Para shooting words · Intermediate

The words that make the commentary make sense. They build on the beginner words.

I · Intermediate · 44 words · Step 2 of 2

General terms

World Shooting Para Sport

The name under which the International Paralympic Committee governs shooting Para sport. In the rules the two are the same body.

Also called: WSPS

ISSF rules (para shooting)

The rules of the International Shooting Sport Federation, which apply to para shooting equipment, events and finals unless the WSPS rules say otherwise. Equipment that is not expressly permitted or may give an unfair advantage is prohibited.

Recognised competition levels (para shooting)

The Paralympic Games; WSPS Championships (world and regional); WSPS Sanctioned Competitions such as World Cups and other international events; and WSPS Approved Competitions such as Grand Prix events and nationally endorsed competitions.

Competition Jury

The officials who check athletes' equipment at equipment control and on the firing line, decide whether equipment gives an unfair advantage and settle disputes about the rules.

Firing line and firing point

The athlete and all their equipment must stay within the designated area of their firing point and behind the firing line. Rifle resting stands are the permitted exception, as in the ISSF rules.

Events

Para shooting events

The events are named by letter and number. Rifle R1 to R9 are men's, women's and open 10 m air rifle standing and prone, 50 m rifle prone and 50 m rifle three positions, in classes SH1 and SH2. Pistol P1 to P4 are 10 m air pistol for men and women, 25 m pistol and 50 m pistol, for SH1. The listed non-Paralympic events are P5 standard air pistol, trap (PT1 to PT3), vision impairment air rifle (VIS and VIP) and mixed teams.

Rifle events

Each is 60 shots, except the 50 m three positions with 20 kneeling, 20 prone and 20 standing. The time with electronic targets is 1 h 15 min for standing air rifle, 50 min for SH1 prone, 1 h for SH2 prone and 1 h 45 min for three positions, and a little longer with pit-operated targets.

Pistol events

10 m air pistol is 60 shots in 1 h 15 min with electronic targets, 25 m pistol follows the ISSF 25 m pistol rules, and 50 m pistol is 60 shots in 1 h 30 min. If the bench is too high for a seated athlete to reach the 45-degree ready position, a modified ready position may be allowed, but the pistol must never rest on the bench.

Para trap

Shotgun events PT1 (seated, class SG-S), PT2 (standing, lower limb, SG-L) and PT3 (standing, upper limb, SG-U), shot over two days with 75 targets on day 1 and 50 on day 2, 125 in all. They are not Paralympic events, and the rules follow ISSF.

P5 10 m air pistol standard

A non-Paralympic pistol event for SH1 with 40 shots, shot under the rules in Appendix 6.

Sport classes

SH-VI

The single sport class for athletes with a vision impairment, who shoot the VIS and VIP air rifle events with an acoustic aiming system.

SG-S, SG-L and SG-U

The shotgun classes. SG-S shoot seated in a wheelchair or on a stool because of poor balance or trunk stability. SG-L shoot standing with an impairment of the lower limbs, and SG-U shoot standing with an impairment of the upper limbs and must use the adaptive loading stand.

Classification terms

Eligible impairments (para shooting)

For rifle and pistol: impaired muscle power, limb deficiency, hypertonia, ataxia, athetosis and impaired passive range of movement. Short stature, leg length difference, vision and intellectual impairment, pain and hearing impairment are not eligible in rifle and pistol, though leg length difference is eligible in shotgun.

Minimum impairment criteria (para shooting)

For the lower limbs an athlete needs, for example, an amputation through the ankle or at least 20 points of muscle strength lost in one leg or 25 in both. For the upper limbs in rifle the criterion is an amputation through the wrist or 30 points lost in one arm or 50 in both, and in pistol 30 points lost in one arm. Ankylosis of the wrist alone is not enough.

Trunk function score

A score of A, B or C from five tests of forward, backward, sideways and rotating movement of the seated trunk, which sets how much backrest the athlete may have. Score A is good function on all five tests, and those athletes may shoot free-standing.

