Module 8 Flashcards
What is the purpose of classification in Paralympic Sport? Conceptually, how do classification systems aim to achieve this purpose?
To minimise the impact of impairment on the outcome of competition.
Achieved with selective classification systems that seek to establish whether an athlete has one of the 10 health conditions in the ICD 10, if they have eligible impairment that reaches the minimum impairment criteria, they are then placed in classes based on the extent of their activity limitations, therefore members of a class will have the same amount of limitations in a sport.
The Special Olympic movement and the Paralympic movement both offer competitive sports opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities. Describe the main difference between competition organisation in the two movements.
The SOI first classifies athletes by age and gender and the splits them into divisions based on performance. The IPC all eligible athletes with intellectual disabilities compete together and there are no classes, so there is not performance based divisions.
Two parents, Peter and Mary, each have a 10-year-old child with a disability. Peter’s child has severe spina bifida, and Mary’s child has mild cerebral palsy. Both are very keen to involve their children in Para sport because of the health and social benefits. However Peter feels a little apprehensive about the idea - his child is very keen to compete but Peter he feels that his child is so severely affected that he will not have much of a chance of succeeding. Mary is much more enthusiastic, reasoning that because her child is “almost able to keep up with the non-disabled kids” she is likely to win most of her events.
In relation to classification, explain why Peter’s logic is flawed.
In relation to classification. Explain why Mary’s logic is flawed.
Why it is important to correct the perceptions of parents in Peter’s situation?
Why is it important to correct the perceptions of parents in Mary’s situation?
1) Peter’s logic is flawed as he seemingly does not understand how the Paralympics classification system works. The purpose of their classification system is to minimise the effect that impairments have on fair competition as athletes are classed based on the type and extent of their disability, ensuring athletes are competing against others with similar functional abilities. Even though Peter’s child has sever spinal bifida, they would compete against others with similar functional abilities, giving them a fair chance to succeed.
2) Mary’s logic is is similarly flawed to Peter’s. Believing that mary’s child will likely win most of her events if flawed as their fellow athletes will have similar functional ability to them. Believing the child will win based on the level of impairment fails to understand how the para sport classification system works and the competition the child is likely to face.
3) It is important to correct peter’s perceptions as they could prevent his child from experiencing the many benefits of para sport competition. Peter can become more supportive and willing to allow his child to participate.
4) Mary’s high expectations could lead to disappointment or unrealistic pressure on the child if they do no win as she expected. Helping mary understand the classification system can set more realistic expectations that ensure the child’s participation in sport is focused on enjoyment and growth rather than just winning.
Susan was an Australian Paralympic athlete and last year won the national champion in the T37 100m for the 5th year in a row. The next year a new athlete appeared in her class and in the same season beat Susan for the Australian title by a large margin. Susan and her coach thought she looked to have a less severe impairment and was in the wrong class.
If Susan is correct and her opponent does have a less severe impairment, does it necessarily follow that she should not be in the same class?
What reasons other than being in the wrong class might explain the success of Susans opponent?
Classifications are continuous and encompass a range of activity limitations that impact sports performance to a similar extent.
This implies that some athletes will have their sports performance impacted less than others within a single class, and this could be the reason why this new athlete is outperforming Susan.
The new athlete may be more genetically predisposed to performing better in this particular swimming event, or they could be younger with greater peak fitness and/or have greater motivation for participating.
A Paralympic athlete (athlete A) is consistently winning her 800m event at international level by a large margin. Some of her competitors believe she is in the wrong class and one of them goes to the media and claims she must be guilty of intentional misrepresentation (IM).
What is IM?
If athlete A is has a unilateral trans-tibial amputation and no other impairments, is it possible for them to be guilty of IM? Why or why not?
If athlete A is a runner with an ABI, it is possible that her acuser is correct - she is in the wrong class because she is guilty of IM. However, without further evidence there are other plausible reasons that Athlete A is consistently winning by a big margin - give two.
IM refers to an athlete deliberately providing false information or manipulating their physical or intellectual abilities in order to get themselves put into a classification with people whose sports performance is more affected by their impairments.
Would be difficult for athlete A to be guilty of IM. The only way they could exaggerate the impact of her amputation would be by pretending it affects her more than expected. However, this would be hard to make believable since only her lower leg was removed, with no other related issues.
Some athletes will have their sports performance impacted less than others within a single class, and this could be the reason why athlete A is outperforming her fellow competitors.
Athlete A may also be more genetically predisposed to performing better in this particular event, or they could be younger with greater peak fitness and/or have greater motivation for participating.
Henry wishes to compete in Para sport. Four questions must be addressed in order to determine whether henry is eligible and, if he is, what class he should compete in. What are they?
1) Does the athlete have a health condition?
2) Does the athlete have an eligible impairment?
3) Does the athlete reach the minimum impairment criteria?
4) What class should the athlete compete in?
Explain what Intentional Misrepresentation is and why an athlete would do it.
Refers to an athlete deliberately providing false information or manipulating their physical to intellectual abilities in order to get themselves put into a classification with people whose sports performance is more affected by their impairments.
The reason an athlete would do this is to do better in competition and receive more accolades for their performance.
Question 8The Power of Para Sport - Dutia et al
Describe the data presented in the three plots on the left.
Describe the data presented in the three plots on the right.
Explain the clinical significance of the findings.
- The three graphs represent the study’s three participants training load across three years. We see that at numerous points in the program, all participants exceed and fell short of the physical activity guidelines RPE minute load.
- The three graphs represent the participants’ gross motor function measure score against their age throughout the program. We see that all participants had their GMFM increase above their projected GMFM given their condition acorss the entire program.
- This data suggests that the parastart program has worked to reverse the motor decline associated with their conditions. This indicates that aiming to reach the national activity guidelines, at least with swimming, can counteract the natural motor decline associated with cerebral palsy.
