LAF6 (classification)

LA6 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 have a minimal locomotor disability that tends to impact one of their upper limbs or knees. The class includes people with arthritis and osteoporosis, or ankylosis of the knee.

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 open to people in this classification include archery, athletics and equestrian.

Definition

LAF6 is an Les Autres sports classification.[1][2] It is an ambulant class for people with minimal issues with trunk and lower limb functionality. People in this class have impairments in one upper limb.[2] Medically, this class includes people with arthritis and osteoporosis, or ankylosis of the knee. In practice, this means minimal disability. In terms of functional classification, this means the sportsperson is ambulatory with good upper limb functionality, and minimal trunk or lower limb functionality.[3] For the 1984 Summer Paralympics, LAF6 was defined by the Games organizers as, "Ambulant with normal upper extremity function in throwing arm and minimal trunk or lower extremity disability. A participant in this class must be able to demonstrate a locomotor disability which clearly gives a him/her a disadvantage in throwing events compared to able-bodied sports men/women."[4] For the 1984 Summer Paralympics, LAF6 sportspeople were described by the Games organizers as "had minimal trunk or lower limb disability."[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

LAF6 competitors can be classified into several athletics classes including F46.[1][2][20] While athletes in this class have minimal functionality problems with their throwing arm, they have an impairment that impacts their non-throwing arm.[2] 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, ARST, and Para-equestrian classification

Archery is a sport open to people in this class. LAF6 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] Para-equestrian is another option. 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] In para-triathlon, because they can use a standard bicycle, they can be classified TRI4.[23]

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. Moya Cuevas, Raquel María (June 2014). "Deporte Adaptado" (PDF). Serie infórmate sobre... Ceapat-Imserso.