CP Football – Classification

Classification provides a structure for competition. Athletes competing in CP Football have Ataxia, Hypertonia or Athetosis – three impairment types that are most commonly associated with individuals having neurological impairment, with a motor control impairment of a cerebral nature, causing a permanent and verifiable Activity Limitation.

DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for CP Football, a person must have an eligible impairment type and the impairment must be judged to be severe enough to have an impact on the sport of athletics. Minimum Disability Criteria (MDC) are described in the World Para Athletics Classification Rules and Regulations. There are 10 eligible impairment types: eight physical impairments as well as vision impairment and intellectual impairment.

Hypertonia  Ataxia  Athetosis

Athletes with Hypertonia have an increase in muscle tension and a reduced ability of a muscle to stretch caused by damage to the central nervous system. 

Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that may lead to Hypertonia include cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and stroke. 

Athletes with Ataxia have uncoordinated movements caused by damage to the central nervous system. 

Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that may lead to Ataxia include cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke and multiple sclerosis.

Athletes with Athetosis have continual slow involuntary movements. 

Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that may lead to Athetosis include cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and stroke. 

HOW DOES THE SPORT WORK:

CP Football was developed to allow individuals with Cerebral Palsy to participate in the World’s most popular sport. It comprises of 7 players in each team and a game of two halves of 30 minutes each. The goal of CP Football classification is to ensure all teams are fairly balanced. Each team of seven players must have at least one FT1 player on the field at all times and is not permitted to have more than one FT3 player on the field at a time.

FT1: Most severe impairment

FT2: Moderate impairment

FT3: Minimal impairment