Athlete Classification Code
And Standards
February 2016
Contents
1 Scope and Application 3
2 Classification Definition 6
3 History of Classification 7
4 Eligible Impairment 8
5 Sport Specific Classification Systems 11
6 Types of Classification 12
7 Athlete Evaluation Process 13
8 NZ Classification Pathway 18
9 Classification Protests and Appeals 19
10 Intentional Misrepresentation 20
11 Data Storage 21
12 Classification Masterlist 21
13 Classification Personnel 22
14 Classification Forms 24
15 Glossary 25
16 Further Information 27
1 Scope and Application
1.1 Paralympics New Zealand Athlete Classification Code and Standards
1.1.1 The Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) Athlete Classification Code (The PNZ Code) is a fundamental document upon which classification in New Zealand is based; the purpose of which is to uphold confidence in classification and promote participation by a wide range of athletes with differing impairment types and abilities. The PNZ Code details procedures and policies common across all Para-Sports and sets the principals for all PNZ member Sports to comply with the IPC Athlete Classification Code (the Code), through their International Federation (IF) Classification Rules and Regulations. The PNZ Code intends to achieve standardization but be general enough to permit flexibility regarding the implementation of its principles.
1.1.2 The PNZ Classification Standards are the technical and operational requirements for classification within New Zealand and these must directly reflect, and be in compliance with, the sport specific IF Classification Rules, which in itself, is in direct compliance with the Code. The PNZ Standards relate to:
· Eligible Impairments
· Athlete Evaluation
· Protests and Appeals
· Classifier personnel and training
· Classification data protection
1.2 IPC and the Paralympic Movement
1.2.1 The IPC is the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement. Its members are National Paralympic Committees (NPCs), International Sport Federations (IFs), International Organizations of Sport for the Disabled (IOSDs), and Regional Organizations. The IPC acts as the IF for a number of sports. IOSDs may act as the IF for a number of sports.
1.3 The IPC Athlete Classification Code and International Standards
1.3.1 The IPC Code applies to all recognized federations in the Paralympic Movement and to all Athletes competing in Para-sport at international competitions under the jurisdiction of the IFs.
http://www.paralympic.org/sites/default/files/document/120201084329386_2008_2_Classification_Code6.pdf
1.4 Classification Rules
1.4.1 Each IF must publish its own Classification Rules. These are an integral part of the rules of the sport within which Classification takes place. All NFs must accept these rules as a condition of affiliation. The Rules have regulations, policies and procedures to address their practical implementation in their sport.
1.4.2 National Classification Rules must include provisions related to:
· Eligible Impairments and Minimum Impairment Criteria (in accordance with the International Standard for Eligible Impairments)
· Athlete Evaluation, Sport Class and Sport Class Status allocation (in accordance with the IF Standard for Athlete Evaluation)
· Protests and Appeals (in accordance with the IF Standard for Protests and Appeals)
· Classifier Personnel and Training (in accordance with the IF Standard for Classifier Personnel and Training)
· Data Protection (in accordance with the IF Standard for Classification Data Protection)
1.5 PNZ Classification Roles and Responsibilities
1.5.1 All PNZ member Para-Sports’ classification activities must comply with the specific IF Classification Rules which in turn, comply with the IPC Code.
1.5.2 PNZ, as the national affiliated member to IPC and a signatory to the IPC Code, is accountable to the IPC for the following national classification activities:
· Ensure that National Federation Classification Rules conform to the Code, through their IF Classification Rules and make recommendations for Compliance with the Code.
· Developing and implementing a policy for its members to comply with the Code and establish procedures to address non-Compliance.
