International Paralympics Committee

1. International Paralympics Committee Competition Rules Comments and Discussion led by David Weicker Acknowledgements to David Greig , Bruce Pirnie, Elaine Lake and Jennifer Campbell

2. Brief History 1948 England: sports competition for soldiers with disabilities who returned from World War 2 1952 England vs. Netherlands 1960 1st Olympic style games held for athletes with a disability in Rome, Italy 1988 (Seoul) first time Paralympic Games were held in the same location as able bodied Games then Albertville 1992 (winter). June 2001 IOC and IPC (IOSDS) signed a formal agreement to implement Paralympics after Olympic games in same city. (International Organizations of Specific Disability Sports)

3. PARALYMPIC CLASSIFICATIONS Classifications for Track and Field Visually Impaired - T/F 11, 12, 13 Cerebral Palsy T/F - 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 Ambulatory Athletes - T/F 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 Wheelchair Athletes (with various levels of spinal cord injury and amputations) T/F 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 Athletes with Developmental Disabilities T/F 20 (IQ score 70 or less) Dwarf T/F 40

4. CLASSIFICATION - ID Each classification has two numbers after the letter T (for track) or F (for field): first number determines the classification second number determines the level of ability within the classification. Visually Impaired: T 11 - totally blind run with a guide (No usable vision) T 12 - blind but has the option of having a guide (Low vision) T 13 - blind but runs on their own (Visually Impaired) Cerebral Palsy: T / F 32-34 - cerebral palsy in wheelchair T / F 35-38 - cerebral palsy but can stand (ambulatory)

5. CLASSIFICATION - CATEGORIES Amputee: Athletes with a partial or total loss of at least one limb. Visually Impaired: Athletes with vision impairment ranging from partial vision, sufficient to be judged legally blind, to total blindness. (in T11 athletes wear opaque glasses) Cerebral Palsy: Athletes with non-progressive brain damage, for example cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke or similar disabilities affecting muscle control, balance or coordination.

6. Spinal cord injury: Athletes with disabilities which require them to compete in a wheelchair. Les Autres: Athletes with a physical disability that does not fall strictly under one of the other 6 categories, such as dysmelia, arthrogryposis, multiple sclerosis or congenital deformities of the limbs such as that caused by thalidomide. CLASSIFICATION - CATEGORIES

7. CLASSIFICATIONS – MORE INFO IPC Athletics Classification Manual for Physical Impairments 2008-2010 - for more information: www.paralympic.org Email: info@paralympic.org Classification is a three stage process done by medical staff called classifiers (not up to us as officials at the start line or field site)

8. CLASSIFICATIONS Stage 1 – Examination: assessment of impairment, novel motor tasks and movements that are closely related to the sport. Stage 2 – Sport Specific Assessment: observation and assessment of the athlete performing the event/s that he/she is entered in during training sessions / practices. Stage 3 – During Competition: observation and assessment of sport specific motor tasks while competing.

9. RULES • Call Room (measurements and other rules) • Track rules • Field rules

10. CALL ROOM: Wheelchairs Inspections and Measurements

11. WHEELCHAIRS (Call Room) Measurements and inspections take place without the athlete in wheelchair 2 Large wheels: maximum diameter including the inflated tire shall not exceed 70 cm per wheel Small wheel: maximum diameter including the inflated tire shall not exceed 50 cm No part of chair may protrude behind the vertical plane (back tyres) Only hand operated mechanical steering devices allowed Strapping: non-elastic material and attached to chair No mirrors Athlete must demonstrate turning and braking (this is done with athlete in the chair!) Speedometers (?)

12. CALL ROOM: Throwing Chairs Inspections and Measurements

13. CALL ROOM: Throwing Chairs Inspections and Measurements taken without the athlete in the chair Maximum height of throwing frame, including cushions used as a seat shall not exceed 75cm All parts of the frame must be fixed with no flexible or articulating joints Frame may have a “holding bar” but it must not have any articulation or joints

14. CALL ROOM: Blind Athletes

15. CALL ROOM: Blind Athletes Opaque glasses: athletes in sport class T/F 11. Escorts / guide runners are permitted but must wear a distinctively coloured vest (provided by Org.) Heat sheets to indicate deaf/blind athletes Forms for assistance (eg. To help set blocks or to mark the runway for jumps, etc.) must be submitted or be available to the call room

