THE PERCENTAGE-SYSTEM IN NORDIC SKIING

The percentage-system is an adjusted time formula, which is used to determine overall place of each competitor relative to all other disabled racers. This formula assigns a percentage to each competitor based on each individual`s particular disabled race class. The athlete’s actual time is multiplied by this percentage to determine his/her adjusted finishing time. Each disability class has different percentage for the different techniques, classic and free technique. The percentages will be evaluated after every season and changes will be done if necessary. This will be done by the IPNSC.

• IPC NS Percentage List 2008-2010

CLASSIFICATION GENERAL INFORMATION (Updated August 2006)

Classification of Athletes

After receiving final entry forms for a given competition, the Organizing Committee (OC) will send a list of competing athletes to the International Paralympic Nordic Skiing Committee `s  (IPNSC) Classification Chairperson, who will advise the OC of the athletes to be classified.

Duration of the classification period: 1-3 days depending on the number of athletes to be classified. All designated athletes will be classified within this period.
Required classification testing equipment / supplies to be provided by the OC according to the IPC Nordic classification rules.

Athletes with provisional classifications will undergo functional observation assessment on the track as a part of classification. Special arrangement for the observation will be required. Special scheduling arrangement for the observation will be made between the classification team and the nations with specified athlete(s).

Classification Teams

The classification staff will be designated by the IPNSC prior to the event.

For locomotor disabled classification: at least 1 team of 3 authorized classifiers is required, covering the medical and technical classification aspects.

For visually impaired classification: 1 team of 2 ophthalmologists is required.

The chairperson of the protest committee for classification will be appointed by IPNSC prior to the event.

The nominated official classifiers for a given competition shall not be members of their national teams, as they must be available during the competition for protests, observations, administration and as advisers to the race juries.

The Chief Classifier (or her/his deputy) will be present at team captains meetings when needed.

Classification Facilities

Organizers will ensure the presence of administrative staff for registration and for referring the athletes to their specific classification area, which should be located within walking distance of the athlete’s accommodation. Administrative staff is to record all classification changes and to be available to assist in each individual classification area as needed.
Office and communication equipment:

Organizers will ensure appropriate office and communication equipment to allow for the administration of the classification process and to facilitate close communication / co-operation with the O.C. and the Technical Delegate (TD) of a competition. Classifiers will require cellular telephones and office equipment including office stationery, telephone, fax and PC with a printer.

According to IPC Classification Rules, specific rooms will be available for classification at designated championships. Each testing area shall be equipped with tables and chairs. These rooms must be maintained throughout the whole classification period for classification purposes.

• 1 large room for locomotor classification
• 1 room for visually impaired classification

The classification rooms will be marked with appropriate posters and signs for the different classification groups as follows:

• Classification B classes
• Classification LW classes

Required facilities and equipment for visually impaired classification:
The room must be at least 8m long, and must have the capacity to be darkened and lightened. The classification room needs to be equipped with: an ophthalmoscope, standardized acuity cards, a lens meter, a set of trial glasses, a tape measure, tables, chairs, classification cards and office stationary and supplies.

Required facilities and equipment for locomotor disabled classification:
Locomotor classification requires large room. Special equipment including an examination bench, a standardized classification testing board equipped with straps, 1kg Medicine Ball, tape measures, classification cards and office stationery.

Waiting areas for the athletes:
Waiting areas should be equipped with chairs. For the visually impaired, the waiting areas should have average lighting and must not be too brightly lit.

Protests
Classification protests shall take place in the classification testing room and/or on the track. The official IPC protest form and the IPC Nordic Skiing procedure is to be used for all protests.

