The Paralympic classification process is a key part of ensuring that athletes with impairments can compete fairly within their sport.
What is Paralympic Classification?
Paralympic classification ensures that competition is equitable by grouping athletes based on the degree to which their impairments impact their performance in a particular sport. It is a detailed process designed to level the playing field by focusing on the skill, endurance, and fitness of the athlete, minimising the effects of their impairment.
In swimming, this process is known as "multi-class swimming." The system is structured to allow swimmers with various impairments to compete while minimising the impact of those impairments on their performance.
Classification Pathways: How to Get Classified
For swimmers aspiring to compete, the classification process is crucial. Here's how athletes can navigate the classification pathway:
Application to South Australia: Swimmers can apply for classification through Swimming SA. The initial step typically involves a provisional classification, which is guided by a physiotherapist.
Eligible Impairments for Multi-Class Swimming
Not all impairments are eligible for multi-class swimming. Below are the categories for both Paralympic and non-Paralympic eligible impairments:
Paralympic Impairments:
Impaired muscle power: Conditions like spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, and spina bifida.
Impaired passive range of motion: Limited joint movement.
Limb deficiency: Including amputation or congenital limb deficiency.
Hypertonia: Increased muscle tone or spasticity.
Athetosis: Uncontrolled movements due to conditions like cerebral palsy.
Visual impairment: Ranging from complete blindness to partial vision.
Intellectual impairment: Limitations in intellectual functioning that affect sports performance, identified before the age of 18.
Non-Paralympic Impairments
- Hearing impairment: Severe hearing loss.
- Transplant recipients: Individuals who have undergone organ transplants.
- Intellectual impairment (2 and 3): Swimmers with more severe intellectual disabilities or those with conditions like Down syndrome or autism.
How is a Sport Class Assigned?
A sport class groups athletes based on how much their impairment affects their ability to perform in swimming. This is not necessarily based on the type of impairment alone, but rather the overall impact on the athlete’s performance. For example, an athlete with a left-leg amputation may be grouped in the same class as someone with severe coordination problems in one leg, as these impairments have a similar impact on swimming.
Understanding Sport Classes in Swimming
Swimming classes are denoted with an “S” (freestyle, backstroke, and butterfly events), “SB” (breaststroke events), or “SM” (individual medley). The number accompanying the class denotes the severity of the impairment, with lower numbers indicating more severe impairments. Here’s a brief overview:
Physical Impairments:
S1-S10: Categories range from significant impairments (e.g., complete tetraplegia) to minimal impairments (e.g., a minor limb deficiency).
Visual Impairments:
S11-S13: Classes for athletes with varying levels of visual impairment.
Intellectual Impairments:
S14: Athletes with intellectual impairments impacting sports performance.
In smaller competitions, athletes from different classes may compete against each other using a point-based system called the Multi-Class Point Score, which accounts for the differences in impairments.
The Role of Classifiers
Classifiers are experts, such as doctors and physiotherapists, who evaluate and assign sport classes. Depending on the impairment, this evaluation might include physical assessments, vision tests, or intellectual evaluations. These classifications can change over time, particularly in children who have not yet reached skeletal maturity or whose impairments might progress.
Conclusion
At Flipper Academy, we believe in empowering every swimmer to reach their potential. Understanding the classification process is a key step in helping athletes navigate the world of para-swimming and ensuring that they have the support they need to succeed. If your child is interested in joining our multi-class swimming program, feel free to contact us and take the first step in their swimming journey!
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