· Promoting the development of a National Classification Strategy
1.6 PNZ Classification Strategy
1.6.1 The PNZ Classification Strategy will lead and support PNZ Member Sports to build the capacity to develop and implement classification activities to support Para-Athletes with physical, intellectual and visual impairment in their pathway to medal winning performances.
http://www.paralympics.org.nz/Portals/17/Documents/Pathway/Classification/PARALYMPICS%20NEW%20ZEALAND%20CLASSIFICATION%20STRATEGY.pdf
1.6.2 The PNZ Classification Strategy will lead and support Member Sports with strong collaborative working relationships with, but not limited to: the IPC; IFs; Oceania Paralympics Committee; National Paralympic Committees; PNZ Member Sports; classifiers; athletes and support personnel; officials; coaches and event organizers.
1.6.3 The PNZ National Classification Strategy will work collaboratively within a Supra- National Strategy, to provide classification support to underdeveloped Oceania Region Nations.
1.6.4 The PNZ Classification Strategy will ensure that Member Sports work towards having an IPC Athlete Classification Code compliant standard of operation and accountability with leadership and support from the National Classification Programme.
1.7 The National Classification Program
1.7.1 The National Classification Programme will provide a National Athlete Classification Code, High Performance Programme support and resources to ensure there is Code compliance by Member Sports, through the implementation of their IF Classification Rules and Regulations.
http://www.paralympics.org.nz/Portals/17/Documents/Pathway/Classification/NATIONAL%20CLASSIFICATION%20PROGRAMME.pdf
2 Classification
2.1 Definition and Purpose in Para-Sport
2.1.1 Athlete Classification in the Paralympic Movement (referred to in the Code as “Classification”) is integral to all Para-sport. It is defined as grouping Athletes into Sport Classes according to how much their Impairment affects fundamental activities in each specific sport or discipline.
2.1.2 The purpose of Classification is to define who competes in Para-sport and to ensure that the impact of Eligible Impairment in each event is minimized. To achieve this purpose, an IF must develop and implement a Classification System that Complies with the Code. All NFs must implement the Classification System of their IF and comply with its Classification Rules. Specifically, a Classification System implemented by a PNZ member Sport must:
· State that an Athlete must have an Eligible Impairment in order to compete in the sport. Such Impairments must come from the list of Eligible Impairments presented in the IPC International Standard for Eligible Impairments and meet one or more of the eligible impairment types accepted by the IF.
· Have processes and procedures for assessing whether an Athlete has an Eligible Impairment. These processes and procedures must conform to the IF Standard for Eligible Impairments.
· Have Minimum Impairment Criteria for each Eligible Impairment. Minimum Impairment Criteria must be objectively assessed and comply with the IF Standard for Eligible Impairment and for Athlete Evaluation.
· Require that Athletes be allocated a Sport Class based on the extent to which Athletes are able to execute the specific tasks and activities fundamental to the Para-sport or discipline. The process by which Sport Classes are allocated must comply with the IF Standard for Athlete Evaluation.
2.1.3 Classification ensures Paralympic sport competition is fair and equitable. All Paralympic sport classification systems 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.
2.1.4 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.
3 History of Classification
3.1 Sport Drives Classification
3.1.1 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 orthopedic conditions.
3.1.2 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, (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.
3.2 Paralympic Classification Today
3.2.1 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.
3.2.2 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.
3.2.3 The Paralympic movement approved the IPC Classification Code in November 2007, which defines Paralympic classification as “accurate, reliable and consistent sport focused classification systems”.
3.2.4 The Paralympic movement approved the reviewed and updated IPC Athlete Classification Code and International Standards in November 2015 for implementation by January 2018.All Paralympics Sports classification rules must be in Compliance to the Code.
3.3 Future Outlook
3.3.1 The Paralympic movement is committed to the development of evidence based classification systems to ensure that an athlete’s impairment accurately reflects their actual abilities performing the activities of the sport.
4 Eligible Impairments
4.1 1 General Provisions
4.1.1 The IPC Code and the International Standards designate certain Impairments as ‘Eligible Impairments’.
4.1.2 IFs must, by way of their Classification Rules, provide that Impairment is an Eligible Impairment only if it is Permanent.
