U18 - Is "U" the abbreviation of what word?

[tung quoc]

Dear teachers,

On newspapers, in football,I always see:

U18
U19
...

Coul you tell me "U" is the abbreviation of what word?

Thanks
Quoc

[Yankee]

.
It's possible that the U means "under". So, the players in the U16 category would all be under the age of 16, the players in U18 would be under the age of 18, and so on.
.
_________________
Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[tung quoc]

Dear teacher,

My teacher said the players in the U16 means they are at the age of 16, exactly 16 years old, not under 16 years old.
How about your opinions?

Are you sure that U means under?

Thanks
Quoc

[Pamela]

U stands for "under", Quoc. I agree with Amy!

[Yankee]

[tung quoc]

Hi,

So, U17 means under the age of 17.
Under the age of 17 means < 17.

Is that right?

Quoc

[Yankee]

Hi Quoc

I don't know for sure what they mean precisely by "U17" or "under 17". I don't make the football rules!

"U17" may well mean "at or under the age of 17". (Even though the "U" means "under".)

For "U17" I can also imagine that a player would often BEGIN a season at the age of 16 and by the END of the season would be 17 (having had a birthday somewhere along the way...)

For an exact definition, you'll have to ask someone who knows the football regulations.
_________________
Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English