What happens during Athlete Evaluation

Classification Process

Classification is carried out through a process called “Athlete Evaluation“ that comprise procedures for the assessment of athletes and the allocation of Para Sport Class and Para Sport Class Status

Who classifies Athletes?

Athletes are evaluated by Classifiers, who work in a group called a Classification Panel. Classifiers have the relevant qualifications and competencies, are knowledgeable in their sport, and certified as officials by the International Federation who govern the sport. For examples of typical expertise, please see the question “How does somebody become a Classifier?”.

When does Athlete Evaluation happen?

An Evaluation Session usually takes place in the days preceding an international Competition. However, not all Competitions offer Classification opportunities, and some sports may offer Classification opportunities that are not linked to Competitions.

The first stage of the Classification process must also take place ahead of an Evaluation Session, where Diagnostic Information is submitted to help the International Federation assess the existence of an Underlying Health Condition and Eligible Impairment.

Who can accompany an Athlete to Classification?

An Athlete can bring one person whose role is to support them during the Classification process. If required, an Athlete can also have one interpreter attending an Evaluation Session. Both these persons must be a National Representative.

A National Representative means any person who is an office-holder or member of staff of, or who otherwise represents and/or works on behalf of a National Federation.

What if an Athlete disagrees with their Sport Class?

Classification Panels make objective decisions based on a sport’s Classification rules. If an Athlete disagrees with the outcome of an Evaluation Session, each sport has its own Protest rules in place. These rules outline:

  • Who may lodge a Protest
  • What can be protested
  • The timelines that apply
  • Which documents are required, and
  • Any fees to be paid

Please note, a Protest can only be lodged by a National Federation or National Paralympic Committee, and not by an individual Athlete.

If an Athlete has been classified, do they need to be classified again?

At the start of every Para athlete’s international career, they will need to be classified at least once. Further evaluations may be required for a number of reasons, for example, Athletes with progressive or fluctuating Underlying Health Conditions. Or, if an International Federation makes changes to their sport’s Classification rules, which, in some cases, may lead to Athletes being classified again.

Once an Athlete has completed an Evaluation Session, they are given a Sport Class and Sport Class Status. The Sport Class is a category for competition defined by each International Federation in their Classification rules, and the Sport Class Status indicates whether and when an Athlete may be required to undergo Classification in the future.

If an Athlete has been classified at national level, can they compete at international competitions?

National and international Classification are often governed by different sets of rules and processes. Each International Federation defines the level of Competition where athletes are required to be classified by a Classification Panel ahead of competing.

There may be some international Competitions where athletes can compete with the Sport Class allocated to them at national level, but as they progress through the international Competition pathway, they will need to be classified under the International Federation’s rules and processes.

Does an Athlete need to be classified for every Para sport they compete in?

Yes. As every Para sport demands its own range of fundamental tasks and activities that are likely to be impacted by an athlete’s impairment differently, eligibility for one sport does not mean an Athlete is eligible for another.

How does somebody become a Classifier?

International Classifiers are trained and certified by a sport’s International Federation in one specific impairment group; either Intellectual, Physical or Vision Impairment. This is because Classifiers must have qualifications relevant to the impairments they evaluate. For example, the following occupations are often found amongst the three impairment groups:

  • Intellectual Impairment: Psychologists, and experts in the sport and biomechanics.
  • Physical Impairment: Medical doctors, physiotherapists, and experts in the sport and biomechanics.
  • Vision Impairment: Ophthalmologists and optometrists.

Athlete Evaluation: the 3 fundamental questions

1. Does the athlete have an Eligible Impairment for this Para sport

Any athlete wishing to participate in Para sport competition must have an Underlying Health Condition that leads to a permanent Eligible Impairment.

There are currently seven Eligible Impairments in the Paralympic Movement
(five ‘Physical Impairments’, ‘Vision Impairment’, and ‘Intellectual Impairment’),
as set out below:

  • Vision Impairment 
  • Intellectual impairment 
  • Physical impairment 
    • Co-ordination impairments (3) (hypertonia, Motor Ataxia, Dyskinesia
      (athetosis, dystonia, chorea)
    • Limb Deficiency and/or Limb Length Difference
    • Short stature 
    • Impaired Passive Range of Movement
    • Impaired Muscle Power

Not all impairments are eligible in each Para-sport.

Athletes are required to submit a Medical Diagnostics Form completed by their medical doctor and submit other relevant medical information giving evidence of their impairment.

The assessment of whether an athlete meets eligibility must be carried out by one or more senior classifier/s who may also seek expert advice from the International Federation Head of Classification.

Non-Eligible Impairments

Examples of Non-Eligible Impairments include, but are not limited to, the
following:

  • pain;
  • hearing impairment;
  • low muscle tone;
  • hypermobility of joints;
  • joint instability, such as unstable shoulder joint or recurrent dislocation of a joint;
  • impaired muscle endurance or stiffness;
  • impaired motor reflex functions;
  • impaired cardiovascular functions;
  • impaired respiratory functions;
  • impaired metabolic functions;
  • tics and mannerisms, motor stereotypies, and motor perseverations;
  • vestibular impairment;
  • impairments in muscle metabolism resulting in fatigue; and
  • impairments stemming from psychological and/or psychosomatic
    causes.

