BC3 is a Paralympic boccia classification. The class is open to people with several different types of disabilities, including cerebral palsy. BC3 players have events open to them in boccia on the Paralympic Games program.

Definition

In 2008, BBC Sport defined this classification was "BC3: For players with a very severe physical disability. Players use an assistive device and may be assisted by a person, who will remain in the player's box but who must keep his/her back to the court and eyes averted from play"[1] In 2008, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation defined this classification was "BC3: This category is for players with a very severe physical disability. Players use a device to assist them and also can be helped by a nominated person at the court. However the assistant must keep his/her back to the court, so they cannot give advice on where to throw or kick the next ball to get it closest to the jack."[2] In 2012, the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association defined this classification as: "BC 3 – These athletes are also unable to hold and release a ball. These athletes may use a ramp and an assistant ."[3] In 2012, the Great Britain Boccia Federation defined this classification as: "Players with Cerebral Palsy or other disability with locomotor dysfunction in all four limbs who are unable to throw or kick a ball into play and as such are permitted to use an assistive device such as a ramp to propel the ball into play and are supported by an assistant ('ramper')."[4]

Disability groups

See also: CP1 (classification)

One of the disability groups in this classification is boccia with cerebral palsy, including CP-ISRA CP1 classified players.[5] CP1 competitors are classified as either BC1 or BC3.[6][7] BC3 players cannot throw the ball themselves, require the use of an electric wheelchair and use a ramp to propel the ball.[6][7] CP1 sportspeople tend to use electric wheelchairs.[8] They may have controlled shakes and twitches.[8][9][10] They have severely limited of their trunk and limbs.[10][11][12] When participating in sport, CP1 competitors tend to have low energy expenditure. This bodily activity can spike their metabolic rate.[9][10] CP1 competitors have worse upper body control when compared to CP2.[13]

Competition rules and organization

Events this classification competes in are mixed gendered competitions for either single players or a pair of players.[4][14] Players in this classification have six minutes to play an end.[15] Players in this classification have eight minutes to play an end during team play.[15]

Classification and sport history

Boccia made its debut on the Paralympic program at the 1984 Games.[16] Boccia began to develop as an important sport for people in this class as track events began to disappear. The timing of this matched with a push by the CP-ISRA to promote the sport.[17]

Competition information and results

At the 2012 Australian national championships held at the Sydney Sport & Recreation from 30 April to 3 May, the BC3 individual event was won by Angie McReynolds of New South Wales, with second place going to Terry Cooper of New South Wales and third place going to Sheila Thomas of New South Wales.[18]

At the Paralympic Games

At the 2012 Summer Paralympics, this classification competed in a six end individual event, and a pairs event with four balls per each end in a four end game.[4] Great Britain's performances in this classification meant their talent identification unit for sport performance focuses specifically on improving it as one of the best opportunities for medals at the 2012 London Games.[19]

For the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio, the International Paralympic Committee had a zero classification at the Games policy. This policy was put into place in 2014, with the goal of avoiding last minute changes in classes that would negatively impact athlete training preparations. All competitors needed to be internationally classified with their classification status confirmed prior to the Games, with exceptions to this policy being dealt with on a case-by-case basis.[20] In case there was a need for classification or reclassification at the Games despite best efforts otherwise, boccia classification was scheduled for September 8 at Carioca Arena 2.[20]

Becoming classified

Classification is handled by Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association.[21] The classification officer for the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association is Joan Steele-Mills.[22]

To be eligible for classification, a boccia competitor "must have a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, stroke, head injury or other nonprogressive brain damage with locomotor dysfunction, either congenital or acquired (exception: Boccia “BC 4” players)."[23]

Competitors

Competitors in this classification include Jessica Hunter who has represented both England and Great Britain, and Jacob Thomas who has represented both Wales and Great Britain.[19]

References

  1. ^ "A-Z of Paralympic classification". BBC Sport. 28 August 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  2. ^ McGarry, Andrew (3 September 2008). "Paralympics categories explained". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  3. ^ Kellner, Margrey (9 April 2012). "Classification Profiles" (PDF). Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ a b c "About Boccia". London, England: Great Britain Boccia Federation. 2012. Archived from the original on 15 May 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  5. ^ Tim-Taek, Oh; Osborough, Conor; Burkett, Brendan; Payton, Carl (2015). "Consideration of Passive Drag in IPC Swimming Classification System" (PDF). VISTA Conference. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  6. ^ a b "CLASSIFICATION AND SPORTS RULE MANUAL" (PDF). CPISRA. CPISRA. January 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 15, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Classification Made Easy" (PDF). Sportability British Columbia. Sportability British Columbia. July 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  8. ^ a b Hutson, Michael; Speed, Cathy (2011-03-17). Sports Injuries. OUP Oxford. ISBN 9780199533909.
  9. ^ a b Broad, Elizabeth (2014-02-06). Sports Nutrition for Paralympic Athletes. CRC Press. ISBN 9781466507562.
  10. ^ a b c "Kategorie postižení handicapovaných sportovců". Tyden (in Czech). September 12, 2008. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  11. ^ "Clasificaciones de Ciclismo" (PDF). Comisión Nacional de Cultura Física y Deporte (in Mexican Spanish). Mexico: Comisión Nacional de Cultura Física y Deporte. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  12. ^ "Invitation til DHIF's Atletik Forbunds". Frederiksberg Handicapidræt (in Danish). Frederiksberg Handicapidræt. 2007. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  13. ^ Hernández García, Jose Ignacio; Vecino, Jorge Manrique; Koszegi, Melinda; Marto, Anabela. "PROGRAMA LEONARDO DA VINCI, TRAINING SPORT ASSISTANTS FOR THE DISABLED" (PDF). Programa Leonardo da Vinci. European Union. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-08-16. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  14. ^ "Guide to the Paralympic Games – Sport by sport guide" (PDF). London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. 2011. p. 30. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  15. ^ a b CP-ISRA. "CP-ISRA INTERNATIONAL BOCCIA RULES" (PDF). Paralympics New Zealand. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-08-29. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  16. ^ Whyte, Gregory; Loosemore, Mike; Williams, Clyde (2015-07-27). ABC of Sports and Exercise Medicine. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9781118777503.
  17. ^ Howe, David (2008-02-19). The Cultural Politics of the Paralympic Movement: Through an Anthropological Lens. Routledge. ISBN 9781134440832.
  18. ^ "Boccia". Australia: Australian Athletes with a Disability. 2012. Archived from the original on 29 May 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  19. ^ a b "Talent". London, England: Great Britain Boccia Federation. 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-05-15. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  20. ^ a b "Rio 2016 Classification Guide" (PDF). International Paralympic Committee. International Paralympic Committee. March 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  21. ^ "Guide to the Paralympic Games – Appendix 1" (PDF). London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. 2011. p. 41. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  22. ^ "Classification". Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  23. ^ "The Classification Process" (PDF). Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association. 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2012.[permanent dead link]
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