New Research on Classification

The work in classification lead by IFCPF Classification Director Raúl Reina and his team continues with excellent results in the development of evidence-based classification on CP Football. This is the first study exploring the relationships between measurements of impairment and real-match performance with the new sport classes implemented in 2018 by IFCPF.

The work in classification lead by IFCPF Classification Director and his team continues with excellent results in the development of evidence-based classification on CP Football. This is the first study exploring the relationships between measurements of impairment and real-match performance with the new sport classes implemented in 2018 by IFCPF.

New research on CP Football classification entitled “Is impaired coordination related to match physical load in footballers with cerebral palsy of different sport classes?” was published in a special issue on classification in Paralympic sports in the prominent Journal of Sports Sciences. This article is authored by Raúl Reina, Aitor Iturricastillo, Daniel Castillo, Alba Roldan, Carlos Toledo, and Javier Yanci.

The aims of this study were to determine the relationships of three coordination tests (i.e. Rapid Heel-toe, Split jumps, and Side-stepping) with the physical match load (measured with GPS devices) during competition of CP footballers from different sport classes (i.e., FT1, FT2, and FT3) in the four IFCPF international competitions held in 2018 and 2019 (European Championships in the Netherlands, Americas Cup in Ecuador, Asia-Oceania Championships in Iran, and World Championships in Spain).

The data obtained from 259 CP footballers from 25 national teams demonstrate that FT1 and FT3 players have the lowest and highest performance in all the coordination tests, respectively. Also, Split jumps and side-stepping are associated with the performance of accelerations during competition.

This is a novel contribution suggesting that the association between impairments is constrained by sports skills or sports dynamics and provides evidence of valid methods to assess impaired coordination of the lower limbs in para-athletes with eligible impairments of hypertonia, athetosis and ataxia.

The published research was carried out with multiple support institutions such as the International Paralympic Committee, the International Federation of CP Football, the Miguel Hernandez University, the Vasque Country University, and University Isabel . These continuous advances will increase the consistency of the CP football evidence-based classification system, increase the knowledge, and meet the needs of the international recommendations about evidence-based and sports-specific classification systems.

For more information contact: info@ifcpf.com