LAF2 (classification)

LA2 is a Les Autres sport classification is an wheelchair sport classification for a sportsperson with a disability that impacts their locomotor function. People in this class have severe locomotor issues with all four limbs as a result of loss of muscle strength or spasticity to a lesser degree than LAF1 or have severe locomotor issues in three of their limbs. They have moderate sitting balance, but good sitting balance while throwing.

Internationally, governance for this sport is handled by IWAS, following the 2005 merger of ISMWSF and ISOD. Classification is handled nationally by relevant national organizations. Sports they can participate in include sitting volleyball, powerlifting, athletics, archery, and equestrian.

Definition

LAF2 is an Les Autres sports classification.[1] Sportspeople in this class use wheelchairs on a regular basis as a result of reduced muscle function.[1] They have low to moderate levels of balance issues while sitting, but maintain overall good balance from that position.[1] They have normal arm function.[1] Medically, this class includes people with severe hemiplegia, and paralysis of one limb while having deformations in two other limbs. Functionally, this means they have severe impairment of three limbs, or all four limbs but to a lesser degree than LAF1. In terms of functional classification, this means the sportsperson uses a wheelchair, has moderate sitting balance, reduced limb function in their throwing limb but has good sitting balance while throwing.[2] For the 1984 Summer Paralympics, LAF2 was defined by the Games organizers as, "Wheelchair bound with normal function in throwing arm and poor to no sitting balance."[3]

Governance

Les Autres sport classification was originally created and then governed by the International Sports Organization for the Disabled (ISOD).[4][5][6][7] Currently, classification is overseen by IWAS,[8][9] having taken over this role following the 2005 merger of ISMWSF and ISOD.[10][11]

National sport organizations handle classification on the national level. In the United Kingdom, this is the British Amputee and Les Autres Sports Association.[12][13][14] In the United States, this is the United States Les Autres Sports Association.[15] The classification system used in the United States has generally matched the international norms, though in track in field there have been five wheelchair classes and five ambulatory classes for Les Autres sportspeople.[16] In Australia, Wheelchair Sports Australia was the governing body for classification for Les Autres sportspeople,[17] with Disability Sports Australia taking over the role following the 2003 merger of Australian Sports Organisation for the Disabled (ASOD), Cerebral Palsy Australian Sports and Recreation Federation (CPASRF) and Wheelchair Sports Australia (WSA).[18]

Sports

Athletics

See also: Para-athletics classification

People in this class compete in F53.[19][20][21] Athletes in this class have normal functioning in their throwing arm.[1] While throwing, they can generally maintain good balance.[1] At the 1984 Summer Paralympics, LAF1, LAF2 and LAF3 track athletes had the 60 meters and 400 meter distances on the program.[3] There was a large range of sportspeople with different disabilities in this class at the 1984 Summer Paralympics.[3]

Other sports

See also: Para-swimming classification and Para-equestrian classification

See also: Para-archery classification, ARW1, and ARW2

Les Autres competitors can also participate in sitting volleyball. In the past, the sport had a classification system and they were assigned to one of these classes. The rules were later changed to be inclusive of anyone, including Les Autres players, who meet the minimum disability requirement.[22][23] Powerlifting is another sport open to people from this class where they compete against others with minimal disability requirements and are segregated based on weight.[23][24] This sport is open to swimmers from this class. For swimming with the most severe disabilities at the 1984 Summer Paralympics, floating devices and a swimming coach in the water swimming next to the Paralympic competitor were allowed.[25] Para-equestrian is another sport open to people from this class. Because they are use a wheelchair, LAF3 riders may be in Grade 1. This grade is typically for people with cerebral palsy, les autres and spinal cord injuries who have severe levels of disability.[26] Archery is another option. LAF2 classified athletes compete in ARW1 or ARW2.[26][27]