Visible free height

The part of the athlete's back, measured from the C7 vertebra, that must stay visible above the backrest. Score A athletes may have a backrest only if they do not rest against it when shooting, Score B athletes need at least 60% of their back length above it, and Score C athletes have their minimum measured and recorded. The jury tapes the height on the jacket and it is shown on the bib.

The ruleWhat chair can a para shooter use?

SH2 muscle power subclass

The panel tests the shooting arm of SH2 athletes and gives subclass a (stronger) or b (weaker), which decides the spring on the support stand: a uses the weak spring and b the strong spring.

WSPS licence

The licence on which the classification panel's decisions are recorded, such as a trigger adaptation, a loader, a loading device, a high stool height and the visible free height. Athletes carry it and present it with their ID card at equipment control.

The ruleWhat adapted equipment is allowed in para shooting?

Equipment and adaptive aids

WSPS-specific equipment

Strapping, prosthesis, shooting tables, compensating block, 10 cm block, shooting chairs, the SH2 rifle support stand, a pistol loading device, and trigger extensions, grips and adaptations. The athlete submits them for inspection before every competition and completes the equipment control sheet.

Shooting chair

Any object the athlete sits on to shoot: a wheelchair, chair, seat, stool or high stool. The barrel centreline must be no more than 150 cm above the floor, the seat angle no more than 5 degrees from level, the wheels no higher than the athlete's hip, and a seat cushion no larger than 50 cm by 50 cm. Athletes in wheelchairs must be able to leave the line without artificial help, though brakes are fine.

High stool

A seat on which the athlete shoots with their feet on the ground, as if standing. The seat is at least as high as the athlete's mid-thigh and at most their inside leg length minus 7 cm, the base is no larger than 60 cm by 60 cm with three or four independent legs, and the feet must not touch the base.

Backrest slack

How far a backrest sags between its side posts, measured with the athlete in the shooting position. A flexible backrest may slack no more than 8 cm and a hard one may curve no more than 3 cm.

Strapping (para shooting)

Straps are no wider than 5 cm and athletes may not hold or touch them for stability. One strap below the knee to the chair is allowed, the legs may be strapped together once above the knees but not to the chair, and an athlete with double above-knee amputations and no prosthesis may have a strap across the stumps and to the chair.

Shooting table

For rifle events the table is no larger than 90 cm across, horizontal to within 5 degrees, and upholstered with no more than 2 cm of uniform material. It must not give support or stability except in the prone position, where the body must not gain stability from the left or right side of the chair. A curved table must be wider than the athlete's torso.

Compensating block

A block under the shorter arm, for an athlete with uneven upper limbs shooting prone, assessed by the classification panel and marked on the licence if permitted.

The ruleWhat adapted equipment is allowed in para shooting?

10 cm block

A removable board 10 cm across and at least 20 mm thick, or a 10 cm table, that supports the elbow in the kneeling position. Only the point of the elbow may be on it.

SH2 rifle support stand

A stand with a spring that takes the weight of the rifle, which every SH2 athlete must use, fixed to the table or on a tripod. The rifle must not touch both sides of the yoke at once, the point of balance is marked at equipment control, and the athlete's hands must not interfere with the spring. The upper part of the stand must weigh 200 g or less.

Support stand spring

A weak spring (white, flexibility at least 35 mm) for subclass a and a strong spring (black, at least 25 mm) for subclass b. Springs are tested at equipment control with two bars, 250 g to zero it and 720 g to test flexibility, and an athlete may use different springs for 10 m and 50 m.

Trigger extension and trigger adaptation

A trigger extension is a modified trigger inside the ISSF dimensions and protected by the trigger guard. A trigger adaptation is outside the guard and the dimensions, and is allowed only for a medical reason, approved by the classification panel and recorded on the licence. Air-operated, blowing and pneumatic triggers are not allowed, and no trigger adaptations are allowed in shotgun.

