Athletes with a Disability 

 

Athletes with a Physical Disability Criteria 

Some of the main categories under physical disability section are as follows:

•Amputee: Lower limb and or limbs only
•Cerebral Palsy
•Spina Bifida

•Achondroplasia
•Spinal Cord – innate and acquired and this is below sternum only.
•Les Autrau– all other disabilities will be considered and assessed.

Lifters from 70% visual impairment to full blindness. 

We are acutely aware that not all disabilities fit neatly into one criteria, so please reach if you would like to discuss your own competing needs and questions. 

Classification and Eligibility:

The British Powerlifting Union rand the Amateur British Powerlifting Union requires all competitors with an impairment to undergo a medical based assessment to ascertain eligibility to compete in either ABPU or BPU disability powerlifting categories,  inclusive of a parallel health criterion. Each competitor will be assessed by a representative of the British Powerlifting Union for their eligibility in each nominated category. The sections which each competitor will assessed for eligibility within their category will be:

NEW

Lifters who are within the first 12 months of lifting and have not been verified by a federation appointed classifier.

REVIEW

Lifters who have a progressive disability at the discretion of the classifier at approximately 12 monthly intervals

CONFIRMED

Lifters who satisfy all criteria and have been confirmed by the designated a federation classifier for either the BPU or ABPU (as these two federations are separate entities) and fit in with the aforementioned categories.

Perspective athletes will be asked to provide medical confirmation of their impairment.

WPC  and AWPC Ruling

All rules under the WPC and AWPC International Rule Book will be adhered to in all areas apart from the following:

EQUIPMENT AND PLATFORM

The competition bench for all athletes with disabilities will adhere to  WPC guidelines.

The platform will have a ramp to the same level of the platform to allow unhindered access for all athletes. For bench press only a platform is not necessary if appropriate non slip flooring is in place and no ramp to the platform available. The platform may be plush with the floor or the height deemed accessible for all athletes. However, at some competitions, this is not possible so please be aware there may be a 2 inch step onto platform. 

All referees will be trained accordingly to effectively referee this section

One coach or assistant will be allowed to enter the platform to assist the athlete if required to take position on the bench and also to hand off for the athlete. The coach or assistant must then exit the platform immediately after the lift has commenced otherwise a nil lift will be given by all referees.

The coach or assistant will also be allowed to help the lifter exit the platform once the lift is completed and the Rack signal has been given.

THE BENCH

WPC Bench 

Lifters must understand that the A/BPU is unlikely to be to able to provide a bench which will comply with Paralympic parameters at qualifiers. All competitors must be able to use the standard WPC compliant bench until such times that the federation can provide a Paralympic standard bench. Please see the specifications for the WPC standard bench. Below are the specifications for the Paralympic bench.

Paralympic Bench – only available at specific competitions

The total length of the bench must be 2100mm and completely flat and upholstered.

For the head section must be 305mm in width and 705mm in length adjoin to the main body of the bench which will have a width of 610mm throughout the main 2100mm section. There must be two equal shoulders of 152.5mm clear.

The height of the bench and normal seat range without compression must be a minimum of 480mm and not to exceed 500mm which is measured from the floor to the top surface of the supporting structure of the bench.

The rack uprights must be adjustable to a minimum of 700mm and to a maximum of 1100mm from floor to bar rest position.

Minimum width between the insides of the bear rests will be 1100mm.

BENCH STRAPS

Official competition bench straps or personal bench straps or both may be used.

All personal bench straps to be used at competition by the competitor must be presented at kit check prior to weigh-in.

Strapping is allowed anywhere on the legs from the ankle to the top of the thigh in the case of using a Paralympic bench. In the case of WPC bench specifications straps can be used to above the knee if the leg below the knee is off the bench. If the legs are fully on the bench then the strap can be positioned to end of the bench and where this would fall across the legs of the lifter. The lifter is permitted to have one leg on the floor and one on the bench, both feet in contact with the floor or both legs on the bench and not in contact with the floor.  Strapping is not permitted across, on or above the hip, however where the lifter does require a strap on the torso, communication is possible with the federation and discussion but must be cleared at least one week prior to the competition. 

Exceptions are:

Amputees without hips where strapping used should be as low as possible

No strapping across the patella unless there are severe contractures of the competitor at the hip, knee or ankle. This must be cleared by the federation before participation. 

Leg bench straps must be a minimum of 7.5cm and maximum of 10cm with no additional padding. It must not have any metal hooks, hoops or buckles.

Under the supervision of the referees, a lifter may apply strapping of the legs by him or herself or with the assistance of a designated coach or platform staff.

The only fastening permitted is Velcro which must be unrestricted to open.

Squat and Deadlift

We do have competitors who have a physical disability who can squat and deadlift. We are aware that assistance may be required for set up and execution so please get in touch so we can you assist in being able to compete. 

EXECUTION OF LIFTS 

All lifters will make nominated representatives and or referees, who will be nominated and introduced to the lifters before the start of lifting, aware of any physical restriction on completion of lockout at the beginning and end of the lift which will be verified by the British Powerlifting Union designated classifier.

The bench press will begin with full possible extension of the arms to demonstrate any impairment of full flexion and the position the bar will return to, the bar the lowered to the chest until it is motionless on the chest when a PRESS signal will be called. The bar will then be extended until the arms are as  locked as possible for the athlete in an  individually fully extended position for that athlete when a RACK signal will be given and the lifter will attempt to rack the bar.

