IWRF Classification Workshop

1. IWRF Classification Workshop

2. Theory Session Overview • Welcome & Introduction • Classifier Eligibility & Pathway • Principles of Classification • IWRF Classification System • Athlete Eligibility • The Bench Test • Functional Skills Tests • Class Profiles • Trunk Test • Hand Function Test • Protests

3. Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games - Opening Ceremony

4. Bronze Medal - Canada

5. Silver Medal - Australia

6. Gold Medal – USA

7. Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games - Closing Ceremony

8. Classifier Eligibility • Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Physicians & Other Individuals with formal training and experience in neuromuscular evaluation of persons with disabilities • Knowledge of wheelchair rugby and willingness to learn • Competent in Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) • Skilled in Observation of Functional Movement and Compensations

9. Classifier Pathway • Contact hours with the sport • Annual logbook submitted to Zonal Classification President • IWRF Funded from Level II up

10. Principles of Classification An efficient classification system must; • Enable fair and equitable competition • Give each athlete with a disability an equal opportunity to compete at all levels • Only measure functional limitations caused by the physical disability • Be as simple as possible so that it can be used in a consistent way in every participating country • Be sport specific

11. Principles of Classification The following should NOT under any circumstances affect an athlete's class in any sport; • Sporting Skills or Natural Talent • Genetic Superiority or Inferiority • Body Size or Type, i.e. height, strength, length of arms etc. • Gender • Training Effect • Use of Strapping that Provides Stability and Allows Enhanced Techniques/Performance

12. IWRF Classification System • Functionally based classification system established in 1991 • Evolved from 3 classes to 7 classes • Comprised of: • Manual Muscle Test • Functional Skills • Observation on Court • Left Arm + Right Arm / 2 + Trunk Value = Class • N = New, T = Temporary, R = Review, P = Permanent

13. Who Can Play ? Athlete Ineligibility • Spinal Cord Injury • Amputation • Polio & Post Polio Syndrome • Neuromuscular Conditions • Cerebral Palsy • Les Autres (Others) • Combination of UE & Trunk Scores Greater 3.5 • No Hand Disability - MMT Grades 4-5

14. The Bench Test • Hands • Wrists • Fingers • Thumb • Trunk • Forward Flexion/Extension • Rotation • Shoulders • Deltoids • Serratus anterior • Pectoralis (Sternal & Clavicular) • Latissimus dorsi • Arms • Biceps • Triceps • Rotators (External & Internal)

15. Functional Skills Tests • Chair Skills • Forwards & Backwards • Sprinting • Turning • Figure of 8s • Ball Skills • Passing • One Handed Pass • Pop Pass • Dribbling • Rimming • Picking • One on One Play

16. Class Profiles • Low Pointers: 0.5 1.0 1.5 • Mid Pointers: 2.0 2.5 • High Pointers: 3.0 3.5

17. 0.5 Class • No Triceps • Proximal Weakness • Abducted elbows • Slow acceleration & chair speed • ‘Head bob’ when pushing • No Chest Pass • Rarely used as a ball carrier • Used as a ‘Blocker’

18. 1.0 Class • Limited Triceps • Stronger Proximally • Longer wheel contact when pushing with elbows in closer • Better turning ability • Less of a ‘head bob’ when pushing • No/ very weak chest pass • Sometimes used as a ball carrier/in-bounder

19. 1.5 Class • Bilateral Triceps 3+ to 4- • Or Asymmetrical upper extremities • Good acceleration • Good chair turning ability • Strong when picking • Fair chest pass • Sometimes used as a ball carrier/in bounder

20. 2.0 Class • Triceps 4-5 • Balanced wrist flexion/extension 4-5 • No/little hand function • Excellent chair skills • Good chest pass • Poor one handed pass • Strong when picking • Some ball security • Used as a ball carrier/receiver

21. 2.5 Class • Either have 2.0 arms bilaterally + 0.5 trunk • Or bilateralbalanced finger flexion/extension without true grasp-release • Excellent chair skills • Strong chest pass • OK one handed pass (lacks accuracy & consistency) • OK ball security • Used as a ball carrier

22. 3.0 Class • Functional grasp & release • No/limited Intrinsic hand function • Limited thumb function • Excellent chair skills • Strong chest pass • Good one handed pass • Good dribbling • Good ball security & control • Used as No.1/No.2 ball carrier

23. 3.5 Class • Excellent chair skills • Excellent passing skills • Excellent ball security • Usually has some trunk • Used as No.1 ball carrier

24. The Difference between…...1.0 & 2.5

25. Hand with and without function

26. Player with and without trunk function

27. 0.5, 2.0, 2.5 & 3.0

28. 3.0 & 3.5

29. 2.0

30. The Trunk Tests • Two tests used to determine function of the trunk • 1 pt Forward flexion & extension AND rotation • 0.5 pt Either forward flexion & extension OR rotation • 0 pts No trunk function

31. Trunk Tests

32. The Hand Function Tests • Used to determine function in 3.0+ hands • Used in conjunction with complete MMT of hands • 9 functional tests • Specific relevance to function on court • Score of 1.0 -8.0 pts = 3.0 hand • Score of 8.5-9.0 pts = 4.0 hand

33. Test 1 Observation of hands • 1 No wasting, hand arches maintained • 0.5 Partial wasting • 0 Severe wasting, absent intrinsic function

34. Test 5 Making ‘O’s with each digit and thumb • 1 Able to do with all four digits, good resistance & quality of movement • 0.5 Able to do with only a few digits (1 or 2) • 0 Unable to perform

35. Test 6 Put coins on table and get athlete to pick them up • 1 Able to assume position and pick up • 0.5 Can assume position but can’t pick up coins without substitution • 0 Unable to perform

36. Test 7 Place a piece of paper between the athletes fingers. Apply resistance to paper. • 1 Able to perform with good quality and with resistance • 0.5 May assume position but unable to perform with resistance • 0 Unable to assume position

37. Test 8 Hold the ball overhead and bring onto fingertips • 1 Pure movement with evidence of hand arches • 0.5 Partial movement or unable due to lack of sensation • 0 Flat hand, no evidence of ability

38. Classification Protest • Why is it necessary? • Who can protest and how? • Who may be protested and when? • Who is on classification protest panel?

39. We WANT You To Join Our Team! Wheelchair Rugby Classifiers IWRF