| Para-Swimming |
FAQs
1) Who is a USA Swimming athlete with a disability?
According to the USA Swimming Rulebook, they are athletes with ”a permanent physical or cognitive disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities.”
https://www.usaswimming.org/officials/rules-regulations
2) Who is a Paralympic Athlete?
According to the International Paralympic Committee, they are athletes who “must have an Underlying Health Condition that leads to a permanent Eligible Impairment.” To participate as a Paralympic athlete, you must first be classified by the U.S. Paralympic Committee to determine your eligibility.
https://www.paralympic.org/classification
3) What is the difference between USA Swimming and the Paralympics?
USA Swimming: The athlete identifies themselves as an athlete with a disability. Paralympic Athlete: The athlete will apply to the governing organization by submitting medical documentation, and possibly video evidence that an athlete has a permanent disability to participate in USA Paralympic swim competitions. In addition, it will require a physical and/or cognitive evaluation of the athlete to determine their formal official classification for international competitions.
4) What is Para-Swimming?
Para-Swimming is the active encouragement of people with disabilities to participate in the sport of swimming and facilitate their inclusion in USA Swimming programs through education and collaboration. We seek to involve people with disabilities in existing competitions and programs for all swimmers, rather than provide unique disability-only opportunities.
5) Can my Para-Swimmer go to a swim meet?
Yes! We encourage every athlete to participate in USA Swimming meets. They will compete as every athlete is invited at the swim meet.
6) Can my Para-Swimmer go to the State Championship meet?
Yes! USA Swimming established qualifying times for swimmers with disabilities! (See section: USA Disability Swimming Motivational Standards)
Step 1: Determine your USA Disability Swim Group (P1–More disabled, P2–Moderately disabled, P3 – Less disabled).
Step 2: Find your required time.
Step 3: Submit your entry and P1, P2, P3 Grouping with your team entry to the Entry Chair.
7) Can my Para-Swimmer go to the Zone or Sectional Meet?
Yes! USA Swimming established qualifying times for swimmers with disabilities! (See section: USA Disability Swimming Motivational Standards)
Step 1: Determine your USA Disability Swim Group (P1–More disabled, P2–Moderately disabled, P3–Less disabled).
Step 2: Find your required time.
Step 3: Submit your entry and P1, P2, P3 Grouping with your team entry to the Entry Chair.
8) I keep getting disqualified at swim meets! How do I get a legal time?
Officiating a swim meet is difficult and based on visual confirmations at a very fast pace. Not every official may immediately know or see the disability and makes the DQ infraction based on what they see. The Athlete may appeal the call based on the disability. See section below “Responsibilities of the Coach BEFORE the competition”.
9) How does my Para-Swimmer get 'Classified'?
See ‘How to get classified Section below’
10) What is the difference between a US Classification and IPC Classification?
a. National (USA) Classification: Used for meets in the USA and recognize 'Potential' athletes a temporary classification and set them with goal times and equality for competition in the pool.
b. International (IPC) Classification: Used for meets in the international circuit/IPC organized (e.g., Paralympic Games, World Championships, World Series). After an athlete acquires the National Classification, the athlete can 'apply' for an international classification evaluation so they can compete at these competitions.
11) Can my Para-Swimmer achieve USA Swimming’s Scholastic All American award?
Yes! USA Swimming established qualifying times for you! USA Scholastic All American site
Step 1 Determine your USA Disability Swim Group (P1 – More disabled, P2 – Moderately disabled, P3 – Less disabled)
Step 2: Determine your Qualifying times for the Swim Group (P1, P2, P3)
Step 3: Submit your entry and ‘P1, P2, P3’ Grouping with your team entry to the Entry chair.
12) Can my Deaf or Hearing-impaired athlete compete with a disability in USA Swim meets?
Yes! We encourage all athletes to participate.