References

1. Consejo Superior de Deportes (2011). Deportistas sin Adjectivos (PDF) (in Spanish). Spain: Consejo Superior de Deportes. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-11-04. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
2. MD, Michael A. Alexander; MD, Dennis J. Matthews (2009-09-18). Pediatric Rehabilitation: Principles & Practices, Fourth Edition. Demos Medical Publishing. ISBN 9781935281658.
3. Broekhoff, Jan (1986-06-01). The 1984 Olympic Scientific Congress proceedings: Eugene, Ore., 19-26 July 1984 : (also: OSC proceedings). Human Kinetics Publishers. ISBN 9780873220064.
4. "ritgerd". www.ifsport.is (in Icelandic). Archived from the original on 2016-05-05. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
5. Richter, Kenneth J.; Adams-Mushett, Carol; Ferrara, Michael S.; McCann, B. Cairbre (1992). "lntegrated Swimming Classification : A Faulted System" (PDF). ADAPTED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY QUARTERLY. 9: 5–13. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
6. Rehabilitation World. Rehabilitation International USA. 1984-01-01.
7. Shephard, Roy J. (1990-01-01). Fitness in special populations. Human Kinetics Books. ISBN 9780873222709.
8. "About IWAS". Int'l Wheelchair & Amputee Sports Federation. Int'l Wheelchair & Amputee Sports Federation. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
9. "Other Sports". Int'l Wheelchair & Amputee Sports Federation. Int'l Wheelchair & Amputee Sports Federation. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
10. KOCCA (2011). "장애인e스포츠 활성화를 위한 스포츠 등급분류 연구" [Activate e-sports for people with disabilities: Sports Classification Study] (PDF). KOCCA (in Korean). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-08-17.
11. Andrews, David L.; Carrington, Ben (2013-06-21). A Companion to Sport. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9781118325285.
12. DePauw, Karen P.; Gavron, Susan J. (2005-01-01). Disability Sport. Human Kinetics. ISBN 9780736046381.
13. Thomas, Nigel (2002). "Sport and Disability" (PDF). pp. 105–124. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
14. Vickerman, Philip (2007-01-24). Teaching Physical Education to Children with Special Educational Needs. Routledge. ISBN 9781134168460.
15. McKeag, Douglas; Moeller, James L. (2007-01-01). ACSM's Primary Care Sports Medicine. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 9780781770286.
16. Winnick, Joseph P. (2011-01-01). Adapted Physical Education and Sport. Human Kinetics. ISBN 9780736089180.
17. Houbolt, Mirjam; Denman, Karen (1998-01-01). Coaching Athletes with Cerebral Palsy. Australian Sports Commission. ISBN 9780642263445.
18. "About DSA". Disability Sports Australia. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
19. "CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FOR STUDENTS WITH A DISABILITY". Queensland Sport. Queensland Sport. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
20. Consejo Superior de Deportes (2011). Deportistas sin Adjectivos (PDF) (in Spanish). Spain: Consejo Superior de Deportes. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-11-04. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
21. International Paralympic Committee (June 2009). "IPC Athletics Classification Project for Physical Impairments: Final Report - Stage 1" (PDF). International Paralympic Committee Governing Committee Reports.
22. "Paralympics categories explained". ABC News. 2008-09-03. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
23. Davis, Ronald W. (2011-01-01). Teaching Disability Sport: A Guide for Physical Educators. Human Kinetics. ISBN 9780736082587.
24. Consejo Superior de Deportes (2011). Deportistas sin Adjectivos (PDF) (in Spanish). Spain: Consejo Superior de Deportes. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-11-04. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
25. Broekhoff, Jan (1986-06-01). The 1984 Olympic Scientific Congress proceedings: Eugene, Ore., 19-26 July 1984 : (also: OSC proceedings). Human Kinetics Publishers. ISBN 9780873220064.
26. "Paralympics: What Do The Categories Mean?". Leading Britain's Conversation. Leading Britain's Conversation. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
27. "Paralympic Archery - overview, rules and classification | British Paralympic Association". British Paralympic Association. Archived from the original on 2016-07-24. Retrieved 2016-07-31.