Classification

In order to safeguard the integrity of fair competition, all Para sports have classification - a system in place which aims to ensure that winning is determined by sporting factors such as skill, fitness, power, endurance, tactical ability and mental focus, the same factors that account for success in sport for able bodied athletes.

Through classification, it is determined which athletes are eligible to compete in a sport and how those athletes are then grouped together for competition, in order to minimize the impact of those athletes’ impairments on sport performance. (Source: WPS)

U.S. Paralympics Swimming abides by the classification system set by World Para Swimming (WPS), our international federation.

Athletes looking to compete in Para swimming must have an eligible impairment and meet the minimum impairment criteria outlined in the World Para Swimming Classification Rules & Regulations. Para Swimming includes three impairment groups - physical, intellectual and vision impairments. 

Within those three main groups, there are seven eligible impairment types outlined below. (Source: World Para Swimming)

Physical Impairments

• Impaired Muscle Power - Athletes with Impaired Muscle Power have a Health Condition that either reduces or eliminates their ability to voluntarily contract their muscles in order to move or to generate force. Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that can lead to Impaired Muscle Power include spinal cord injury (complete or incomplete, tetra-or paraplegia or paraparesis), muscular dystrophy, post-polio syndrome and spina bifida.
• Limb Deficiency/Leg Length Difference - Athletes with Limb Deficiency have total or partial absence of bones or joints. Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that can lead to Limb Deficiency include: traumatic amputation, illness (for example amputation due to bone cancer) or congenital limb deficiency (for example dysmelia). Athletes with Leg Length Difference have a difference in the length of their legs. Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that can lead to Leg Length Difference include: dysmelia and congenital or traumatic disturbance of limb growth.
• Short Stature - Athletes with Short Stature will have a reduced length in the bones of the upper limbs, lower limbs and/or trunk. Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that can lead to Short Stature include achondroplasia, growth hormone dysfunction, and osteogenesis imperfecta. 
• Coordination Impairment (includes ataxia, athetosis and dyskinesia)
  • Hypertonia - Athletes with hypertonia have an increase in muscle tension and a reduced ability of a muscle to stretch caused by damage to the central nervous system. Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that can lead to Hypertonia include cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and stroke.
  • Ataxia - Athletes with Ataxia have uncoordinated movements caused by damage to the central nervous system. Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that can lead to Ataxia include: cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke and multiple sclerosis.
  • Athetosis - Athletes with Athetosis have continual slow involuntary movements. Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that can lead to Athetosis include cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and stroke.
• Impaired Passive Range of Movement - Athletes with Impaired Passive Range of Movement have a restriction or a lack of passive movement in one or more joints. Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that can lead to Impaired Passive Range of Movement include arthrogryposis and contracture resulting from chronic joint immobilisation or trauma affecting a joint.

Vision Impairments

Athletes with vision impairment have reduced or no vision caused by damage to the eye structure, optical nerves or optical pathways, or visual cortex of the brain. The athlete's vision impairment must result in a visual field restricted to less than 40 degrees in diameter. Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that can lead to Vision Impairment include retinitis pigmentosa and diabetic retinopathy.

Intellectual Impairments 

Athletes with an intellectual Impairment have a restriction in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior that affects conceptual, social and practical adaptive skills required for everyday life. This Impairment must be present before the age of 18.

(Source: WPS) The sport class names in swimming consist of a prefix “S” or “SB” and a number. The prefixes stand for the strokes and the number indicates the sport classes.

The prefixes stand for:

• S: freestyle, butterfly and backstroke events

• SB: breaststroke
• SM: individual medley. The prefix “SM” is given to athletes competing in individual medley events. It is not a sports class, but an entry index and calculated as (3xS + SB)/4; for classes S1-4 who have a 3-discipline medley, the formula is (2S + SB)/3).

Physical Impairment Sport Classes S1-S10 / SB1 – SB9 / SM1- SM10

There are ten different sport classes for athletes with physical impairment, numbered 1-10. Athletes with different impairments compete against each other, because sport classes are allocated based on the impact the impairment has on swimming, rather than on the impairment itself. 

To evaluate the impact of impairments on swimming, classifiers assess all functional body structures using a point system and ask the athlete to complete a water assessment. The total number of points then determines the athlete’s S and SB sport classes. 

Due to the different demands of S and SB events, swimmers are often allocated different S and SB sport classes. The SM sport class is calculated from the S and SB sport class.

Visual Impairment Sport Classes S/SB11-13

Athletes with a vision impairment compete in three sport classes from S/SB11 to S/SB13.

• S/SB11: These athletes have a very low visual acuity and/ or no light perception.
• S/SB12: Athletes have a higher visual acuity than athletes competing in the S/SB11 sport class and/ or a visual field of less than 5 degrees radius.
• S/SB13: Athletes have the least severe vision impairment eligible for Paralympic sport. They have the highest visual acuity and/or a visual field of less than 40 degrees radius.

In order to ensure a fair competition athletes in the S/SB11 sport class are required to wear blackened goggles. To ensure safety all S/SB11 swimmers must use a tapper, swimmers in the S/SB12 and S/SB13 sport classes may choose whether or not they wish to use one. Athletes that choose to use a tapper must have a 'T' exception code. 