Responsibilities of the Coach BEFORE the Competition:
Per the USA Swimming Rules & Regulations grant the Referee the authority to modify the rules for the swimmer with a disability
1) Prior the start of the swim meet, the coach will notify the meet Referee about your athlete’s disability Examples include, but NOT limited to:
a. Limits of range of motion:
i. Athlete cannot turn foot out during the propulsion part of the breaststroke kick
ii. Athlete cannot simultaneously touch for butterfly/breaststroke (e.g., range of motion, limb imbalance, arm length, amputation)
iii. Athlete cannot move arms simultaneously over the water during the swim of butterfly (range of motion, limb imbalance,)
b. Assistance on deck
i. Personal aid on deck to assist getting on athlete to block on time
ii. Personal aid on deck to assist athlete with maintaining balance on starting block, getting on starting block, getting in/out of pool
iii. Athlete requires extra time to get on block
iv. Athlete requires extra time to get out of pool
v. Athlete requires a ‘Tapper’ to notify visually impaired athlete at turns and finish of races
c. Visual and Hearing Aids
i. Lane Assignment Priority for Strobe Light and official hand commands proximity
ii. Personal aide to ‘tap’ in order notify athlete to start race (without ANY forward motion or assistance)
How to Get Classified
Physical Disability Classification Steps
1) Go to the USA Para Swimming Classification Site - Classification (teamusa.org)
2) Open the Athletes with a Physical Impairment (PI) Form
3) Complete the online form
4) Submit the forms as required
This process usually takes 2-3 weeks to receive a conditional classification.
5) After receiving confirmation from Team USA as eligible for Paralympics, you can compete at USA Paralympic meets and receive an international classification review.
Cognitive Impairment Classification Steps
1) Go to Athletes Without Limits (USA Org Name) Virtus Eligibility Application for U.S. Athletes with Intellectual Impairment – Athletes Without Limits (Virtus is the international Organization)
2) Complete the online registration form
3) Submit the forms as required
Review typically takes 1-4 weeks, depending on the existing assessments in the athlete’s file. Additional information may be required.
4) After receiving confirmation from AWL, you will be automatically added the Team USA / eligibility for Paralympics. You are eligible to compete at USA Paralympic meets and receive an international classification review slot.
Visual Impairment Classification Steps
1) Go to the USA Para Swimming Classification Site - Classification (teamusa.org)
2) Open the Athletes with a Visual Impairment (VI) Form
3) Complete the online form
4) Submit the forms as required
This process usually takes 2-3 weeks to receive a conditional classification.
5) After receiving confirmation from Team USA as eligible for Paralympics, you can compete at USA Paralympic meets and receive an international classification review.
Hearing Impairment Classification Steps
The Hearing-Impaired community elected not to participate in the Paralympic games. They established the ‘Deaflympics’ as an avenue for their athletes to compete in higher level and international competitions. Athletes should contact “US Deaf Sports”. And yes, hearing-impaired athletes are welcome to compete with other para swimmers in all USA Swimming events. The Athlete may request lanes closer to the starter to have visibility on the starter flash unit and Official’s hand commands.
USA Swimming Motivational Standards
The USA Disability Swimming committee established these standards based on historical performances of ‘Paralympic Athletes’. These times are located on the USA Swimming Time Standards page.
1. Scroll down to the ‘Quad Standards’ section
2. Click ‘Parallel Time Standards’
3. Click on the desired level of level of competition
Paralympics Defined
Although the name was originally coined as a portmanteau combining "paraplegic" (due to its origins as games for people with spinal injuries) and "Olympic," the inclusion of other impairment groups meant that this was no longer considered very accurate. The present formal explanation for the name is that it derives from the Greek preposition παρά, pará ("beside" or "alongside") and thus refers to a competition held in parallel with the Olympic Games. The Summer Games of 1988 held in Seoul was the first time the term "Paralympic" came into official use.
Paralympic Movement
“Spirit in Motion” is the motto for the Paralympic movement. The symbol for the Paralympics contains three colors, red, blue, and green, which are the colors most widely represented in the flags of nations. The colors are each in the shape of an Agito (which is Latin for "I move"), which is the name given to an asymmetrical crescent specially designed for the Paralympic movement. The three Agitos circle a central point, which is a symbol for the athletes congregating from all points of the globe. The motto and symbol of the IPC were changed in 2003 to their current versions. The change was intended to convey the idea that Paralympians have a spirit of competition and that the IPC as an organization realizes its potential and is moving forward to achieve it. The vision of the IPC is, "To enable Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence and to inspire and excite the world." The Paralympic anthem is "Hymn de l'Avenir" or "Anthem of the Future". It was composed by Thierry Darnis and adopted as the official anthem in March 1996.
USA Swimming
- USA Swimming Rule Book
- Article 105.1 Disability is defined as a permanent physical or cognitive disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
- USA Swimming Disability Committee
Paralympic Swimming
