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HOW TO INTEGRATE AN ADAPTIVE ATHLETE ONTO A SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD TEAM

Wheelchair Racers

The MHSAA track and field committee has recommended that an adaptive track and field category be established for the 2022 season in Michigan, AND ESTABLISHED A WHEELCHAIR DIVISION FOR REGIONAL AND FINAL MHSAA SPONSORED EVENTS.   The Houghton Portage Township Public School Athletic Department proposed the following standards for high school para-ambulatory and wheelchair divisions in track and field for all schools in Michigan DURING REGULAR SEASON MEETS, and Michigan’s WestPAC conference already used a version of these rules to successfully field an adaptive category during the 2021 AND 2022 track and field seasonS.

This proposal has been assembled in collaboration with Adaptive Track & Field USA (ATFUSA) and current and past high-school para-athletes. ATFUSA has successfully worked with many states to establish these rules and accommodations and they generally meet international standards for Paralympic-class competition with some modifications to account for the limited pool of competitors in high school adaptive track and field. These rules can be immediately adopted by any athletic conference in Michigan to prepare for adaptive athlete competition in the 2022 track and field season. Contact iamanathletetoo@gmail.com for more support and information on how to implement these rules.

Notes on terminology:

  • Para-athlete and adaptive athlete are used interchangeably.

  • Para-athletes include athletes with intellectual and/or physical disabilities who meet these qualifying standards and choose to compete using these standards.

  • Para-ambulatory refers to para-athletes who have a qualifying disability, choose to compete using these standards, but do not compete in a wheelchair.

  • References to “other” athletes are those athletes who do not have a qualifying disability or those with disabilities who choose not to compete in the para-ambulatory or wheelchair divisions.

Procedures for Indoor and Outdoor Wheelchair & Para-Ambulatory Track and Field Divisions in Michigan Schools

Para-ambulatory and wheelchair track and field athletes will adhere to all Michigan High School Athletic Association, Inc. (MHSAA) eligibility and athletic rules with the exceptions defined here.

  1. Special accommodations for the para-ambulatory and wheelchair divisions: Schools are required to apply for a special accommodation for each student competing in either the wheelchair or para-ambulatory track & field divisions. The request shall include medical documentation that meets classification criteria as a para-athlete under the World Para Athletics (WPA) rules (WPA classification is not required – see accommodation requirements in Appendix). MHSAA approval is required for the student to participate in either the wheelchair or para-ambulatory indoor and/or outdoor track and field divisions. Accommodations will include the following:

  2. If only one para-ambulatory or wheelchair athlete is present for an outdoor event, then they will start with the other competitors, but compete in their own division. In indoor track and field, wheelchair athletes would race in a heat by themselves (based on recommendations of the ATFUSA and the MHSAA Association Indoor Track and Field Committee). If two or more para-athletes are competing, then they will race at the same time in a separate heat (para-ambulatory or wheelchair separately) from the other competitors.

  3. In all laned events, the wheelchair athlete will be given one lane to compete, and if possible, have one lane open between the wheelchair and the other competitors. 

  4. In non-laned races the wheelchair athlete will start in the outside lane or behind the other competitors (starting in lane 1). 

  5. In field events the wheelchair athlete may use a field throwing frame (see appendix for equipment standards) set up by an assistant. 

  6. In indoor track and field, the wheelchair athlete will race on a banked or flat track based on the host site safety rules and regulations. 

  7. Athletes with substantially low vision will run track with a guide in two lanes, connected by a WPA-defined tether following WPA rule accommodations. 

  8. For field events, blind athletes can have an aid position the athlete in the field ring and have an aid safely in the vector providing direction instructions per the current WPA rules.

Scoring

  1. A para-athlete will compete against the same gender for individual honors. The para-athlete will vie for team honors within their respective classification and gender.

  2. [To be aligned with MHSAA to match the current MHSAA point system as closely as possible.] When a para-athlete competes against another para-athlete of the same gender and finishes first, two points will be awarded to his/her team. The second-place finisher receives one team point. If three para-athletes participate, then the points will be awarded three, two and one. This scoring system will continue as illustrated in the table below.

Number of Para-athletes in heat

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If the Para-athlete is competing solo, then they shall compete against an event standard time/distance (see below). They will be awarded one team point for meeting or exceeding the standards for that event.

 

Standards:

The following standards will be used to determine qualifying and earning points for the athlete’s teams when only one athlete is competing. These standards are derived from the standards and results of the Adaptive Track and Field USA Database www.atfusa.org which has over 30 years of data and agreed to by MHSAA.

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equipment

Wheelchair:

  • a. Track: Athletes may race in their regular (day) wheelchair or a racing wheelchair. When using a racing wheelchair, the chair will conform to the current World Para Athletics (WPA) specifications (described in the appendix).

  • b. Field: Athletes may compete in either their regular (day) wheelchair if the seat is equal to or lower than 75cm, or from a field throwing frame which conforms to the current WPA standards (described in the appendix). Either the regular wheelchair or the field throwing frame must be completely within the ring while competing.

Para-ambulatory:

  • a.Track: Para-ambulatory athletes shall race unassisted, i.e., para-athletes must race without crutches, walker, or other assistive devices. RAD (Racerunner Running Bikes) are allowed.  Leg or arm prosthetics are allowed, as well as non-electronic ankle foot orthotics (AFO).

