Snooker & Billiards Ireland SBI were recently notified by EBSA of their intention to move the age qualification date for all junior events effective from next (2023-2024) season. This decision was subsequently adopted by IBSF meaning that we will have to accept this change and move to different qualification windows for all international junior events.
The date change is out of our control, but it is one that we also must adopt due to international qualification.
What exactly is the change?
For the forthcoming season, instead of the player age at 31/12/23 being the age qualification cut-off date, both EBSA & IBSF have now moved this to (31/08/24), 2024 being the year that their relevant events are being held.
This change means we have to realign our junior event qualifying & ranking systems so we follow the new qualification dates from next season.
- U-14’s : a player who’s 14th birthday is on or before 31st August 2024 will not be able to enter the SBI under 14s events in the 2023 /24 season.
- U-16’s : a player who’s 16th birthday is on or before 31st August 2024 will not be able to enter the SBI under 16s events in the 2023 /24 season.
- U-18’s : a player who’s 18th birthday is on or before 31st August 2024 will not be able to enter the SBI under 18s events in the 2023 /24 season.
- U-21’s : a player who’s 21st birthday is on or before 31st August 2024 will not be able to enter the SBI under 21s events in the 2023 /24 season.
This date of 31st August will apply to all National Associations in Junior categories, namely the Under 14s, 16s, 18s and Under 21s.
Please contact SBI on info@sbireland.ie if you have questions or need help understanding the impact for you based on your date of birth.
