EWH - Classification System Development
Minimal Eligibility The ICEWH is actually busy to find a clear classification system, according to the IPC and IWAS classification rules and based on the Minimal Eligibility criteria as approved in the ICEWH Sport Assembly of De Rijp, the Netherlands, November 2006 and which reads as follows:
• Persons who are not able to participate in a team sport in another way than in an electric wheelchair are allowed to play Electric Wheelchair Hockey.
Minimal Disabilities (is considered as the current general classification system):
• Spinal cord injury above T1, MRC legs < 4
• Cerebral Palsy : quadriplegie/triplegia with impaired coordination/athetosis
• Diseases with insufficient strength in legs for standing sport practice and MRC arm < 4 or amputation of at least 3 fingers of 1 hand
• Below knee or higher amputations in both legs and MRC arm < 4 or amputation of at least 3 fingers of 1 hand
• Pulmocardial affections
• Brittle bone disease (osteogenesis imperfecta)
Assessment according to type, level and degree of impairment will be developed:
• Written announcement of medical diagnosis or medical history (as in ICEWH Medical Form) and approval by medical/physical examination (minimal eligibility/disability) before the competition.
• Sport specific testing of trunk balance and upper extremity function (classification) before the competition.
• Confirmation by in-competition observation.
To determine a validated and reliable classification system it is proposed to find a sportscientifical center to study this problem on a more scientifically way.
ICEWH Medical Committee
• To develop education for Classifiers during ICEWH Competitions.
• To develop the list of minimum disabilities further on.
• To set up a test method to control all players of participating National Teams in ICEWH Competition.
• To introduce personal player’s cards on which the classification is mentioned and if this classification is permanent or temporary.
ICEWH Competition Regulations
• EWH-Classifiers are ICEWH Officials, like Jury Members and Referees.
• ICEWH Officials shall have achieved the age of 18 before the first day of the competition.
• ICEWH Officials shall have one official function per competition.
• Classifiers shall have fluent command of spoken English language and good knowledge of the
ICEWH Minimum Disabilities.
• Before each ICEWH competition the ICEWH shall choose at least 3 Classifiers, who shall be (para)medical persons.
• The Classifiers shall be of different nations and are not allowed to be any part of any participating
Team Delegation.
• Classifiers shall be responsible for checking and observing the Athletes Eligibility of all participating athletes by the official Medical Forms and the ICEWH Minimum Disabilities, before and during the ICEWH Competition.