• IPC Nordic Skiing Protest Rules and Procedures

Special regulations:
1. The chairperson of the protest committee shall be appointed by IPNSC`s Chief Classifier in the preparation of any official championship or Paralympic Games.
2. The protest committee shall consist of at least one technical and one medical classifier in addition to the chair of protests.
3. The protest committee must be available at the appointed event until all new and review athletes have taken part in the competition.
4. Authorized classifiers who are members of a national team may sit on a protest committee, if they are not of the same nationality and not associated with the athlete(s) specified in the protest.
5. The functional classification should as far as possible be a decision of consensus. Therefore, the members of the protest committee may observe and discuss the class of the athlete subject to a protest.
6. The classification team will have the allowance to select any given athlete for classification review at any time.
7. In the case of a classification change either following a protest or as a result of a review during competition, the change shall take effect immediately and prior to the next race.
8. In the case of a classification change during a competition, the athlete will compete thereafter within the newly designated class. The athlete will maintain previously recorded finish results and will keep any medals already won.
9. If an athlete fails to cooperate with the classification process or if, in the opinion of the classification team, an athlete deliberately misleads the classifiers he/she shall be considered to have infringed the rules of the competition. Such an infringement shall be handled by the relevant sports Classification Protest Committee who will decide upon the athlete's appropriate disciplinary action and/or disqualification.

FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION

Fundamentals

The Functional Classification for locomotor disabled is based on:

- Thorough medical documentation of the athlete’s disability
- Three functional tests to be performed with standardized equipment. The standardized testing board will be used for the sitting classes
- Functional observation in practice and/or competition
- For borderline cases, functional observation shall be the ultimate criteria.

Note: Any classification of an athlete may be changed by the official classification team during a competition. The new classification of an athlete, when changed during the competition, shall be used in his/her next event of the competition and thereafter.

Classification Procedures LW classes

1. Completion of the personal data and medical information on the classification card.
2. Completion of a manual muscle test and/or joint mobility test, and entering test results on the classification card. For persons with spinal cord injury, the ASIA classification has to be used.
3. Completion of a functional assessment with the appropriate tests which are dependent on the functional ability of the athlete.
4. Functional observation of the athlete in practice and/or in competition. Observation in competition is a necessary component of the classification. Special attention will be given to athletes with dys-co-ordination disabilities, athletes with borderline cases, as well as athletes suspected of lack of cooperation.

Criteria for observation on the track in sitting classes

1. Sitting position
a. Height of the back of the sledge
b. Leg position
c. Strapping

2. Performance on the track
a. Changing tracks with trunk and hip assistance
b. Climbing - trunk assistance
c. Downhill - trunk stability and control
d. Trunk control in curves

3. Video recording of the athlete
The official classification teams will also be responsible for and manage any video recording necessary for classification purposes associated with the competition.

Criteria for functional assessment in sitting classes on the testing board. The athlete has to be strapped to the test board, at the hip joint, over the knees and over the ankle.   

1. Trunk function
a. Muscle function
b. Range of movement

2. Hip function
a. Flexion
b. Extension
c. Range of movement
d. Amputee stump length

3. Buttock sensibility according to the ASIA classification

0 = No function, test impossible
1 = Weak or poor function
2 = Fair function
3 = Normal function
 
The athlete is in the long sitting position or with bended knees on the test table depending on his/her disability. Special designed cushions are used to sit on and as support under the knees. The athlete has to be strapped to the test board, at the hip joint, over the knees and over the ankle.   

Test 1
Sitting ability and movement in the sagital plane.
Sitting with the hands behind the neck, flex forwards at the waists as much as possible. Then extend the trunk and lift to a position of 45° forwards flexion. Hold that position, keeping the hands behind the neck.

Test 2
Sitting ability and movement in the sagital plane.
Arms folded over the chest, lean back to hold 45° backwards extension and come up again to a complete upright sitting position.

Test 3
Sitting ability and movement in the sagital and frontal planes.
Free rotation of the trunk in the long sitting position. Arms fully abducted.
Consider also:

-Does the athlete suit functionally into the profile of the class?
Testing Equipment
1. Classification card
2. Standardized testing board with standardized cushions and strapping.

