Officiating Track & Fieldfor Athletes with Disabilities

Officiating Track & Fieldfor Athletes with DisabilitiesThere are six Disabled Sports Organizations promoting

T&F for disabled athletes: - Wheelchair Sports, USA - National Disability Sports Alliance (Cerebral

Palsy) - Special Olympics - United States Association for Blind Athletes - USA Deaf Track & Field - Disabled Sports USA (Amputee)All base their rules on IAAF and USATF rules, making

modifications only as necessary to accommodate the particular needs of the type of disability

Officiating Track & Fieldfor Athletes with Disabilities

The central source for track and field rules for athletes with disabilities:

The International Paralympic Committee

Classification of AthletesVisually Impaired• Class 11– Blind– Needs guide• Class 12- Limited vision- may have guide

Intellectually Disabled• Class 20- Has learning disability

Cerebral Palsy, Stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury• Class 32-34- Wheelchair athletes• Class 35-38- Ambulatory Athletes

Classification of Athletes

Amputees and Les Autres• Class 40- Dwarf • Class 42-44- Leg Amputees• Class 45-46- Arm Amputees

Spinal Cord Injuries, Spina Bifida• Class 51-54- Wheelchair Track • Class 51-58- Seated Throwers

There are several classes of Athletes in using the IPC rules, but for our purpose there are 2 groups that we will need to be concerned about, Ambulatory and Wheelchair athletes.

Let’s keep it simple and look at the rules we use for able bodied athletes and see how they apply to disabled athletes.

Classification of Athletes

Uniforms – Same rules apply. Shot / Discus – Same size and weight for HS. Shoes – Yes and No. ◦ If in a wheelchair it may not be feasible to wear them

(racing chair) as they may not fit in the confines of the chair.◦ Throwers and runners are required to wear them. ◦ Amputees who wear a prosthesis or “blade” for running

have a spike plate on the base so no shoe is required for that leg.

General Rules for each event will apply with the following exceptions.

Classification of Athletes

Running◦ There are 3 class for blind runners, but for our

purpose there is just 1.

Acoustic devices to signal the athlete are allowed in bothrunning and in field events.

Athletes are allowed a sightedguides in running events and they will be given 2 lanes.

Blind Athletes

RunningGuides/escorts must be clearly identified by wearing a

distinctively colored vest. With or without a tether, the athleteand guide shall not be more than ½ meter apart at all times. The exception is during the last 10 meters of a race when the athlete can be farther ahead. The guide may not pull or propel the athlete forward and must finish behind the athlete. Races >400M, two guides are allowed, exchange to occur on the straight and referee must be notified prior to the race.

Blind Athletes

Blind - In field events where competitors receive assistance from callers or guides, the time clock shall start from when the official is satisfied the athlete has completed orientation; should a competitor request verbal confirmation of the starting of the time clock, the official shall give it◦ Note: If the athlete loses orientation such that re-orientation is needed, the

clock shall be stopped and resumed from that time once orientation has been regained.

An escort may bring athletes to the throwing circle or runway It is the task of the escort to help orient the athlete before the

attempt, and they must leave the circle/runway before the attempt

Acoustic orientation is permitted before, during and after the attempt

Official in charge of an event may move an escort that is providing acoustic orientation if the official determines the escort is not in a safe location. Remember, the athlete and guide may have train with the guide in the sector and know the hazards.

Blind Athletes

Athletes may be escorted from the circle/runway after the officials determine the attempt was a valid one. (In HS, normally a throw is declared good after the athlete walks out the back of the circle. A blind athlete may not be able to do this, so following IAAF, USATF & IPC rules of making the fair/foul when the implement has landed and the thrower has recovered and is under control).

Athletes may use 1 assistant (to call and to position on the runway) *After completing the orientation and leaving the athlete, the guide

cannot touch the athlete until the attempt is completed; i.e., the athlete has set at least one foot outside the circle or the pit.

High Jump Competitors may touch the bar as an aid to orientation

before beginning the run up If they dislodge the bar doing this, it will not count as an

attempt May place a visual aid on the bar (prior approval from official)

Blind Athletes

Blind Athletes Long Jump

The take off area is extended back behind the take-off board to make an area 1M x 1.22M by use of chalk, powder, light sand, etc., so the athlete leaves an impression on the area with his/her takeoff foot.

Measurement is made from the mark to the impression left on the take-off area; if an athlete takes off prior to the area, then the measurement is taken to the edge of the takeoff area farthest from the pit.

For safety purposes, minimum distance from center of pit to edge should be 1.75M.

Blind Athletes Setting up the Long Jump• Chalk, flour or a light sand may be used for the powder• Measure from the takeoff foot that leaves an impression in

the powder.

These athletes are treated like able bodied athletes with just a few exceptions depending on the event.

Athletes with Prosthesis

Kortney Clemons (USA)

Jeremy Campbell (USA ) - Current World Record Holder in the Discus – 63.46 Meters (208’2”)

Most if not all of the athletes in this class would compete as part of Special Olympics.

Internationally, the 20 class competes only in the Long Jump, Shot and 1500.Nationally, there may be additional events.

20’s may need some assistance in setting up equipment or blocks. If assistance is needed a form will be provided from the Call Room.

Look to the athlete for understanding of verbal instruction

Intellectually Disabled - 20

ATHLETES NOT REQUIRED TO USE BLOCKS: can use a crouch, standing or 3 point stance with or without blocks.

