Classification

Handbook

Version 4

October 2012

Contents

1.Purpose

2.Paralympics New Zealand Classification Strategy

3.Classification Definition

4.History of Classification

5.IPC Classification Code

6.Sport Specific Classification Systems

7.Sport Classes

8. Sport Class Allocation

9. Eligibility

10. Impairment types

11.Provisional Classification

12. National Classification

13. International Classification

14. Athlete Evaluation

15. NZ Athlete Classification Pathway

16. Classification Personnel

17. Athlete Presentation for Evaluation

18. Athlete Assessment

19. Sport Class and Sport Class Status

20. Notification of Sports Class and Status

21. Classification Protests

22. Classification Appeals

23. Pre- Competition Classification Tasks

24. Classifier Training and Certification

25. Classification Forms (Currently all under review)

26. Layman’s Guide to Paralympic Sport Classifications

27. Appendix 1

Sport International Federations

28. APPENDIX 2:

Glossary

1.Purpose

This handbook is designed as an information resource for, but not limited to,athletes, coaches, officials, administrators and classifiers in New Zealand.

Subject content contained within this resource is defined to one or more separate pages for ease of subject printing.

Information contained within this resource includes:

  • Paralympics New Zealand Classification National Program
  • Definition Classification and the IPC Classification Code
  • History of Classification
  • Sports Specific Classification Systems and International Federations
  • Eligible impairments
  • Provisional Classification
  • Athlete Evaluation
  • Classification Personnel
  • Athlete presentation for Evaluation
  • Athlete Assessment and Sport Class Allocation
  • Precompetition Classification tasks
  • Protests and appeals
  • Classifier Training and Certification
  • Glossary
  • Appendices

For further information on classification please contact the Paralympics New Zealand office;

Paralympics New Zealand

Suite 2.10, Axis Building

A Cleveland Road, Parnell

Auckland 1052

New Zealand

Tel(09) 526 0760

Email or

Website

2.Paralympics New Zealand Classification Strategy

Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) is committed to developing a world leading Classification Programme that offers best practice in;

  • Athlete classification services and pathways across all sportsfrom provisional to national level and the facilitation of opportunities for classification at an internationallevel.
  • Classifier development through training, certification, pathways and resources.

PNZ adheres to the roles and responsibilities of a National Federation (NF), as outlined by the International Paralympic Committee, (IPC), to:

  • Ensure the PNZ Classification Rules and Regulations conform to the IPC Classification Code and establish procedures to address non compliance with the Code.
  • To promote and develop a National Classification Strategy, including education.

PNZ supports all Paralympic national sports to adhere to their International Sports Federation (IF) Classification Rules and Regulations.

The PNZ Classification Program has strong collaborative working relationships with;

  • IPC
  • International Federations
  • National Federations
  • PNZ National staff
  • PNZ Sport Specific Program Directors
  • Classifiers
  • Event Organizers
  • PNZ managed and invested sports
  • NSO managed and PNZ invested sports
  • NSO managed and invested sports
  • DSO managed and invested sports

3.Classification Definition

Classification ensures Paralympic sport competition is fair and equitable. All Paralympic sports have a classification system in place which ensures that winning is determined by skill, fitness, power, endurance, tactical ability and mental focus, the same factors that account for success in sport for able bodied athletes.

Classification has two important roles;

  • To determine eligibility to compete
  • To group athletes for competition

Classification is integral to Paralympic Sports as it minimises the impact of impairments on the activity (sport discipline). Impairmenton its own though is not sufficient and the impact on the sport must be proven.

In each Paralympic sport, the process of grouping athletes by the degree of activity limitation resulting from the impairment is called “classification”. Through classification, it is determined which athletes are eligible to compete in a sport and how athletes are grouped together for competition. This, to a certain extent, is similar to grouping athletes by age, gender or weight.

Classification is sport-specific because impairment affects the ability to perform in different sports to a different extent. As a consequence, an athlete may meet the criteria in one sport, but may not meet the criteria in another sport.

An efficient classification system must;

  • Enable fair and equitable competition
  • Only measure functional limitations caused by the physical disability through recognised validated tests
  • Be as simple as possible so that it can be used in a consistent way in every participating country
  • Be sport specific
  • Be based on scientific evidence.

The following should NOT under any circumstances affect an athlete's class in any sport;

  • Sporting skills, natural talent or training effect
  • Genetic superiority or inferiority
  • Gender
  • Body size or type
  • The use of strapping for stability

4.History of Classification

In the 1940’s Dr Ludwig Guttmann founded Paralympic sport as an extension of the rehabilitation process.

Sport classes reflected the structure of a rehabilitation hospital with separate classes for people with spinal cord injuries, amputation and those with other neurological or orthopaedic conditions.

Sport Drives Classification

As the Paralympic movement matured, the focus switched away from rehabilitation and was driven by sport.

In the 1980’s, supported by the demands of Games’ organizing committees to reduce the number of classes in different sports, classification transitioned from medical to functional classification, a system still used in many Paralympic sports today (an exception being the classification system used for athletes with visual impairment which still remains medically based).