4.1.3 Any Athlete wishing to compete in Para-sport must have an Eligible Impairment. IFs must comply with this International Standard by ensuring that their Classification Rules clearly indicate which of the Eligible Impairment(s) an Athlete must have in order to compete in the sport.
4.1.4 The IPC Code requires that an Athlete with an Eligible Impairment must also comply with the Minimum Impairment Criteria set by the IF for the particular sport (or an individual discipline within a sport). These Minimum Impairment Criteria must be described in a manner that the relevant Eligible Impairment has an impact upon sport performance as defined in the International Standard for Athlete Evaluation.
4.2 Eligible Impairments and Commonly Associated Health Conditions
The following are Eligible Impairments in the Paralympic Movement, together with examples of Health Conditions that may lead to those Eligible Impairments:
4.2.1 Impaired muscle power
Athletes with impaired muscle power have a Health Condition that either reduces or eliminates their ability to voluntarily contract their muscles in order to move or to generate force. Examples include: spinal cord injury (complete or incomplete, tetra-or paraplegia), muscular dystrophy, post-polio syndrome and spina bifida.
4.2.2 Impaired passive range of movement
Athletes with impaired range of movement have a restriction or a lack of passive movement in one or more joints. Examples include: arthrogryposis and contracture resulting from chronic joint immobilization or trauma affecting a joint.
4.2.3 Limb deficiency
Athletes with limb deficiency have total or partial absence of bones or joints as a consequence of trauma (for example traumatic amputation), illness (for example amputation due to bone cancer) or congenital limb deficiency (for example dysmelia).
4.2.4 Leg length difference
Athletes with a difference in the length of their legs, as a result of a disturbance of limb growth, or as a result of trauma.
4.2.5 Short stature
Athletes with short stature have a reduced length in the bones of the lower limbs and/or trunk. Examples include: achondroplasia, growth hormone dysfunction, and osteogenesis imperfecta.
4.2.6 Hypertonia
Athletes with hypertonia have an increase in muscle tension and a reduced ability of a muscle to stretch caused by damage to the central nervous system. Examples include: cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and stroke.
4.2.7 Ataxia
Athletes with ataxia have uncoordinated movements caused by damage to the central nervous system. Examples include: cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke and multiple sclerosis.
4.2.8 Athetosis
Athletes with athetosis have continual slow involuntary movements. Examples include cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and stroke.
4.2.9 Vision Impairment
Athletes with impaired vision have reduced or no vision caused by damage to the eye structure, optical nerves or optical pathways, or visual cortex of the brain. Examples include: retinitis pigmentosa and diabetic retinopathy.
4.2.10 Intellectual Impairment
Athletes with an intellectual Impairment have a restriction in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior in which affects conceptual, social and practical adaptive skills required for everyday life. This Impairment must be present before the age of 18.
4.3 Non-Eligible Impairments
Examples include:
· Pain;
· Hearing impairment;
· Low muscle tone;
· Hypermobility of joints;
· Joint instability, such as unstable shoulder joint, recurrent dislocation of a joint;
· Impaired muscle endurance;
· Impaired motor reflex functions;
· Impaired cardiovascular functions;
· Impaired respiratory functions;
· Impairment metabolic functions;
· Tics and mannerisms, stereotypes and motor perseveration
4.4 Health Conditions that will not lead to an Eligible Impairment
4.4.1 Health conditions that primarily cause pain, such as myofacial pain-dysfunction syndrome, fibromyalgia or complex regional pain syndrome.
4.4.2 Health Conditions that primarily cause fatigue, such as chronic fatigue syndrome.
4.4.3 Health Conditions that primarily cause joint hypermobility or hypotonia, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
4.4.4 Health Conditions which are primarily psychological or psychosomatic in nature, such as conversion disorders or post-traumatic stress disorder.
5 Sport Specific Classification Systems
5.1 Classification systems differ by sport and are developed and regularly reviewed by the IF governing the sport.IFs decide which eligible impairment types their sport will cater to and the severity of the impairment required to have an impact on sports performance and thus determine the Minimal Impairment Criteria.