16. CALL ROOM: Other items Competition clothing must be close fitting. (IAAF Rules) Wearing of helmets is COMPULSORY in all individual & team track races of 800m and longer, 4 x 400 m relay and all road races. Races where athletes stay in their lanes helmets do not have to be worn. Need to know rules for relays/exchanges

17. Amputee Athlete wears a prosthetic or orthotic leg(s). Measured in Call Room to ensure leg(s) of equal length.

18. Oscar Pistorius Nickname the “Blade Runner” Double amputee Cheetahs – J shaped blades Cleared for 2012 Olympics Debate: prosthetics (technology) vs. natural legs

19. RULES Track rules • Starters • Starters Assistants • Track Referee/Umpires/Judges • Specific rules for Relay events

20. RULES Track rules – Starters • For wheelchair races, no part of front wheel can touch the start line and all wheels must be in contact with the ground • Use “wheel back” not “stand up” • Can stop the race in the first 50m in 1500m or longer • Officials can rule on safety of wheelchairs (normally the Technical Delegate) • No delays for equipment malfunction • 4-point stanch is NOT required for Cerebral Palsy T35-38 or T42-46 • Arm amputees may use pads to rest stumps • For “deaf” athletes may need flags (checkered or ?)

21. RULES Track rules – Starters Assistants • Helmets must be worn in races of 800m and longer plus 4x400 • Bib numbers on side of helmet for photo (eg. As hip numbers) for events 400 and above • One bib number on back of chair • No urine – automatic disqualification • May allow a lap for wheelchair athletes to set their compensators • Guides for blind athletes must wear a vest; guides can give verbal advice and the choice of (which of two assigned lanes) is up to athlete and guide • Deaf athletes are normally assigned an outside lane and flags, strobe or other visual devices may be used to assist with the start

22. RULES Track rules – Track Referee/Umpires/Judges • On recalled race Track Referee can take appropriate action on reports received (eg. What caused the problem for the recall) • Generally the rules are the same with some exceptions • No urine – automatic disqualification • Guide and athlete are allotted two lanes • Method: choice by athlete of elbow lead, tether or free run • Both must finish as a team • Guide must not push or pull athlete • Distance of no more than .5m apart with/without tether; in last 10m of an event the distance can be greater • Guide must finish behind the athlete

23. Glasses, vest, tether Running Free T11 – Blind Athletes

24. TETHER T 11 - athletes must wear approved opaque glasses in all track and field events (F 11). Note: Starting blocks

25. GUIDES Vest No glasses Can run on either side. Recommended for the longer races that the blind athlete runs in the inner lane to reduce the distance.

26. RULES Track rules – Track Referee/Umpires/Judges • For races further than 400m two guides are allowed BUT only one exchange is permitted (only on the straight stretch)…if planned, the Technical Delegate and/or Track Referee must be notified • Athletes in T42/43/44 shall use leg prosthesis (running events) NO hopping is allowed in other events (field) prosthesis usage is optional • In events of 1500m or longer, officials may conclude the event after an agreed time limit (DNF for those who didn’t finish) • Guides and Athletes are a team – if either breaks a rule... • No urine is allowed to drain onto the competition or warm-up site

27. RULES Track rules – Track Referee/Umpires/Judges • For wheelchair races the finish order is determined by the order in which the hub of the leading wheel reaches the vertical plane of the nearer edge of the finish line • In T32 to 34 and T51 to 54 athletes overtaking carry the responsibility for ensuring full clearance of the chair of the person before cutting in • Only means of propulsion is by pushing on the wheels or hand rims otherwise DQ

28. RULES Track rules – relay races • Relays (with batons – T32 to 34 and T51 to 54) • Each team shall be allocated 2 adjacent lanes • Lane markings shall be extended using same colour as exisiting lane markings • Take over shall be a touch on any part of the body of the outgoing competitor but the first touch shall be within the take over zone. • Relays (without batons – T11 to 13) • Can be either between the guides or athletes without restriction except guide must be behind the moment they enter the exchange zone and they must both be in the exchange zone when the baton is exchanged • For T12 one guide per exchange zone is allowed • Helps with the positioning of athletes intending on running without a guide – cannot interfere with the race

29. TRACK EVENTS Officials must be very aware of their positioning around the track. Does take some time to get use to all the different classifications and IPC rules – get a rule book. Crash on the track, no assistance should be given until the okay to do so.