Functional classification is sport specific because any given impairment may have a significant impact in one sport and a relatively minor impact in another sport. For example the impact of a below elbow arm amputee in swimming is greater than in running.

Paralympic Classification Today

Since the widespread adoption of functional systems of classification, Paralympic sport has continued to mature rapidly. An athlete’s classification had a significant impact on the degree of success they are likely to achieve, and the concept of functional classification, based on performance, was questioned.

The Movement recognized the need to revisit classification and in 2003 the IPC Governing Board approved a classification strategy which recommended the development of a universal classification code, giving direction for the future of Paralympic classification.

The Paralympic movement approved the IPC Classification Code in November 2007, which defines Paralympic classification as “accurate, reliable and consistent sport focussed classification systems”.

Future Outlook

The Paralympic movement is committed to the development of evidence based classification systems, so that athletes who enhance their competitive performance through effective training will not be moved to a class with athletes who have less activity limitation (as they would in performance classification system), but will be rewarded by becoming more competitive with the class they were allocated. All Paralympic sports must have classification rules and regulations which include processes and procedures to allocate sport classes that are in compliance with the IPC Classification Code.

5.IPC Classification Code

The IPC Classification Code (2007) helps support and co-ordinate the development and implementation of accurate, reliable and consistent sport focused classification systems, and to detail policies and procedures common to classification in all sport. It is hoped this will contribute to sporting excellence for all athletes and sports in the Paralympic Movement, providing equitable competition, through classification processes that are robust, transparent and fair.

The Code is complemented by International Standards that provide the technical and operational requirements for classification. Adherence to the International Standards is mandatory for compliance with the Code. There are three International Standards;

  • Athlete Evaluation: procedures for the assessment of athletes and the allocation of sport class and sport class status
  • Protests and Appeals: procedures for the management of classification related protests and appeals
  • Classifier Training and Certification: management of classifier training and certification

The Code applies to all sports within the Paralympic movement. The implementation of and compliance with the IPC Classification Code is monitored by the IPC Classification Committee.

6.Sport Specific Classification Systems

Each Paralympic sport has a different classification system, because each sport requires different abilities Each IF decides which impairment types their sport will cater for and how severe an impairment needs to be for an athlete to be eligible for their sport.

Sport classes are defined by each sport and are reflected in the sport’s classification rules together with processes and procedures on how athlete assessment is conducted. These classification rules are sport rules, and are governed by the respective IF and are subject to change.(Refer Appendix 1)

The IPC Classification Code requires all classification systems;

  • To identify eligible impairments for that particular sport
  • To describe methods for assessment of athletes so that the impact of the impairment on the activity is proven. Such methods must be based on ‘scientific evidence

7.Sport Classes

A sport class is a category which groups athletes depending on how much their impairment impacts performance in their sport. Therefore, a sport class is not necessarily comprised of one impairment type alone, but can be comprised of athletes with different impairments. However, these different impairments affect sport performance to a similar extent. For example, you will find athletes with paraplegia and double above-the-knee amputation competing in the same sport class in IPC Athletics because their different impairments have a comparable effect on their 1,500m wheelchair racing performance.

In individual sports, athletes compete against athletes in their own sport class to ensure the impact of impairment is minimized. In Rowing, for example, athletes compete in three sport classes, depending on whether they use their arms only, their arms and trunk only, or their arms, trunk and legs to accelerate the boat.

In national events and smaller international competitions athletes in different sport classes may compete together for one medal, because there are not enough athletes for each sport class to create a competitive event. In these cases, the different sport classes are replaced by coefficients to take the different levels of activity limitations into account.

Some Paralympic sports only have one Sport class, such as Powerlifting. To compete in these sports, the athletes only need to meet the minimal impairment criteria.

In team sports such as Wheelchair Rugby, the players are allocated points, which indicate their activity limitation. A lower score indicates a more severe activity limitation than a higher score. A team is not allowed to have more than a certain maximum sum of points on the field of play at the same time in order to ensure equal competition with the opposing team.

8. Sport Class Allocation

A sport class is allocated through athlete evaluation by classifiers. Each IF trains and certifies international classifiers and makes recommendations for the training and certification of national classifiers to conduct classification in its sport.

Classifiers for athletes with the various physical impairments listed below either have a medical or paramedical background or are technical experts in their sport. Athletes with visual impairment are classified by classifiers with a background in ophthalmology.. Psychologists and sport experts are involved with classification for athletes with intellectual impairment.

All NEW and REVIEW athletes report to classification at the designated time and follow the following process;

  • Athlete accreditation is verified and relevant medical documents collated
  • Athlete is briefed on the classification process and signs a consent form
  • Athlete will undergo a physical and technical assessment and may be observed in training
  • All relevant 3rd parties are informed of the classification and usually the protest opportunities
  • Athlete is usually observed during the 1st appearance or the event, depending on the IF Sport rulesand if changes are made to the original classification relevant parties are informed

9. Eligibility

The criteria detailing how an athlete may be considered eligible to compete shall be defined for each sport by the respective IF. Each IF shall have eligibility criteria based on the specific tasks required to compete in each sport. As a consequence, an athlete may meet eligibility criteria in one sport, but may not be eligible to compete in another sport. Eligibility to compete should be assessed in accordance with the classification rules and regulations for the IF.