An Athlete who has both an Eligible Impairment and a Non-Eligible Impairment
may be evaluated by a Classification Panel on the basis of their Eligible
Impairment, provided that their Non-Eligible Impairment does not affect the Classification Panel’s ability to conduct an Evaluation Session (including
Observation Assessment) and allocate a Sport Class.

2. Does the athlete’s Eligible Impairment meet the Minimum Impairment Criteria of the Para sport

Each sport’s classification rules describe how severe an Eligible Impairment must be for an athlete to be considered eligible to compete. These criteria are referred to as Minimum Impairment Criteria. 

Minimum Impairment Criteria must ensure that an athlete’s Eligible Impairment affects the extent to which the athlete is able to execute the specific tasks and activities fundamental to the sport.  

Examples of Minimum Impairment Criteria are a maximum height defined for athletes with short stature, or a level of amputation defined for athletes with limb deficiency. 

Minimum impairment criteria should be defined on the basis of scientific research, which assesses the impact of impairments on the sport’s activities. As sports require different activities, the Minimum Impairment Criteria are also specific for each sport. Consequently, an athlete may meet the criteria in one sport, but may not meet the criteria in another. 

If an athlete is not eligible to compete in a sport, this does not question the presence of a genuine impairment. It is a sport ruling. .

3. Does the athlete have an Eligible Impairment for this Para sport

After an athlete has been designated as eligible for a sport, the classification panel will assess which Sport Class the athlete will compete in. There are some sports that only have one Sport Class (e.g. Para ice hockey or Para powerlifting). On the other hand, due to the different disciplines (running, jumping, throwing events) and because the sport includes athletes of all 10 Eligible Impairments, Para athletics have over 50 Sport Classes. 

A Sport Class groups athletes with a similar activity limitation together for competition, so that they can compete equitably. This again means that Sport Classes are different by sport. It also means that a Sport Class does not necessarily comprise athletes with the same Eligible Impairment. If different impairments cause similar activity limitation, athletes with these impairments are allowed to compete together. This is why, for example, in athletics wheelchair racing events, you will see athletes with paraplegia and leg amputations racing together. 

Determining in which Sport Class should the athlete compete in is a multi-staged process, often consisting of so called physical and technical assessments followed by an observation in Competition before final Sport Class is allocated and a Sport Class Status is designated. 

Due to, for example, the progressive nature of some impairments and their impact on certain activities, athletes are sometimes classified a number of times throughout their career. Also, when the medical condition of an athlete changes, athletes need to inform the sport and ask for re-assessment. 

The assessment of whether or not an athlete complies with Minimum Impairment Criteria for a sport, the allocation of a Sport Class and designation of a Sport Class Status is undertaken by a classification panel. Classification panels include a minimum of two classifiers. Classifiers are trained experts – physicians, physiotherapists, coaches, sport scientists, psychologists, ophthalmologist, and have a complimentary knowledge about impairments and their impact on the respective sports. Classifier’s qualifications and required competencies are determined by each International Sport Federation. 

Classification panels test athletes in four stages: 

  • UHC Assessment:

an assessment to verify that the Athlete has (or has had) at least one medically and/or clinically diagnosed Underlying Health Condition, based on a review of Diagnostic Information provided by the Athlete’s National Federation (UHC Assessment)

  • Eligible Impairment Assessment:

an assessment to verify (i) that the Athlete has an Eligible Impairment catered for by the sport that is consistent with one or more Underlying Health Conditions reported in the UHC Assessment, and (ii) that there are no inconsistencies with such reported Underlying Health Condition(s) (Eligible Impairment Assessment)

  • MIC Assessment:

an assessment as to whether the Athlete’s Eligible Impairment meets the applicable Minimum Impairment Criteria for that Eligible Impairment within the relevant sport (MIC Assessment)

  • Sport Class and Sport Class Status allocation

a Sport Class based on an assessment of the extent to which the Athlete’s Eligible Impairment(s) impact(s) their ability to execute the specific tasks and activities fundamental to the sport (Sport Class Assessment); and

(ii) a Sport Class Status to indicate whether and when the Athlete may be required to undergo Classification in the future;

Classification By Sport

Classification is sport specific. This is because different Eligible Impairments may have a unique impact on the activities required for each sport. Every International Federation must therefore develop and implement a Classification System that complies with the IPC Classification Code and the International Standards (Article 2.2, 2015 IPC Athlete Classification Code).

Specifically, a Classification System must:

  • Clearly 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 International Standard for Eligible Impairments.
  • Set processes and procedures for assessing whether an athlete has an Eligible Impairment. These processes and procedures must conform with the International Standard for Eligible Impairments.
  • Set Minimum Impairment Criteria for each Eligible Impairment. Minimum Impairment Criteria must be written in a way that can be objectively assessed and comply with the International 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 International Standard for Athlete Evaluation.

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