  • b. Field: Para-ambulatory athletes shall compete unassisted, i.e. para-athletes must compete without crutches, walker, or other assistive devices. Leg or arm prosthetics are allowed as well as AFOs.

Track Equipment

  • A wheelchair para-athlete shall compete in track events in a manually operated (no gears) wheelchair that meets specifications as follows or the current WPA rules:

  • A track racing wheelchair shall have no more than two large wheels and one small wheel. A standard (day) wheelchair may have two large wheels and up to two small wheels. In all competitions, the small wheel/s must be at the front of the chair.

  • All wheelchairs must have a functional braking system for safety purposes.

  • No mechanical gears or levers for propelling the wheelchair.

  • The use of mirrors is not permitted.

  • Only hand operated, mechanical steering devices are allowed.

  • In all races the athlete must be able to turn the front wheel(s) manually both to the left and to the right.

  • No part of the main body (defined as the vertical plane of the back edge and wheels including the seat) of the wheelchair may extend forwards beyond the hub of the front wheel or be wider than the inside of the hubs of the two rear wheels.

  • The maximum height from the ground to the main body of the wheelchair shall be 50 cm.

  • No part of the wheelchair may protrude behind the vertical plane of the back edge of the rear tires.

  • The maximum diameter of the large wheel including the inflated tire shall not exceed 70 cm. The maximum diameter of the small wheel including the inflated tire shall not exceed 50 cm.

  • Only one plain, round, push-rim is allowed for each large wheel.

  • The use of fairings or similar devices for the purpose of improving aerodynamic performance of the athlete in the wheelchair are not permitted.

  • No element of the wheelchair or its attachments or accessories may incorporate energy storing capacity (e.g. elasticity) for the purpose of enhancing performance.

FIELD EQUIPMENT

  • ​Para-ambulatory and wheelchair athletes may throw from a standing position, or they may choose to throw from a seated position using his/her wheelchair or a throwing frame.

  • The size of the discus, shot, and javelin shall be the same as for all other male and female participants.

  • Seated para-athletes must throw from a wheelchair or frame that meets the following standards or the current WPA specifications:

  • The throwing frame sitting surface including the cushion must not exceed 75 cm in height.

  • The seat may be square or rectangular with minimum dimensions of 30 x 30 cm (12 inches x 12 inches).

  • The frame or wheelchair shall be anchored with straps to stakes in the ground. The stakes and straps may be in or outside of the throwing circle.

  • If the frame has a holding bar, it must be fixed (no articulating joints) and rigid (no flex).

  • The para-athlete may use non-elastic straps to anchor their body into the chair.

  • No part of the throwing frame or wheelchair may be outside the circumference of the circle. The athlete’s foot or arm may be outside the throwing circle.

  • Seated para-athletes must compete with both feet off the ground.

  • The athlete must remain in a seated position from the butt bone to the back of the knees from the initiation of the throw until the implement touches the Ground.

ELIGIBILITY

  • Athletes with a temporary disability, e.g. broken bones and other healing injuries, are not eligible to participate in the para-athlete division.

  • Any athlete already identified and classified by World Para Athletics (WPA) automatically qualifies for the para division, i.e. WPA Classes 11-13, 20, 31-38, 40-47, 51-58, 61-64.

  • WPA classification is not required for participation or competition. Athletes lacking WPA classification may submit medical documentation which verifies a permanent disability to qualify as a para-athlete in K-12 sports. WPA classification will be the deciding factor in cases of qualification disputes.

Wheelchair Division:

  • All wheelchair athletes will compete in a single open male or female wheelchair division regardless of the type of disability (wheelchair results will not be subdivided by WPA classification). Some examples of disabilities which qualify an athlete for the wheelchair division include:

  • Impaired muscle power (spinal cord injury, spina bifida, polio, etc.)

  • Impaired passive range of motion (arthrogryposis, joint fusion, etc.)

  • Athletes with abnormal tone involvement, e.g., Cerebral Palsy and spinal cord injuries which result in hypertonia, ataxia, and/or athetosis.

  • Lower limb amputees who choose to compete seated.

Para-Ambulatory Division:

  • All athletes will compete in a single open male or female para-ambulatory division regardless of the type of disability. Some examples of permanent disabilities which qualify athletes for the para-ambulatory division include:

  • Amputee - Leg (track or field) or arm at the elbow or higher (field and track up to 400m) wearing a prosthetic.

  • Impaired passive range of motion, limb deficiency, leg length difference, or athletes with disabilities which appear to have movement limitations, but not wearing a prosthetic.

  • Short stature (achondroplasia, etc.)

  • Visual impairments diagnosed by an ophthalmologist and sufficient medical documentation to support classification by WPA. Those with significant sight loss will run with a guide.

  • Intellectual impairment that limits activity - Athletes need to receive a T20 classification from Athletes without Limits (can be completed based on documentation/consultation). https://www.athleteswithoutlimits.org/eligibility

  • Athletes with abnormal tone involvement, e.g., Cerebral Palsy and spinal cord injuries which result in hypertonia, ataxia, and/or athetosis.

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