Events for Disabled Athletes

Please find below details of events for Disabled athletes.

The UK School Games - 3-6 September 2009

South Wales

Classification
Classification is an integral part of disability athletics to ensure fair competition. The UKSGs is open to athletes who are eligible for the Paralympic Pathway only:

For the Paralympic Pathway, these are the classification groups. Each group is subdivided into classes depending on the level of impairment. There are strict criteria attached to each class:

T – Track

F – Field

T/F      11-13              Athletes with a Visual Impairment

T/F      31-38              Athletes with Cerebral Palsy

T/F      40-46              Amputee & Les Autres (including Dwarf Athletes)

T         51-54              Wheelchair Racers

F         51-58              Seated Field Athletes  

The classification process identifies the athletes’ functional ability in relation to the event group in which they are competing. The athlete will undergo a series of mobility tests and is observed in competition by IPC (International Paralympic Committee) qualified classifiers. The classification process at the UK School Games will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

If an athlete is not eligible under IPC Classification they will not be able to compete at the UK School Games. 

This process is purely to enable fair competition and if an athlete is not eligible for the Paralympic Pathway there are other options to ensure the athlete can continue to enjoy the sport. 

Athletes with a Visual Impairment
Athletes with a visual impairment are not subject to the functional classification process in the same way as athletes with physical impairments. They will not be classified at the UK School Games

Classification for athletes with a visual impairment involves an eye test that must be carried out by an Ophthalmologist / Optometrist. The athlete will receive an official classification and must bring this information to the UKSGs.

Only athletes who receive a classification of B1-B3 through this system will be eligible for UKSGs Competition as these relate to the IPC classifications of 11-13.

The form that must be completed by an Ophthalmologist / Optometrist can be found at: www.britishblindsport.org.uk/sightform.doc

Selection
The UK School Games will consist of twelve teams, who will represent the nine regions of England, and the nations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.  

The UK School Games is an event for athletes who are eligible for the under 17 age group, as specified by the current version of the UK Athletics Rules for Competition. Athletes who are eligible for under 15 competitions, will not be considered for selection.

Competitors for disability athletics events will be selected primarily from the DSE Junior Athletics Championships, along with relevant rankings and other results, including regional DSE athletics events and the London Mini-Marathon.

2009 Events

Ambulant Track                               100m                     m/f       

Ambulant Track                                200m                    m/f

Wheelchair Racing                           200m                     m/f

Wheelchair Racing                           800m                     m/f

Ambulant Shot                                                  m/f

Ambulant Discus                                                          m/f

Seated Shot                                                      m/f

Seated Discus                                                   m/f

All athletes competing in the disability athletics competition will receive a classification, which will be completed along IPC guidelines, at the event, prior to competition. Medals will be determined in all throws events using the appropriate IPC points tables. For both wheelchair and ambulant track events, it will be determined by time, as a percentage of the relevant world record.

Please note that we will be working to IPC Classification and not DSE Profiling – If you have any questions please refer to the Classification Guidelines or contact UKA

All initial enquiries regarding athlete selection should be directed to the appropriate Team Manager. All athlete selections will be subject to the discretion of the Team Manager and/or UK Athletics.

Athlete selection will be completed by 20th July 2009