Clears and recreates the result records for every approved gymnast in this level.

**What it affects.** Deletes existing scores and result records for the level and rebuilds empty ones; any linked routine-video scores are cleared. Other levels are not affected. It asks for confirmation first, and only appears when the level has approved gymnasts.

**When to use it.** Use it only when a level's results are wrong and you need to start over, for example after a major roster or scoring-setup change. This cannot be undone.

**Default.** Not applicable (an action).

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## Related

* [Configure levels and categories](/meet-setup/configure-levels-and-categories.md)
* [Choose age groups vs subdivisions](/competitions/choose-age-groups-vs-subdivisions.md)
* [Create age groups](/competitions/create-age-groups.md)