2013 Paralympic Leadership Conference
Classification 201 - How a Better Understanding of the Classification Process & Data can Bring
Greater Success to your Athletes
Classification 201
Classification 201: How a Better Understanding of the Classification
Process and Data can Bring Greater Success to your Athletes
West Wing Conference Center
Presenter: Julie O’Neill, U.S. Olympic Committee/U.S. Paralympics
Classification education is an ongoing function of the Sport Performance
Division of the USOC – both the education and training of classifiers and
sharing of information with coaches, athletes, program managers, and
the like. Coaches and Program Managers who gain a better
understanding of the general premises of Paralympic sport classification
are often better equipped to coach, teach, and support their athletes
more effectively due to a greater understanding of the impairment,
better knowledge of the overall classification process and procedures,
and ability to understand basic medical data to evaluate what the athlete
truly can and cannot do in a sport setting.
Classification 201
What is Classification?
Classification is the process by which
athletes are assessed by reference to the
impact of impairment on their ability to
compete in a specific sport.
Classification is quite simply the structure
for competition.
International Classification Code
Classification is undertaken to
ensure that an Athlete’s
impairment is relevant to sport
performance (2.1.1)
Classification has two important
roles (2.1.2):
• To determine eligibility to
compete
• To group athletes for
competition
Classification 201
Classification is a structure for competition…
Paralympic athletes have an impairment in body structures and functions that leads
to a competitive disadvantage in sport. Consequently, criteria are put in place to
ensure that winning is determined by skill, fitness, power, endurance, tactical ability
and mental focus, the same factors that account for success in sport for athletes
who are able-bodied.
Classification is the process by which athletes are assessed by reference to the
impact of impairment on their ability to compete in a specific sport.
HISTORY…
 Impairment Based ( - 1988)
 Functional (1992 - 2010)
 Code Compliant (2010 +)
Classification 201
International Classification Code (the “Code”)
The Code outlines policies and procedures that are to be
addressed and included within all sports’ classification rules
by the respective sport IF (International Federation).
Protests & Appeals
Classifier Education
Athlete Evaluation
Sport Class Status
Allocation
Master List
Classification 201
Impairment Groups in Paralympic Movement…
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) – includes Spina Bifida
Cerebral Palsy (CP) – includes TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury / Stroke)
Amputee (Dysmelia)
Les Autres
Blind / Visual Impairment
Intellectual Impairment
Classification 201
Athlete Evaluation
•
Sport classes are determined by a variety of processes:
 Physical Evaluation / Assessment
 Technical Evaluation / Assessment
 Observation during Competition
• Sport classes are defined by the sport and form part of the sport’s international
rules.
 Classification Rules vs. Technical Rules
• Classification is an ongoing process. When an athlete starts competing, they are
allocated a sport class that may be reviewed throughout the athlete's career.
 National
International classification “pipeline”
• Sports certify individuals to conduct the process of classification and these
officials are known as “classifiers”.
Classification 201
Athlete Evaluation
Medical Diagnosis
Impairment Category – Diagnosis – Details
Examples:
SCI – T10 – complete
CP – hemiplegia – R
VI – albinism
Les Autres – dwarfism - achondroplasia
Physical Assessment
 Based on medical diagnosis / single or multiple evaluation protocols
Technical Assessment
 Training Observation
 Sport-specific Technical / Skills Assessment
Observation during Competition
Classification 201
Impairments, Medical Diagnosis, Physical Evaluation…
…application to coaching
• Muscle (power loss)
 0 to 5 scale
• Coordination
 Balance
• Range of Motion
• Limb Loss
 Center of gravity
• Visual Impairment
• Intellectual Impairment
 Base criteria + sport specificity
Classification 201
Impairments, Medical Diagnosis, Physical Evaluation…
…application to coaching
Physical Assessment
MUSCLE (POWER) TESTING SCALE
0 - Total lack of voluntary contraction
1 - Faint contraction without any movement of the limb (trace, flicker)
2 - Contraction with very weak movement through full range of motion when gravity is eliminated (poor)
3 - Contraction with movement through the complete joint range against gravity
4 - Contraction with full range movement against gravity and some resistance (good)
5 - Contraction of normal strength through full range of movement against full resistance
(Daniels and Worthingham 1980)
Classification 201
Impairments, Medical Diagnosis, Physical Evaluation…
…application to coaching
Physical Assessment
JOINT RANGE OF MOVEMENT
0 - No movement possible
1 - Less than 25% movement possible
2 - 25% range of movement possible
3 - 50% range of movement possible
4 - 75% range of movement possible
5 - 100% range of movement possible
(Blomquist 1985)
Classification 201
Impairments, Medical Diagnosis, Physical Evaluation…
…application to coaching
Physical Assessment
COORDINATION ASSESSMENT (Scale)
0 - Activity impossible
1 - Severe impairment; only able to initiate activity without completion
2 - Severe impairment; able to accomplish the activity but in a very unorthodox way
3 - Moderate impairment; able to accomplish the activity, movements are slow,
awkward and unsteady
4 - Minimal impairment; able to accomplish the activity with slightly less than normal
speed and skill
5 - Normal performance
(O’Sullivan, Cullen and Smith 1981)
Classification 201
Impairments, Medical Diagnosis, Physical Evaluation…
…application to coaching
KEY MUSCLE INNERVATION FOR SPINAL CORD LEVEL
Elbow Flexors
Wrist Extensors
Elbow Extensors
Finger Flexors
C5
C6
C7
C8
Finger Adductors
Abdominal Innervations Begins
Abdominal Innervation Complete
T1
T6
T12/L1
Hip Flexors
Knee Extensors
Ankle Dorisflexors
Long Toe Extensors
L2
L3
L4
L5
Ankle Plantarflexors
S1
** Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) – complete vs. incomplete **
Classification 201
Application of Classification Assessment Data
Knowledge of impairment / Evaluation scores & data
 coaching
 training
 technique
learning styles
 skill development
biomechanics
psychology
physiology
balance
center of gravity
nutrition
recovery
“I can’t”
15
Classification 201
Resources
I
nternational Paralympic Committee (IPC)
International Classification Code
Paralympic Games Classification Guides
www.paralympic.org
U.S. Paralympics (NPC)
National Policy & Procedure documents
National SPORT Master Lists
www.usparalympics.org
Sport-specific rules/regulations/policies
IPC and IFs (International)
NGBs / NFs (National)