ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility Criteria for the 2026 Zespri AIMS Games

To ensure a fair experience for all participants, the following eligibility criteria apply to all students and schools entering the 2026 Zespri AIMS Games:

  1. School Enrolment - all students must be enrolled full-time at the school they are representing. As the Zespri AIMS Games is an interschool competition, teams must consist solely of students from the same school. Composite teams (students from multiple schools) are not permitted.

  2. Year Level Requirements - New Zealand students competing must be officially classified as Year 7 or Year 8 on the New Zealand Ministry of Education ENROL database at the time of the tournament.

  3. School NZAIMS Membership

    • Participating New Zealand Intermediate, Middle, and Year 7–13 Secondary Schools must hold full membership with NZAIMS (New Zealand Association of Intermediate and Middle Schooling).
    • Full Primary and Area Schools may participate through affiliate membership, with fees based on their Ministry of Education U Grade.

  4. Age Requirements - students must be aged over 10 and under 13 years as of 31 December 2025. For the 2026 Games, eligible birth years are 2013, 2014, and 2015. Birthdates must be provided during registration.

  5. Participation in Multiple Sports - students may compete in more than one sporting code, provided the events are compatible and listed as eligible for crossover in the 2026 Event Information Booklet. Please note that no scheduling adjustments will be made to accommodate participation in multiple sports.

  6. Required Documentation - all participants must complete the online medical and media waiver forms to be eligible to compete.

  7. The AIMS Games Trust is committed to fostering an inclusive environment. We welcome participation from students with physical, visual, intellectual, and other disabilities which disadvantages them to compete alongside their non-disabled peers.

  8. The AIMS Games Trust support the full inclusion of transgender athletes, recognising that all young people deserve the opportunity to participate, compete, and thrive in a safe and inclusive environment.

Applications for Dispensation:

Applications for dispensation from the age criteria (criterion 4) will only be considered for students receiving ORS (Ongoing Resourcing Scheme) funding.  For an application for dispensation to be considered, the following conditions are required to be met –

  • The student must meet all other eligibility criteria outlined above.
  • Applications must be endorsed by the school principal and include the student’s name, year level, intended sporting code(s), and evidence of ORS funding.
  • Please email requests to: info@nzaimsgames.co.nz
  • Applications for dispensation must be received no later than 5:00 PM, Wednesday 22nd July 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.

To ensure a fair and consistent approach for all participating schools, applications for dispensation from other eligibility criterion will not be considered by the AIMS Games Trust at this time.  This includes requests for composite school teams, and participation of New Zealand students who are not classified as Year 7 or Year 8 on the New Zealand Ministry of Education Enrol database.

Why are composite teams not permitted at the Zespri AIMS Games?

The Zespri AIMS Games continues to grow in popularity, and many team sporting codes now reach full capacity each year. Capacity constraints are not only about the number of teams we can accommodate, but also about the availability of suitable venues and the sheer number of referees, umpires, and officials required to deliver a safe and well-managed sporting event. Allowing composite teams would further increase demand, placing additional pressure on these critical resources and resulting in more schools being declined entry.

We understand that every school is different, and that forming a team can be challenging in some contexts - particularly for smaller schools. That’s why 17 of our 27 sporting codes are offered in an individual format - some with doubles and/or team options - and many team codes include mixed or adapted divisions designed to support broader participation. We hope this variety enables your students to find a format that suits their interests and circumstances, and allows them to be part of the tournament experience - even if it’s not in their first-choice sport.