What is a Classifier?

Classifiers are trained and certified officials who assess athletes to determine their sport class and sport class status, in accordance with the classification rules defined by each sport’s International Federation. Classifiers are trained and certified by sports federations and generally work in a voluntary capacity at a state, national and international level.

In Australia, classifiers work closely with their relevant sport organisations, as well as with the Australian Paralympic Committee, international classifiers and other national classifiers. They are also members of a Classification Panel, which must include a minimum of two classifiers, unless more are deemed appropriate and specified in the rules of the sport.

Classification is sport-specific and to classify requires a high level of understanding of the demands of that sport, as well as the ability to determine how impairment may impact on an athlete’s ability to compete in their chosen sport.

 

Who can become a classifier?

The APC is focused on growing the number of classifiers in Australia through targeted classifier development. In 2010-2011, 165 Australians were recognised as certified classifiers or trainees, an increase of 47 from 2008-2009. Of those 165, 45 Australian classifiers are now recognised as International classifiers for their sport.

Classifiers have a wide range of expertise, including medical or technical qualifications and sport specific expertise. International Federations have two different types of classifiers: medical and technical. Some sports use only one of these, and some use a combination of both.
In Australia, we aim to have national level classifiers for each sport in line with the mix of medical and technical classifiers that the international federations use.

 

Types of Classifiers

Medical Classifiers

In general, medical classifiers are registered as medical doctors, physiotherapists, or ophthalmic professionals depending on the disability group for which they classify. In addition to a strong understanding of the relevant sport, these classifiers have expertise in:
 

• Diagnosis and interpretation of medical assessment procedures


• Physical disabilities, vision impairments, intellectual impairments


• Assessment procedures relevant to disability groups such as muscle strength and range of motion, hypertonia scales, limb length, visual acuity/field, cognitive testing parameters.


• Determining sports activity limitation resulting from the impairment

Technical Classifiers

Technical classifiers are those who have specific technical qualifications or expertise in their particular sport. In addition they should also have an understanding of the disability or impairment groups that are involved with their sport. They may be experienced coaches, sport scientists, biomechanics or human movement specialists or experienced former Paralympians.

Each International Federation for the sport outlines the qualification of those classifiers that can be used in each sport.

 

Classifiers in Australia

The Australian Paralympic Committee works in partnership with the national federations to identify the needs for future classifier development. This involves identifying suitably qualified and experienced individuals who are interested in becoming national or international classifiers in targeted sports and geographic areas. Those national classifiers who achieve a high degree of experience and excellence may have the opportunity to train to become international classifiers in due time.

It is an expectation that all potential and current classifiers will have experience and involvement in their relevant sport.

A national classifier in a given sport can expect to participate in a minimum of one state based classification day per year as part of a classification panel.

They may also be asked to act as part of a classification panel for their chosen sport 1-2 times per year at national events around Australia.

Costs associated with interstate travel for classification will be met by the organisation hosting the classification day or event.