Classifications
The Para sport movement has grown exponentially since its beginnings in the 1940s. Classification has been a crucial and integral part of sport for persons with disabilities (Para sport) since the beginning. The early classification systems were based on medical diagnoses, such as spinal cord injury, and were not specific for the specific activities in each sport. The systems of classification in Parasport perform two fundamental functions for supporting all athletes in achieving sport excellence:
- A classification system defines the minimum impairment required to be eligible to compete in that Para sport, thus providing a framework for determining who is (and who is not) a Para athlete.
- A classification system groups athletes into sport classes to control for the impact of impairment on the outcome of competition and ensure sporting excellence determines which athlete or team is ultimately victorious (International Paralympic Committee, 2015; Tweedy & Vanlandewijck, 2011).
Wheelchair Rugby Canada, Classification
A Guide to Wheelchair Rugby Classification