LAF4 (classification)

LA4 is a Les Autres sport classification is an ambulatory sport classification for a sportsperson with a disability that impacts their locomotor function. People in this class may or may not uses crutches and/or braces on a daily basis. They have some issues with balance and reduced function in their upper limbs.

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. ports open to people in this class include archery, athletics, equestrian, and CP football.

Definition

LAF4 is an Les Autres sports classification.[1][2] This is an ambulant class for people who have difficulty moving or severe balance problems. They may use crutches on a daily basis.[2] They have reduced upper limb functionality.[2] Medically, this class includes people with contracture/ankylosis in joints of one limb and limited function in another limb. It means they have limited function in two limbs but to a lesser extent than LAF3. In terms of functional classification, this means the sportsperson is ambulatory with or without crutches and braces, has balance problems and reduced function in their throwing arm.[3] For the 1984 Summer Paralympics, LAF4 sportspeople were described by the Games organizers as "ambulant, with or without crutches and/or braces. They had weakness in the dominant arm, causing reduced function."[4]

Governance

Les Autres sport classification was originally created and then governed by the International Sports Organization for the Disabled (ISOD).[5][6][7][8] Currently, classification is overseen by IWAS,[9][10] having taken over this role following the 2005 merger of ISMWSF and ISOD.[11][12]

National sport organizations handle classification on the national level. In the United Kingdom, this is the British Amputee and Les Autres Sports Association.[13][14][15] In the United States, this is the United States Les Autres Sports Association.[16] 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.[17] In Australia, Wheelchair Sports Australia was the governing body for classification for Les Autres sportspeople,[18] 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).[19]

Sports

Athletics

See also: Para-athletics classification

In some cases, people in this class can compete in the F58 wheelchair field event class.[1][2][20] They have reduced functionality in their throwing arm.[2] Competitors in this class may also compete in T46. This is a standing class for people an upper limb deficiency impacting their joints impacting one or both arms.[1]

At the 1984 Summer Paralympics, LAF4, LAF5 and LAF6 track athletes had the 100 meters and 1,500 meters on their program. In field events, they had shot put, discus, javelin and club throws. No jumping events were on the program for these classes.[4] There was a large range of sportspeople with different disabilities in this class at the 1984 Summer Paralympics.[4]

Other sports

See also: Para-archery classification and ARST

See also: Para-equestrian classification and football 7-a-side classification

Archery is one of the sports open to people in this class. LAF4 classified athletes compete in ARST. People in this class can compete while sitting on a high stool, but their feet must be touching the ground while shooting.[21][22] People in this class sometimes participate in cerebral palsy soccer. In CP soccer, rules requiring a CP5 player on the field led to wider adoption of Les Autres classes into the CP classification system to facilitate comparable participation.[23] Para-equestrian is another sport open to people in this class. Because they are ambulant, LAF5 riders may be in Grade 1 or Grade 4. Grade 1 is typically for people with cerebral palsy, les autres and spinal cord injuries who have severe levels of disability. Grade 4 is typically for people with normal lower limb functionality, but some other disability like vision impairment, or impairment in a leg or arm.[21]

References

1. "CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FOR STUDENTS WITH A DISABILITY". Queensland Sport. Queensland Sport. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
2. 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.
3. MD, Michael A. Alexander; MD, Dennis J. Matthews (2009-09-18). Pediatric Rehabilitation: Principles & Practices, Fourth Edition. Demos Medical Publishing. ISBN 9781935281658.
4. 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.
5. "ritgerd". www.ifsport.is (in Icelandic). Archived from the original on 2016-05-05. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
6. 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.
7. Rehabilitation World. Rehabilitation International USA. 1984-01-01.
8. Shephard, Roy J. (1990-01-01). Fitness in special populations. Human Kinetics Books. ISBN 9780873222709.
9. "About IWAS". Int'l Wheelchair & Amputee Sports Federation. Int'l Wheelchair & Amputee Sports Federation. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
10. "Other Sports". Int'l Wheelchair & Amputee Sports Federation. Int'l Wheelchair & Amputee Sports Federation. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
11. 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.
12. Andrews, David L.; Carrington, Ben (2013-06-21). A Companion to Sport. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9781118325285.
13. DePauw, Karen P.; Gavron, Susan J. (2005-01-01). Disability Sport. Human Kinetics. ISBN 9780736046381.
14. Thomas, Nigel (2002). "Sport and Disability" (PDF). pp. 105–124. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
15. Vickerman, Philip (2007-01-24). Teaching Physical Education to Children with Special Educational Needs. Routledge. ISBN 9781134168460.
16. McKeag, Douglas; Moeller, James L. (2007-01-01). ACSM's Primary Care Sports Medicine. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 9780781770286.
17. Winnick, Joseph P. (2011-01-01). Adapted Physical Education and Sport. Human Kinetics. ISBN 9780736089180.
18. Houbolt, Mirjam; Denman, Karen (1998-01-01). Coaching Athletes with Cerebral Palsy. Australian Sports Commission. ISBN 9780642263445.
19. "About DSA". Disability Sports Australia. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
20. International Paralympic Committee (June 2009). "IPC Athletics Classification Project for Physical Impairments: Final Report - Stage 1" (PDF). International Paralympic Committee Governing Committee Reports.
21. "Paralympics: What Do The Categories Mean?". Leading Britain's Conversation. Leading Britain's Conversation. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
22. "Paralympic Archery - overview, rules and classification | British Paralympic Association". British Paralympic Association. Archived from the original on 2016-07-24. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
23. "Paralympic classifications explained". ABC News Sport. 2012-08-31. Retrieved 2016-07-31.