Intellectual Impairment Sport Classes S/SB14

S14 swimmers have an intellectual impairment, which typically leads to the athletes having difficulties with regards to pattern recognition, sequencing, and memory, or having a slower reaction time, which impact on sport performance in general. Moreover, S14 swimmers show a higher number of strokes relative to their speed than able-bodied elite swimmers.

Athletes with a physical impairment (PI) who want to be classified will have a multi-step process that involves submitting documentation and an in-person evaluation. 

Submit an NMDF

Eligible athletes should submit the national medical diagnostics form to the USOPC Classification Manager at NPCUSAClassification@usopc.org. The form should clearly define which of the eligible impairment(s) the athlete has. The athlete should also provide supporting documentation to verify the underlying health condition or origin of the impairment(s). The national medical diagnosis form must be submitted prior to attending a classification evaluation.

Register for Classification

Next the athlete should register to compete at an event with national classification. A list of competitions offering classification for Para swimming can be found on our website. 

Participate in a Classification Evaluation

Once registered and scheduled, the athlete will attend a classification evaluation. Classification takes place one or two days prior to competition. Please note that participation in the competition is required to complete classification. 

The evaluation process consists of:

• Physical Assessment - a series of functional ability tests performed by a Medical Classifier
• Technical Assessment - a series of practical ability tests observed by a Technical Classifier
• Provisional Sport Class Allocated - Based on the results of both of the above tests, athletes are allocated a provisional sport class 
• Observation in Competition - This will confirm or alter the provisional sport class allocation

Athletes with visual impairments (VI) may obtain a national classification at any time during the year and do not need to attend an event as part of the classification process. 

Submit National VI Classification Form

To obtain a National VI Classification, athletes must have the national visual impairment classification form completed by their ophthalmologist and return to the USOPC Classification Manager at NPCUSAClassification@usopc.org. Athletes should submit the form and supporting documentation related to the diagnosed eye condition as outlined on the medical diagnosis form at least four weeks prior to a competition they intend to compete at.

Classification Review

Once the forms are received by the USOPC, they are reviewed by a VI classifier and the outcome will be communicated by the USOPC to the athlete. VI classification may require visual field testing, additional tests or information to complete classification which may delay the outcome. VI athletes must complete this process and be listed in the Classification Database before they are eligible to compete in events.

U.S. Paralympics Swimming partners with Athletes Without Limits (AWL) for all intellectual impairment (II) classifications. Athletes Without Limits is responsible for determining whether U.S. athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities are eligible for Paralympic competitions. 

The three main criteria to be eligible for the II sport class of Paralympic competition are:

1. IQ of 75 or below (Must be *WISC, WAIS, Stanford-Binet or Raven)
2. Significant limitations in Adaptive Behavior (Vineland, ABAS or Other.)
3. Onset before age 18

Athletes will submit a request for classification and supporting medical documentation to AWL for II classification. AWL will review and communicate directly if they need any additional information. Once classified, AWL will inform USPS and the athlete will be included in the U.S. Paralympic Swimming national classification database. For more information about the II sport classes and to begin the eligibility/classification process, please visit the Athletes Without Limits webpage.

U.S Paralympics Swimming works to offer national classification at events around the country each year. Swimmers looking to be classified should strongly consider participating in an Open Series meet or another event offering national classification near to them. 

Interested swimmers can view the current list of national classification opportunities online. To view all upcoming U.S. Paralympics Swimming competitions, visit our competitions page. 

Athletes should expect to be evaluated by a medical and technical classifier to determine if they meet minimum impairment criteria and what sport class might be best for them in competition. Appointment lengths can vary depending on the athlete's impairment and the testing needs of the classifiers to best understand the athlete's ability and determine their sport class. 

Para swimming classification appointments for PI athletes start with a 'bench test' evaluation by a medical classifier, which includes testing for factors like coordination, strength, limb length, etc. as determined by the athlete's eligible impairment. The classifier uses a point system to determine if the athlete meets minimum impairment criteria (MIC). 

If the athlete meets MIC, they will then get in the pool for additional evaluation by the technical classifier. The athlete may be asked to swim each stroke, perform a start or turn, etc. in order for the classifiers to further evaluate the swimmer's body function and the effect on their impairment on their swimming. Following the technical evaluation, the athlete's overall point total will help determine their sport classes and any exception codes. 

Athletes will then be observed in competition throughout the meet to further determine if the assigned sport class and exception codes match the athlete's capabilities and limitations. 

Athletes being nationally classified are welcome to bring one parent, coach or other support person into the room for their classification appointment. Athletes are encouraged to explain their impairment in their own words and try their best on each task asked of them by the classifiers to help them understand the athlete's impairment. Athletes and their support person are welcome and encouraged to ask questions throughout the evaluation to clarify what is being asked of them and what their final outcome might be. 

If you have any questions about your upcoming classification appointment, please reach out to USPara.SwimInfo@usopc.org. 

No. Classification is sport-specific meaning the evaluation process for Para Swimming is unique to swimming. 

Classification is sport-specific because an impairment affects the ability to perform in different sports to a different extent. As a consequence, an athlete may meet the criteria to compete in one sport, but may not meet the criteria in another sport. (Source: WPS)

If you're an athlete classified in another sport and looking to compete in Para swimming, please reach out to USPara.SwimIfo@usopc.org for more information on how to get started. 

If you have any additional questions about classification for Para swimming, please reach out to USPara.SwimInfo@usopc.org.