All lifters will receive 2 minutes from the bar loaded command to commence the lift

All lifters will receive 2 minutes to exit the platform and give their next attempt from the previous lift.

Lifters with spasm who may have involuntary foot movement during the lift must inform the designated classifier and the referees prior to the competition commencing. 

Please note: where possible this should be stated at the weigh in and the information passed to the referee who is the designated technical officer.

Cerebral Palsy

In the case of competitors with cerebral palsy, spasm of the legs resulting in full movement of the lower extremities completely out of the elected position, will not be taken into consideration by the referees.

ATTIRE

Lifters will be permitted to wear full leg length leotards consisting on one complete piece of material only. The upper body construction must still be of conventional standard.

Bench shirts of single or multi ply material, if used, will require that athletes compete in the competitors who do not have a disability section under their ruling and will do so at their own risk.

These are the only exceptions to the WPC rule book which is available to download from our web site.

Qualification for British, European and World Championships. 

ALL our athletes with a disability, should they complete at a  qualifier under the AWPD classification, will receive invitation to British Championships and A/WPC European Championships. 

We ae proud of our lifters and pleased to have them with us at all National and International events. To qualify for the World Championships, you must place top 3 in your AWPD class at the British Championships. 

BRITISH RECORDS

There are records sections for all categories listed which all members of the BPU and A/BPU can compete for. Each lifter must state prior to the commencement of the lift that the attempt will be for a British Record and is successful, this will be added to the register and a certificate issued to the lifter.

Our athletes with an intellectual disability compete in many countries and the WPC US team travel internationally and you will usually see them all at World Championships. Please note that Athletes with an Intellectual Disability,, may also be referred to as the AWID class. 

Our lifters come with their own set of circumstances unique to them and we make effort to accommodate where we can. Some intellectual disabilities also have a  cross over between this and physical disability classes, so please do get in contact if you would like to discuss this with us. 

We are very proud to have had a great deal of help from the Special Olympics Great Britain officers who have assisted us with the eligibility criteria and we have adopted most of it! This is very much a work in progress as we develop the class and progress, with you, in trying to provide the most inclusive framework possible to ensure your best results. 

Below is information on eligibility, how to enter, rules and additional considerations for our athletes in executing the lifts. 

ELIGABILITY

Full details are available from us in a comprehensive document. the basic guidelines to asses if you are eligible is as follows (courtesy of the Special Olympics Great Britain): 

If you: 

1. Went to specialist school for special needs related to intellectual disabilities

2. Went to mainstream school but required classroom assistance

3. School achievements significantly delayed compared to chronological age

4  Ability to manage everyday tasks (adaptive behaviour) e.g. dressing, travel, using money, preparing food, managing risk etc. is significantly delayed

5. Needs significant assistance to carry out their daily lives

6. Has a medical condition or syndrome commonly associated with intellectual disabilities e.g. Down Syndrome (trisomy 21),

Please contact us if you wish to discuss this and further eligibility. 

We are aware that issues can cross over into the physical domain and we are happy to accommodate where possible, 

RULES AND DIFFERENCES FOR THE AWID CLASSES 

The main point is that all lifters must execute their lifts in adherence with the WPC rule book apart from the following exceptions where some differences apply. 

LIFT EXECUTION TIMINGS: AWID competitors have 2 minutes from “bar loaded” to receive the “squat” commend on squat, to begin the downward descent of the bar on bench press and to initiate the start of the lift on deadlift. 

You will have 2 minutes from completing the lift to put in your next attempt. 

This is normally 1 minute for the main classes for both execution of the lift, and submission of the next attempt. 

AID OF AN ELECTED INDIVIDUAL FOR SET UP

Under A/BPU rules, there are very limited occasions where an elected person can “centre” a lifter on squat, or assist with positioning on bench. For our AWID athletes, a designated person by the lifter can walk on and assist with the set up at the bar on platform with the lifter. They MUST clear the platform before the lifter begins to execute the lift. 

That person is also granted to stand just off platform to the side or front and give verbal cues to the lifter with it being considered “coaching”. 

Please note – no adjustment of equipment can be made on platform by a lifter or coach, this must take place off platform. 

SAFEGUARDING

AWID competitors must have a guardian or elected individual with them during all weigh ins or with them at any time where physical contact may be made during the competition. Any instructions from competition staff including referees will ideally also be communicated to an elected individual of the athletes choice to ensure any and all directives are understood. 

ENTERING COMPETITIONS 

All our AWPD and AWID athletes will qualify for the A/BPU British Championships, both full power and single lifts once they compete in a qualifying competition. To enter the AWID class, simply tick the athletes with an intellectual disability class, and fill the rest of the form our normally. 

WHEN YOU WILL LIFT DURING THE COMPETITION 

Where possible, if we have enough AWID competitors, we will try put you in your own flight. If it is small competition and we cannot have a flight only AWID competitors, you lift lift among your fellow competitors. 

WORKING WITH OUR ATHLETES 

As this is a new framework, we are aware that rules may augment and develop over time. We do our best to work with our athletes and their requirements and therefore additional rules may be developed to help incorporate this. However, apart from these exceptions, competitors will adhere to the main body of the WPC Rules book.