30. RULES - FIELD EVENTS Discus Shot Put Javelin High Jump Long Jump Triple Jump Club

31. THROW CIRCLES Standard vectors etc. Top – Discus circle Tie down rails Bottom - Shot Put circle

32. THROWS - CHAIRS All parts of the frame and footrests must remain inside the vertical plane of the rim of the circle. 3 or 6 throws are consecutive. Each throw is measured. If major competition, reverse order for last 3 throws (this may change!). Setting up chair: 2 minutes for F 32 – 34 and F 54 – 58; 3 minutes for F 51 – 53. TD official oversees set ups so there are no unnecessary delays by athletes. Acoustic orientation is allowed by one escort (caller) per athlete. Must wear approved distinctive coloured vest.

33. STABILIZING CHAIRSTIE-DOWN THROW SET-UP Throwing chairs will vary in design. Each chair is designed with the athletes body in mind No event shall be delayed while a competitor makes adjustments to his/her chair Maximum height of a throwing frame, including seat cushion, shall not exceed 75 cm All parts of the frame must be fixed Strapping must be of non-elastic material which is attached to the chair

34. Examples of chairs that are tied down.

35. TIE DOWN EQUIPMENT Tie-down rails: L shaped iron with holes stamped in 12 ‘’ intervals on the vertical side or U channel with pre cut holes or spikes Ratchet straps (truck straps) with J hooks at both ends to secure chair to rails Using tie down rails on grass will still need spikes to anchor rails into the ground

36. Throw circles What event is the top one: discus or shot?

37. DISCUS Wheelchair tie down: lock front and back All parts of frame /wheelchair must remain inside the vertical plane of the rim of the circle.

38. SHOT PUT Support hold bar / pole One continuous motion Support front bar / pole Pole cannot pass vertical line of circle

39. DISCUS Tie down ratchet system Can start a throw or put from a sitting position; must keep one foot in contact with the ground inside circle

40. ORIENTATION AND TIMING Acoustic orientation by an escort is allowed during the approach run as long as they are not in a position to hinder the event An escort may bring an athlete to the throwing circle or runway and it is the escorts responsibility to help the athlete orient him/herself before the attempt Time clocks – time (clock or stopwatch) shall begin from the moment when the official is satisfied that the athlete has completed the orientation process Athletes can ask for confirmation of start Clock can stop and restart if athlete loses orientation

41. HIGH JUMP F11 athletes can touch bar as an aid to orientation before run up; while touching bar it falls off it does not count as an attempt F12 may place an appropriate visual aid on the bar (white / red flag or even a handkerchief) Notice white tape on bar

42. HORIZONTAL JUMPS - PIT DIAGRAM

43. HORIZONTAL JUMPS Take off board for triple jump is normally set at 9m for women and 11m for men (minimum 9m for F11 and 11m for F12-13) Cones help with identifying take off board as does a powdery substance (such as chalk, talcum powder, light sand or laundry detergent) For F11 – 12 the distance jumped is measured from where the athlete leaves an impression in the takeoff area; if the athlete takes off before the take off area the jump is measured from the nearest edge of this area (take off)

44. HORIZONTAL JUMPS - Measurments Take off area b c a foul b b Board If take off is before the board (a) measure from the beginning of the take off area If take off is within the takeoff area and before the scratch line (b) measure from the take off point (b) If take off is beyond the scratch line/board (c) no measurement c

45. HORIZONTAL JUMPS Must know rules if prosthesis falls off – if in process of jump measure where it lands If the prosthesis lands behind the closes mark in the landing area, but outside the landing area, it shall be counted as a foul If it falls off during approach the athlete can adjust it and continue, as long as it is within the allowed time

46. CRASH!

47. OOPS!!!!

48. TECHNICAL DELEGATE Technical Delegate has the responsibility to oversee all areas of the competition: Inspect Call Room and Call Room operations Oversee that heats, finals are drawn correctly Check results including knowing how to separate classifications when several classes have combined in a heat Supervise / help with throws chairs, if required Can inspect a frame / wheelchair at any time before or after an event

49. CANADIAN IPC OFFICIALS With throw chair set up only the Technical Delegate, support person and athlete set up the frame. Officials are not to help unless qualified. Once chair is set up support person moves out. (Bruce Pirnie and Elaine Lake) At major competitions - normally a crew takes care of the set up of all throws chairs.

50. “Quick Notes” IPC Rules “Quick Notes” revision done by event disciplines. IPC rules must be read in conjunction with IAAF rules and regulations. Athletics Canada: David Greig IPC dgreig@athletics.ca