Para athletics words · Intermediate

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I · Intermediate · 29 words · Step 2 of 2

General terms

Recognised competitions

The levels of World Para Athletics competition: the Paralympic Games; WPA Championships (world and regional); sanctioned competitions such as Grand Prix events and World Cups; and approved competitions, including national ones. The cycle runs from world championships in years 1 and 3 to the Paralympic Games in year 4.

Eligibility (para athletics)

At world championships and sanctioned competitions an athlete must hold an IPC athlete licence, be internationally classified with a sport class other than Not Eligible, be entered by their NPC, meet the IPC nationality policy, be at least 14 on 31 December of the year, and not be sanctioned.

Eligible impairments (para athletics)

The WPA lists ten types: eight physical (impaired muscle power, impaired passive range of movement, limb deficiency, leg length difference, short stature, hypertonia, ataxia and athetosis), plus vision impairment and intellectual impairment. An athlete must also meet the minimum impairment criteria in the classification rules.

Sport classes

T11 to T13 and F11 to F13

The vision impairment classes, for track and jumps (T) and throws (F). T11 and F11 are the most severe. T11 and T12 athletes may run with a guide, and T11 and F11 athletes must wear eye patches and opaque glasses.

T20 and F20

The classes for athletes with an intellectual impairment, in track and jumps (T20) and throws (F20). Such athletes must meet the VIRTUS eligibility criteria and be on the VIRTUS international eligibility master list.

T35 to T38 and F35 to F38

The classes for standing athletes with coordination impairments, which are hypertonia, ataxia and athetosis, in track and jumps (T) and throws (F).

T40 to T41 and F40 to F41

The classes for athletes with short stature, in track and jumps (T) and throws (F).

T42 to T47 and F42 to F46

The classes for standing athletes with a limb deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power or impaired passive range of movement. T42 to T44 and F42 to F44 are for the lower limb or limbs, competing without a prosthesis, and T45 to T47 and F45 to F46 are for the upper limb or limbs.

T61 to T64 and F61 to F64

The classes for athletes competing with a prosthesis on one or both lower limbs, affected by limb deficiency or leg length difference.

Wheelchair racing classes

T32 to T34, for athletes with coordination impairments, and T51 to T54, for athletes with limb deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power or impaired passive range of movement, who race in a racing wheelchair.

Seated throws classes

F31 to F34, for coordination impairments, and F51 to F57, for limb deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power or impaired range of movement. Athletes throw seated, from a throwing frame.

Frame running

A running discipline with two classes, T71 and T72, for athletes with coordination impairments who run supported by a frame. Helmets are compulsory, and an assistant may help position the athlete on the start line and set the starting blocks.

Also called: T71, T72

The ruleWhat is frame running?

Competing outside the sport class

Athletes normally compete only against their own sport class. The competition entry documents may name events where more than one class competes together, grouped by the classification hierarchy tables, and placings are then often decided by the Raza points system.

Raza points system

The scoring system used to compare performances in the same event by athletes in different sport classes, as published on the WPA website. Decimals are rounded down, so 1000.501 and 1000.499 both score 1000 points, and only a tie looks at the decimals.

Also called: WPA points

The ruleCan different classes race together in para athletics?

Guides and assistants

Guide-runner

A runner who guides a T11 or T12 athlete, joined by a tether, and may also give verbal instructions. The guide-runner must stay running or walking, may not push, pull or propel the athlete, and both must finish for the performance to count. In races of 5,000 m or more two guide-runners are allowed, with one interchange on the back straight.

Tether

The cord joining a T11 or T12 athlete to their guide-runner, supplied by the athlete. It is the only physical link allowed: they may not hold hands or wrists, and it must stay attached from start until both have crossed the finish line. If the tether breaks, the athlete is disqualified.

Slingshotting

A guide-runner deliberately hurling their tethered arm forward to propel the athlete in their running direction. It is not allowed at any stage of a race, and breaking the guiding rules disqualifies the pair.

Caller

In jumping events one assistant may accompany a T12 athlete onto the field to act as a caller or escort. In field events assistants may only do what the rules permit, and coaching in the competition area earns a warning.

Athlete's assistant

A helper who may set the starting blocks for athletes in some classes (T12, T20, T35 to T38, T40 to T47, T61 to T64, T71 and T72), or set runway markers with a field judge in some field classes, on written request to the Technical Delegate.

Eye patches and opaque glasses

T and F11 athletes must have their eyes completely covered by gauze patches and wear approved opaque glasses, checked in the call room, from leaving the call room to the end of the event. Taking them off early brings a warning and then disqualification. They are not required in road races.

Equipment

Racing wheelchair

The chair used in wheelchair races: two large rear wheels and one small front wheel, a working brake, and hand-operated steering. Gears, levers, fairings, mirrors and energy-storing parts are not allowed. A hard-shell helmet is compulsory in track and road wheelchair races and frame running.

Prosthesis and orthosis

A prosthesis replaces a missing body part. An orthosis is an appliance that assists a limb that is anatomically intact but has impaired range of movement, muscle power or leg length difference.

Prohibited assistance and technology

Examples of banned assistance include pacing by people not in the race, devices that can communicate (radios, phones, recorders) in the competition area, any technology that gives an advantage the specified equipment would not, and receiving physical support from another athlete that helps forward progress.

Seated throws

Throwing frame

The frame, or a day chair that meets the same rules, from which seated throwers throw. It is measured and inspected without the athlete in it, all parts must stay inside the rim of the circle during a throw, and an athlete who does not comply cannot start. Athletes have 4 minutes (F32 to F34 and F54 to F57) or 5 minutes (F31 and F51 to F53) to secure themselves and warm up.

Seated position

In seated throws both legs must be in contact with the seat from the back of the knee to the back of the buttock until the implement has landed, with non-elastic strapping recommended. The aim is to limit the legs' contribution to the throw.

Club throw

A seated throwing event in which a club is thrown. The rules call it one of the more dangerous events for officials and others, so the implement is handed to the athlete and the athlete is told when it is safe to throw.

Tie-down failure

If a strap securing the athlete breaks during a throw, an athlete who did not foul may choose to keep the throw or retake it, and an athlete who fouled retakes it.

Competition rules

Yellow and red cards

A yellow card is a warning and a red card an exclusion. A second yellow card is followed by a red card. Cards given to a guide-runner or assistant also count against the athlete, and in relays cards count against the team, so two cards in any round disqualify it.

Non-compliant equipment

If an athlete's equipment (clothing, shoes, prosthesis, helmet, tether, eye mask) is not compliant in the call room, they get a yellow card. They may compete if they put it right before the scheduled exit, but the card stands. Otherwise they do not start and are marked DNS.