1. Calculating Classifications in Handicap Sports Policy
There are different disability classifications that are outlined in handicap sports policies throughout the world. You need to understand the different scales of disability to ensure your eligibility for events like the Special Olympics. You can break down classification into visual and physical scales to choose events that fit your capabilities.
Several sports, such as judo, use a scale from B1 to B3 to determine each participant's ability to compete. You would qualify as a B1 athlete if you are completely blind and unable to discern figures and colors. This scale moves from blindness to partial sight to the B3 classification which is used on athletes capable of perceiving individuals and objects without assistance.
The strength of your lower limbs may limit your ability to compete in certain sports. Nordic skiing and other winter events use multiple classification tiers to ensure that participants aren't harmed in the midst of competition. Your division of handicap sports is determined by lower limb disability and the number of skis and/or poles used during official competitions.
2. Defining Rules Unique to Handicap Sports
The conversion of sports like basketball and soccer into handicap sports has included unique rules for handicapable athletes. Wheelchair basketball leagues limit their participants to playing within the confines of their chairs to avoid injuries and keep games moving. This rule prevents athletes from lifting butts off of chairs to take shots, retrieve loose balls and grab rebounds.
The policies for wheelchair soccer help your team compete effectively without the limitations of traditional soccer rules. There are multiple player restrictions for wheelchair soccer including five to seven players on each side to increase space on the field for chairs of all sizes. The offsides rule used in international soccer is waived for disabled competitors to ensure an open, fast-paced game.
3. Plan Rosters Based on Handicap Sports Policy
Your challenge as a team coach or captain is making sure that the classification limits are met during each game. Most handicap sports place a limit on the number of highly capable athletes on the field at one time. You can use five-player wheelchair soccer as an example of how to maintain classification numbers. Classifications are assigned on a scale of 1.0 to 5.0, with the lower number given to athletes with minor disabilities. Your team would need to have a total of 15.0 on the field at a time to ensure that players with 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 grades are playing in each game. This classification total may feature a provision that requires one 5.0 player and one 1.0 player on the field at the same time.
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