title: Improvement of the classification system for wheelchair rugby: athlete priorities.
abstract: A representative sample (N=302) of the wheelchair rugby population responded to a survey about the classification system based on prioritized items by International Wheelchair Rugby Federation members. Respondents stated, "The classification system is accurate but needs adjustments" (56%), "Any athlete with tetraequivalent impairment should be allowed to compete" (72%), "Athletes with cerebral palsy and other coordination impairments should be classified with a system different than the current one" (75%), and "The maximal value for trunk should be increased from 1.0 to 1.5" (67%). A minority stated, "Wheelchair rugby should only be open to spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions" (36%) and "There should be a 4.0 class" (33%). Results strongly indicated that athletes and stakeholders want adjustments to the classification system in two areas: a focus on evaluation of athletes with impairments other than loss of muscle power caused by spinal cord injury and changes in classification of trunk impairment.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Center, Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Viola C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Altmann
authors.forename: Anne L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Limbeek
authors.forename: Yves C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Vanlandewijck
mesh_terms: D056352:Athletes / Q000145:classification*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005538:Football / Q000145:classification*; D006801:Humans; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014910:Wheelchairs