About classification

<-> The term “Classification” refers to a structure for Competition the aim of which is to ensure that an Athlete's Impairment is relevant to sport performance, and to ensure that Athletes compete equitably with each other.

<-> Athletes competing in Paralympic sports have an impairment that leads to a competitive disadvantage in sport.

<-> The purpose of Classification is to minimize the impact of impairments on sport performance and to ensure the success of an Athlete is determined by skill, fitness, power, endurance, tactical ability and mental focus. This system is called classification.

<-> Classification determines who is eligible to compete in a Paralympic sport and it groups the eligible athletes in sport classes according to their activity limitation in a certain sport.

Classification process

<-> WAF will request full medical documentation to all Athletes requesting participation at International competitions.  Panel of classifiers will review documentation in order to assign each athlete a Sport Class. Sport Class has one of the following Sport Class Statuses as follow:

N: New

R: Review

FRD: Fixed Review Date (with date included)

C: Confirmed

CNC: Classification Not Completed

NE: Not Eligible

>> An Athlete must supply WAF with Diagnostic Information that must be provided as follows:

<> The relevant National Body and/or athlete, must submit a Medical Diagnostics Form to WAF, upon completing the registration of an Athlete.

<> Eligibility Assessment Committee appointed by WAF may require an Athlete to re-submit the Medical Diagnostics Form (with necessary supportive Diagnostic Information) if the WAF at its sole discretion considers the Medical Diagnostic Form and/or the Diagnostic Information to be incomplete or inconsistent.

<> If the Eligibility Assessment Committee is not satisfied that the Athlete has an Eligible Impairment the Head of Classification will provide a decision to this effect in writing to the relevant National Body. The National Body will be given an opportunity to comment on the decision and may provide further Diagnostic Information to the Eligibility Assessment Committee for review. If the decision is subsequently revised, the Head of Classification will inform the National Body.

<> WAF competition registrations close 2 weeks before the first competition day. When the deadline passes, the classification panel will review all medical forms and check if additional information is necessary and required. In this case Athlete must present additional documents using WAF registration platform (if available) or via email classification@waf-armwrestling.com.

<> By performing pre-checks on medical records, the Eligibility Assessment Committee can approach the evaluation session more efficiently, also informing an Athlete in advance if he/she is not eligible for the competition.

<> Athletes with a C or FRD Sport Class Status are permitted to not attend the evaluation session, which is mandatory for athletes with an N or R status.

Evidence-based classification

<> Competition in Para-armwrestling sport is based on systems of classification. The Classification Code of the World Armwrestling Federation made in cooperation with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) mandates the development of evidence-based systems in para-armwrestling sport to improve the validity of Paralympic classification.

<> An evidence-based system is one in which the purpose of the system is stated unambiguously; empirical evidence indicates the methods used for assigning classes will achieve the stated purpose.

<> Evidence-based practice is a growing movement in the health and educational disciplines that recommends an emphasis on research outcomes during decision-making in practice.

<> Evidence-based is made possible through evidence-based research, which attempts to synthesize the volume and scientific rigor of intervention effectiveness.

<> The vision of the Paralympic movement is “to enable Paralympic Athletes to achieve sporting excellence and inspire and excite the World” and evidence-based classification systems are critical for fully realizing this vision.

A i m s:

- Provide ideas to support and improve the classification system of para-armwrestling sport by evidence-based research.

- Develop Research questions that can be used by researchers for future research programs/proposals. Particularly related to classification of athletes that meet the current WAF classification rules.

- Monitor international research of classification in Para-armwrestling sport.

- Establish collaborations with other research groups, individuals and/or sport federations which are working in the field of evidence-based classification research.

- Communication of results and reports, representing the WAF at scientific meetings, related with sports for athletes with disabilities.

Evidence-Based Classification and Research in Armwrestling

<> The current classification system is based on a combination of different approaches (i.e., quantitative/qualitative) in line with evidence-based practices and according to the WAF Classification Rules.

<> The approach is to meet the compliance of the lPC Classification Code with evidence-based methods.

<> The WAF classification personnel, members, trainers, collaborators and para-athletes need to to meet the requirements of the Athlete Classification Code. These efforts are translated in different research and academic work supporting the classification system which transfers all this knowledge to practical methods during the class allocation of para-armwrestlers.

<> It is assumed that in the coming years in para-armwrestling for persons with PI, as a new sport, there will be an active development of various indicators that record a significant increase in competitive, organizational, recreational, social adaptation, methodological, scientific and other activities.

The following section is presented the available scientific literature on the topic, presented at public sources:

1. History of the development of armwrestling among persons with visual disability in the Belgorod region (Russian)

2. To the question of the development of Armwrestling among athletes with visual disability in the Russian federation in 2015-2019 (Russian)

3. Results of the performance of armwrestlers at the Russian championships for the sport of the blind in the beginning of the XXI century (Russian)

4. Armwrestling among the visual disability in the history of the development of sports of the blind (Russian)

5. Analysis of changes in requirements and conditions for assignment of sports ranks and ranks in Arm wrestling (Russian)

6. Development of armwrestling of persons with injuries of the musculoskeletal system in the world and the Russian federation (English / French)

7. Problems and prospects for the development of Armwrestling among the visually visible in Russia. (Russian)

8. Peculiarities of the development of Armwrestling of persons with damage of the locomotor apparatus in modern conditions. (Russian)

9. The Correlation between Strength and Anthropometric Charecteristics in Armwrestling Athletes with Performance (English)

Under development

For the purposes of the development of the WAF Classification Rules and Regulations and according with the requirements of the IPC for the Evidence-based classification, the WAF is working on the following two research projects:

Theme 1: The basis for the development of a Point-Based Classification System in Para-Armwrestling

Theme 2: Performance Analysis in Armwrestling - specific test by Para-Athletes with Cerebral Palsy: implications for Evidence-Based Classification for New Sport classes in Para-Armwrestling (PIUCP and PIDCP)