Loading device (pistol)

A device that holds the pistol so it can be loaded or unloaded safely. It must always be used if the licence says so, and the jury checks it at equipment control.

Loader

A helper allowed only for SH2 athletes, if the classification panel permits it. The loader must not speak or signal, may load the rifle or adjust the sights only when the athlete asks, and may touch only the barrel when loading. In R3 and all SH2 events at least every third firing point should be left vacant, to avoid disturbing other athletes; the Technical Delegate decides.

Positions and conduct

Kneeling position (para shooting)

In the 50 m three positions. An SH1A athlete (SH1 with trunk function score A) with a lower limb deficiency may use a prosthesis or a stool up to 35 cm high to support the rifle-side leg. With a chair and table only one elbow rests on the table or board, the forearm is at least 30 degrees above horizontal and the body is clear of the table.

Prone position (para shooting)

In 10 m air rifle prone athletes do not lie down but use a chair and table. An athlete may lean on the backrest or on the table but not both. SH1 rest both elbows on the table with the upper arms clear of it and the forearms at least 30 degrees above horizontal. SH2 may not use a sling.

Standing position (para shooting)

The chair's arms and sideboards and the table are removed. SH1 hold the rifle with the arms only, with no contact with the chair, and the elbows must not rest on the lap or wheel. In pistol the non-shooting arm must not rest on the chair or give support.

De-shouldering

In standing rifle SH2 athletes must clearly take the rifle butt from the shoulder between shots, with a visible gap of at least 3 cm. Failure is penalised with a yellow card, then a green card, then a red card.

Free-standing

Shooting standing with no artificial support, except a medically certified prosthesis or orthosis. Rifle athletes with trunk function score A, and pistol athletes written SH1A in the rules, may choose it.

Finals and penalties

Loading in finals

In finals the athlete or loader must not touch the weapon with a pellet or bullet before the LOAD command, and must finish loading within 5 seconds, or 10 seconds for SH2 and VI events. Loaders go to the back of the firing point, 1 m behind the athlete, between shots.

Yellow, green and red cards (para shooting)

The penalty ladder for certain violations, such as breaking the loading rules or the standing and de-shouldering rules. A first violation in a competition is a yellow card, a second a green card with a two-point penalty, and a third a red card, which is disqualification.

Vision impairment

Acoustic aiming system

The equipment used by VI shooters: an infrared LED system on the target and a sound unit with headphones, with which the athlete aims by sound. The athlete brings their own LED, and the sound must not be audible from 1 m away. If a unit fails or breaks it is an allowable malfunction, and low batteries or disconnected wires are not.

The ruleHow do blind people shoot?

VI assistant

The helper every VI athlete must have. The assistant puts the LED lights on the target at least ten minutes before the call to the firing line, may adjust the sights on request but may not support the rifle, and stands fixed at least 50 cm behind the athlete. Speaking to the athlete is prohibited, but non-verbal signals for the score and the target direction are allowed.

Eye covering (VI shooting)

In qualification and finals every VI athlete wears opaque goggles, enclosed glasses or a mask that completely covers the eyes so no vision is possible.

Team events and medical

Team events (para shooting)

A team has three athletes, and its score is the sum of their individual event scores, with no separate team match. There is one team per event per NPC at championships and sanctioned competitions. An event needs at least three teams, and with exactly three the minus-one rule gives only gold and silver.

Mixed team (para shooting)

Rifle and pistol mixed teams of two athletes, up to two teams per NPC, following the ISSF format. The para trap two-person team is one man and one woman from any of the trap events, scored by adding their individual scores.

Epilepsy declaration

Every athlete must declare any epilepsy or seizure to WSPS and complete the epilepsy declaration form before getting a licence for the season. An athlete with epilepsy and an episode in the previous 12 months may compete only with WSPS approval.