CLASSES IN NORDIC SKIING

For competition, all standing locomotor disabled classes are combined into one standing class, all sitting locomotor disabled classes are combined into one sitting class, and all visually impaired classes are combined into one class with the appropriate utilization of the percentage system for Nordic Skiing.

Standing locomotor disabled classes

Class LW2
Eligibility: Athletes eligible for class LW2 are those with disability in one lower limb skiing with two skis and two sticks:
a. Single above knee amputation with a prosthesis.
b. One lower limb disability requiring the use of a full limb orthosis.
c. One lower limb affected comparable to a) and b).
d. Ankylosis or arthrodesis of the knee with function comparable to a) and b)

Class LW3
Eligibility: Athletes eligible for class LW3 are those with disability in both lower limbs skiing with two skis and two sticks:
a. Double below knee amputations.
b. Disabilities in both lower limbs with a decrease of muscular strength on both lower limbs with a maximum of 65 points (normal 80) of muscle strength or equivalent disabilities.
c. CP5 - Diplegic involvement at both legs comparable with a) and b).
d. CP6 - Athletes with athetotic or atactic impairment of movements of all four limbs comparable with a) and b).
Note: c) and d) can be placed in other classes depending on the athlete’s functional ability on the track.

Class LW4
Eligibility: Athletes eligible for class LW4 are those with disability in one lower limb, skiing with two skis and two sticks:
a. Single below knee amputation minimum through the ankle joint.
b. Motor paresis or paralysis with decrease of muscular strength on the lower limbs with a maximum of 70 points (normal 80) of muscle strength.
c. Ankylosis or arthrodesis of the hip.
d. CP 8 - very mild monoplegic comparable with a), b) c) and d).
e. Eligible for LW4 are also double forefoot amputation (proximal to the metatarsal bones) and a functional double foot disability, comparable to double forefoot amputation.
f. CP 5 - very mild diplegic comparable to e).
Note: c), d), e), f) can be placed in other classes depending on the athletes functional ability on the track.

Sitting locomotor disabled classes

The minimal disability for the LW12 class will correspond to the LW4 class for lower limb disability. The athlete’s rationale for sitting should be medically and/or functionally based. Athletes can only compete as a standing competitor or as a sitting competitor in a given season.

LW 10
Athletes eligible for class LW 10 are those with disabilities in the lower limb(s) and the trunk. The athlete has no functional abdominals or extensors when sitting with proper strapping on the test table or when using his own equipment. The athlete will require arm support when sitting with proper strapping on the test table. No buttock sensibility.

LW 10,5
Athletes eligible for class LW 10.5 are those with disabilities in the lower limb(s) and the trunk. The athlete has some upper abdominal and extensor muscles, or lower motor function with spinal fusion / scoliosis, or higher injury level with incomplete spinal cord injury meeting the criteria of the profile.  The athlete will sit statically without arm support when sitting with proper strapping on the test table. No buttock sensibility.

LW11
Athletes eligible for class LW 11 are those with disabilities in the lower limb(s) and with abdominal and extensor trunk muscles with contact with the pelvic. No functional hip muscles and no buttock sensibility. The athlete will sit on the tilt table with proper strapping without arm support and perform some of the functional tests.

LW11,5
Athletes eligible for class LW 11.5 are those with disabilities in the lower limb(s) and near to normal trunk muscles, some functional hip flexion and loss of sensibility in buttock(s) and back of thigh(s).

LW12
Athletes eligible for class LW 12 are those with disabilities in the lower limbs and with normal trunk muscles, near to normal hip flexion and with normal buttock sensibility.

Note: For all sitting classes: athletes are never allowed to use their lower limbs to their advantage outside of the equipment at any time during the competition.

Visually impaired classes

Eligibility: Eligible for competition are those who meet the criteria of the classes B1, B2 and B3.

Class B1