To be eligible to compete, an athlete must have an impairment that leads to a permanent and verifiable activity limitation.

The impairment should limit the athlete's ability to compete equitably in elite sport with athletes without impairment.

If an athlete has an activity limitation resulting from an impairment that is not permanent and/or does not limit the athlete's ability to compete equitably in elite sport with athletes without impairment, the athlete should be considered ineligible to compete.

If an athlete fails to meet the eligibility criteria for a particular sport, the athlete will be declared ineligible for competition in that particular sport if an athlete is deemed ineligible for competition under the rules of an IF, this does not question the presence of a genuine impairment. This is only a ruling on the eligibility of the athlete to compete under the sport rules of the IF.

10. Impairment types

The Paralympic movement offers sport opportunities for athletes that have a primary impairment that belongs to one of the following 10 ‘eligible’ impairment types as follows.

  • Impaired muscle power: Impairments in this category have in common that there is reduced force generated by the contraction of a muscle or muscle groups (e.g. muscles of one limb, one side of the body, the lower half of the body). Examples of conditions included in this category are para and quadriplegia, muscular dystrophy, post poliomyelitis, spina bifida.
  • Impaired passive range of movement: Range of movement in one or more joint is reduced in a systematical way, (e.g. ankylosis, scoliosis, arthrogryposis) Note that hyper mobility of joints, joint instability (e.g. shoulder dislocation), and acute conditions of reduced range of movement (e.g. arthritis types of impairment) typically will be excluded as ‘eligible impairment’.
  • Limb deficiency: There is a total or partial absence of the bones or joints as a consequence of trauma (e.g. traumatic amputation), illness (e.g. bone cancer) or congenital limb deficiency (e.g. dysmelia).
  • Leg length difference: Due to congenital deficiency or trauma, bone shortening occurs in one leg.
  • Short stature: Standing height is reduced due to aberrant dimensions of bones of upper and lower limbs or trunk (e.g. achondroplasia).
  • Hypertonia: A condition marked by an abnormal increase in muscle tension and a reduced ability of a muscle to stretch. Hypertonia may result from injury, disease, or conditions that involve damage to the central nervous system. When the injury occurs in children under the age of 2, the term cerebral palsy is often used, but it also can be due to brain injury (e.g. stroke, trauma) or multiple sclerosis.
  • Ataxia: Ataxia is a neurological sign and symptom that consists of a lack of co-ordination of muscle movements. When the injury occurs in children under the age of 2, the term cerebral palsy is often used, but it also can be due to brain injury (e.g. stroke, trauma) or multiple sclerosis.
  • Athetosis: Athetosis can vary from mild to severe motor dysfunction. It is generally characterized by unbalanced, involuntary movements of muscle tone and a difficulty maintaining a symmetrical posture. When the injury occurs in children under the age of 2, the term cerebral palsy is often used, but it also can be due to brain injury (e.g. stroke, trauma).
  • Vision impairment: Vision is impacted by either an impairment of the eye structure, optical nerves oroptical pathways, or visual cortex of the central brain.
  • Intellectual Impairment: The Paralympic Movement identifies intellectual impairment as “a disability characterized by significant limitation both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behaviour as expressed in conceptual, social and practical adaptive skills. This disability originates before the age of 18” (American Association on Intellectual and Development Disability, 2010). The diagnostics of intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour must be made using internationally recognized and professionally administered measures as recognized by INAS (International Federation for sport for para-athletes with an intellectual disability).

The Paralympic Movement adopted the definitions for the eligible impairment types as described in the World Health Organization International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (2001, World Health Organization, Geneva)

Each Paralympic Sport has to clearly define for which impairment groups they provide sports opportunities. This is described in the Classification Rules of each sport. While some sports include athletes of all impairment types (e.g. Athletics, Swimming), other sports are limited to one impairment type (e.g. Goalball, Boccia) or a selection of impairment types (e.g. Equestrian, Cycling)

The presence of an applicable eligible impairment is a prerequisite but not the sole criterion of entry into a particular Paralympic Sport.

11.Provisional Classification

Provisional classifications are temporary classifications allocated to an athlete and are valid until such time the athlete can be classified by a classification panel.

Provisional classifications may be allocated to an athlete for a specific sport in one of, but not limited to, the following situations;

  • At an international event where a classification panel is not available
  • At a national event where a classification panel is not available
  • As a national entry level for athletes new to the sport

Provisional classifications may be allocated by;

  • A classifier in a face to face consultation in conjunction with a medical certificate of diagnosis
  • A classifier on receipt of a medical diagnosis form and provisional classification form

A provisional classification is valid for a limited period of time, as dictated by the IF or NF and may be subject to change upon classification assessment by the sports specific classification panel.

Athletes may be eligible for medals, as dictated by the IF and/or NF but the athlete will not be eligible for records.