The basic techniques of adaptive rowing are the same as rowing for the able-bodied. ‘Adaptive’ simply refers to the adaptation of equipment to the user to practice the sport.
Adaptive rowing includes rowing or sculling for male and female athletes with a disability who meet the criteria set out in the adaptive rowing classification regulations.
The sport is currently divided into four boat classes for international level racing. Each class is part of FISA's World Championships programme: mixed gender boats LTA4+ and TA2x; and single gender boats AW1x and AM1x. Races are held over 1000 metres for all four events (although LTA4+ was raced over 2000m until the FISA 2005 World Rowing Championships).
National and local regattas offer a variety of boat classes and race distances, which may include:
LTA: 1x, 2x, 2-, 4+, 4-, 4x, 8+
TA : 1x, 2x, 4x
AW/AM : 1x, 2x
The International Rowing Federation (FISA) is the sole world governing body for rowingwww.worldrowing.com. Canada’s National Sport Federation is Rowing Canada Aviron www.rowingcanada.org
Classification
Rowing competitions are open to both men and women with the following physical disabilities: amputee, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, visual impairment, and les autres (MS, MD, Polio, and SB). Different types of disabilities can be accommodated within the same rowing crew allowing integration of athletes with different disabilities.
Paralympic rowers fall into one of the following three classification areas: LTA, LT, or A.
LTA (Legs, trunk and arms): Rowers with a disability who have use of their legs, trunk, and arms, and can utilise a sliding seat. LTA rowers must meet minimum disability requirements in at least one of the following three disability groups:
Intellectual disability: Rowers must meet the eligibility criteria established by the International Sports Federation for Persons with an Intellectual Disability (INAS-FID). They must have completed the athlete eligibility application using the April 2005 Form on the INAS-FID website (www.inas-fid.org) and have been issued with an INAS-FID Athletes Card. Athletes classified under criteria prior to April 2005 must be re-registered with INAS-FID using the April 2005 Form. The FISA Classification Application Form must be completed and submitted to FISA accompanied by a copy of INAS-FID April 2005 Form with support documents such as copy of IQ test score and INAS-FID athletes card by the closing date for entries for the event the athlete wishes to compete in.
Visual impairment: A rower must have been classified by the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) in one of the B3, B2 or B1 classes. The FISA Classification Application Form must be completed with supporting documentation and submitted to FISA by the closing date for entries for the event the athlete wishes to compete in.
Physical disability: The minimum physical disability for a Paralympic rower is the loss of ten points on one limb, fifteen points across two limbs when assessed against the Functional Classification Test (as set out in the Classification Application Form for Physical Disabilities), or a full loss of three fingers on one hand.
Eligible LTA rowers will typically have a minimum disability equivalent to one of the following:
- Amputation: At least one single foot amputation at the metatarsal tarsal joints or three fingers of one hand
- Neurological Impairment equivalent to incomplete lesion at S1
- Cerebral Palsy Class 8 (CP-ISRA)
- Blind: 10% of vision in best eye with best correction (from visual acuity above 2/60 up to visual acuity of 6/60 and/or a visual field of more than 5% and less than 20%)
- Intellectual impairment: INAS-FID April 2005 criteria
Note: If a crew includes any visually impaired rowers, a maximum of two such rowers is permitted in the LTA4+, one of whom must be B1 or B2. All visually impaired rowers must wear FISA approved light-blocking eyewear when on the water, both during training sessions and competitions. Control commission officers may check eyewear during competition to ensure it complies.
TA (Trunk and Arms): Rowers who have trunk movement but who are unable to use the sliding seat to propel the boat due to significantly weakened function of the lower limbs. Eligible TA rowers would typically have a minimum disability equivalent to at least one of the following:
- Bilateral around knee amputation, or impaired quadriceps
- Neurological impairment equivalent to a complete lesion at L3 level, or an incomplete lesion at L1
- Combination of the above, such as one leg with around knee amputation and one leg with quadriceps impairment
- Classification by the international sports federation for athletes with cerebral palsy (CP-ISRA) as eligible to be in CP Class 5
A (Arms Only): Rowers with minimal (i.e.: shoulder movement only) or no trunk function. An A class rower is able to apply rowing force through the use of just their arms and/or shoulders.
Eligible Class A rowers typically have a minimum disability equivalent to at least one of the following:
- Cerebral Palsy Class 4 (CP-ISRA)
- Neurological Impairment with a complete lesion at T12 level, or an incomplete lesion at T10
History
Rowing is the most recent sport to be included in the Paralympics. It was first introduced to the Paralympic program in 2005 and held its first Paralympic competition at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.
(Source: Rowing Canada Aviron and 2007 FISA Classification Guidelines for Adaptive Rowers www.worldrowing.com/medias/docs/media_352161.pdf)
