A Laypersons Guide to Wheelchair Rugby Classification

Classification is a unique and integral part of sport for persons with disabilities. The purpose of classification is to ensure fair and equitable competition at all levels of sport and to allow athletes to compete at the highest level, regardless of individual differences in physical function. 

Classification systems have been in use in sport for persons with disabilities since the mid-1940s. The early classification systems were based on medical diagnoses, such as spinal cord injury, and were not specific for the unique functional demands of each sport. However, more recent transitions from medical classification to sport-specific classification systems have resulted in functional classification, where class is based on an athlete’s functional abilities specific to the physical demands of each unique sport. Functional classification systems ensure that athletes with a combination of impaired or absent upper and lower limb movement have an opportunity to play the sport and that the strategies and skills of competing teams and athletes, rather than the amount of movement of the athletes, are the factors determining success in competition.

Wheelchair Rugby, with roots in wheelchair basketball and ice hockey, began in Canada in the 1970's as a counterpart to wheelchair basketball for persons with tetraplegia or tetra-equivalent function. The first classification system was medically based and there were three classes, largely determined by medical diagnosis and level of spinal cord injury. In 1991, the system was changed to a functional classification system unique to the sport of wheelchair rugby. This was done for many reasons, including the need to have a system that would accommodate the growing number of athletes both with and without spinal cord injury (such as polio, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis and amputations).

Wheelchair rugby athletes, because of the unique and varied nature of their muscle function, demonstrate combinations of varying stomach, back, chest, arm and leg movement in performing the wheelchair rugby skills of ball handling, such as passing, catching, carrying, and dribbling; and wheelchair skills that include pushing, starting, stopping, directional changes, tackling and blocking.   

To determine an athlete’s class, classifiers observe athletes as they perform a variety of these movements. Firstly, classifiers test athletes’ limbs for strength, flexibility, sensation, and muscle tone; and athletes’ trunks (abdominal and back muscles) for balance, ability to bend over and rise up and the ability to rotate to both sides (in combination with leg function, if present). The athlete is then observed performing both ball handling and wheelchair skills prior to game play and during game play, if necessary.  In addition, the athlete’s execution of ball and wheelchair handling skills are observed on court during actual game play. 

Typically, an athlete is assigned a class following the completion of the bench test and the functional skills test prior to game play (observation of ball handling and wheelchair skills). The athlete’s execution of ball and wheelchair handling skills are observed on court during actual play to make a final determination of the athlete’s class.   

Occasionally, an athlete presents with characteristics of two classes (for instance, following bench and functional skills tests, the athlete appears to fall between two classes). Standard practice in classification is to assign the athlete the higher class to begin competition and leave them “in review” for observation during game play. Review status is indicated by the letter “R” following the athlete’s class number (such as 1.0R).  Observation of the athlete’s function on court during actual game play would be the final determination of the athlete’s class. The classification panel attempts to make these decisions as quickly as possible, however, it is dependent on having the opportunity to adequately observe the athlete during competition. If an athlete does not have an opportunity to play a sufficient amount of time during the game, the athlete may not get a final class determination. In some cases when an athlete does not get adequate playing time throughout the tournament, the athlete may conclude the tournament under review (in this case, following the tournament the athlete will still have a class number followed by an R, such as 1.0R). 

For example, an athlete appears to be between two classes following the bench and functional skills tests—based on the bench test and functional skills test the athlete functions in some areas like a 0.5 athlete while in others like a 1.0 athlete. In this example, the athlete would begin play as a 1.0R athlete, which indicates the athlete has a 1.0 class but is still under review. Observation of the athlete’s function on court during actual game play would determine whether the “R” or review is removed and whether the athlete’s final class was 1.0 or 0.5.   

It is responsibility of both players and coaches to be educated about the classification process and the proper procedure. Athletes are responsible for arriving at the classification area at their assigned times and in their playing chairs with gloves, straps and any other equipment that they use during play. Equally as important, the athlete must give full effort and cooperation. Any athlete perceived as not fully cooperating with the classification process may sustain penalties such as:

In the event that an athlete enters the classification area under the influence of any performance altering substance, the athlete will be asked to leave without receiving a classification and therefore will not be eligible to play.

There are seven classes ranging from 0.5 to 3.5 with functional characteristics identified for each athlete class. In general, the 0.5 class includes those athletes with the most disability and the 3.5 class includes those athletes with the least disability or “minimal” disability eligible for the sport of wheelchair rugby. 

In international wheelchair rugby the total number of points allowed on court at any time is 8.0. That is, the total points of all four athletes actually playing cannot exceed 8.0 points. A team may play with a lineup that totals less than 8.0 points, but not more. 

Athletes must meet minimal eligibility criteria to play the sport of wheelchair rugby. Competitors with non-neurological conditions may be eligible to play wheelchair rugby if they demonstrate functional limitations in the trunk and in all four extremities and they are deemed eligible following the classification tests.

Athletes with neurological conditions may be eligible to play wheelchair rugby if they demonstrate functional limitations in both the trunk and three or four extremities and they are deemed eligible following the classification tests.