• This class grouping is a mixture of Wheelchair athletes and ambulatory athletes.

• Balance is an issue for these classes. Do not try to hold them in the blocks too long.

• Some of the athletes, particularly the 36 class may be deaf, so the assistant starter may need to drop a flag at the firing of the starter’s pistol. Alternately, a strobe light connected to the starter’s pistol may be used.

Cerebral Palsy- 30’s

ATHLETES NOT REQUIRED TO USE BLOCKS: Can use a crouch, standing or 3 point stance with or without blocks.• Arm amputees or those with short arms may use

pads to rest their stump on at the start.• The blocks or pads mustbe of similar color to the track or a neutral color.• The pad must be completely behind the starting line and not interfere with any other athlete.

Arm amputees

ATHLETES NOT REQUIRED TO USE BLOCKS: can use a crouch, standing or 3 point stance with or without blocks.

Athlete must use their leg prosthesis, they are not allowed to hop.

Dwarf and Amputees- 40’s

• Athletes will be single below the knee,double below the knee, single above the knee and double above the knee and arm amputees.

RELAYS• Exchanges are done by touch to any part of the

body of the outgoing athlete, due to the arm amputee class.

• Touch must take place in exchange zone.

• Three wheels with maximumof 70 cm in rear and 50 cm in front• No Gears, mirrors or fairings are allowed.• No part of the chair can protrude behind the vertical plane of the chair– to check it should be pushed against the wall to make sure only the wheels touch.• Chairs to be measured and inspected in the call room• Hip numbers should go on the helmet side facing the camera and on the

racing chair– Bibs go on the back of the racing chair and athlete HELMETS• Required for athletes in all races.

Wheelchair athletes- 51-54

• Commands remain the same as traditional

• “On your mark”- An athlete shall approach the start line and be in their lane and behind the start line

• “Set”- take final position retaining the contact of the front wheel with the ground behind the line.

• No movement is allowed at set.

• When stopping the start, instruct the athletes to “roll back” not “come up or stand

Wheelchair start

• Athlete coming from behind in an attempt to overtake carries the responsibility of ensuring clearance before cutting in.

• The overtaken athlete can not obstruct or impede the incoming athlete when front wheels are in sight.

• Race recall- in a race 800 or longer if a crash occurs within the first 50m, the starter may recall the race.

• If a crash occurs during the race the role of the officials should be to direct incoming wheelchairs around the crash by being 30m ahead of the crash.

Wheelchair Race

Correct to overtake

Correct overtake INCORRECT

The Finish time is determined when the front axle crosses the finish line.

Wheelchair finish

Traditional Competition Rules (IAAF/IPC/USATF/NFHS) in all field events.Prosthetic Wear• Prosthetics are required in running events, but not

in field events• The athlete can adjust their leg during the run-up,

but they must finish the attempt in the allowed time (60 sec )

• If they lose their prosthesis while jumping, and if the legproduces the closest mark to the takeoff board, you use that mark to measure from.• If the prosthesis lands outside the landing area- it is a foul.• Unlike running events, athletes can compete with or without their Prosthetics.

Field events-amputees

FRAMES• Seat shall not exceed 75 cm

including cushion• Footplates are only for

stability and if the footplates is on the ground it may only be 1 cm high

• No Springs– the side and back must be non-moveable.

• Holding bar must be rigid and can not bend or move (New Rule)

• Back of chair must be at a 90 degrees angle with the seat.

Seated Throws- FRAMES

Seated Throws- Tie Downs All parts of the frame(footplates, holding bar,

etc.) must be inside the vertical plane of the rim of the circle.

Tie-downs- ratchet straps or chains are used to secure the athlete inside the ring.

TWO TYPES OF THROWERS:• Seated with a foot on

the ground or on a thin plate on the ground (less than 1 cm)

• Fully seated with feet elevated above ground (may be supported by or tied to chair or supports

SEATED THROWS- Chairs

No tape on hands, except for 51-53 class who may tape their non-throwing hand to the holding bar (the hand maybe gloved).

All straps (if used) must be non-elastic. Loose clothing is prohibited during competition

as it impacts the official ability to see a “lift”.

Seated Throws- Rules

Alexey Ashapatov of Russia

LIFTING RULE• Athletes maintain a sitting position (one cheek in

contact with seat) until the first forward movement which results in the release of the implement.

• Maintain foot contact with ground or foot plateuntil after the implement has been released.

KEYS for Lifting rule-1. Is one cheek in contact – Even during Warm-ups?2. Has the implement moved?3. Is the foot on the ground?

Seated Throws- Rules

• Athlete cheek is touching.• Athlete is in the action of throwing

Athlete is off the seat prior to starting the throw.

Seated Throws- Lifting Rules

SEATED THROWS- MeasuringNUMBER OF ATTEMPTS• Internationally, they will have three trials and

then the top 8 get three additional throws.• Athletes may get six straight throws at the

discretion of meet director. • The reason for this is time, it takes 3 to 5

minutes to set a throwing frame properly in a circle.

GENERAL• Check implement weight as most classes are different.• Implement touching thesector line on landing is a foul• Zero end of tape in field, pull through the center dot and read measurement off the front of the ring.

Officiating Track & Fieldfor Athletes with DisabilitiesAnd…

Persons withdisabilities can beofficials, as well.