Evaluating The Current Classification Points Addition On Performance In Female Wheelchair Rugby Players

INTRODUCTION: Wheelchair rugby (WR) is one of the few mixed gender Paralympic sports, where males and females compete together. A point-based classification system is used, ranking athletes as low-point (LP, 0.5-1.5) or high-point (HP, 2.0-3.5) players, based on upper-extremity and trunk impairments. Teams are allowed a total of 8.0 points across four players on court at a time, with an additional 0.5-point for every female on court. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to explore the isometric strength and sprint performance of female WR players to determine whether an additional 0.5-point for female players is a fair rule in WR. METHODS: Twenty-nine female and fifty-six male WR athletes (10 nationalities) across all classification levels volunteered to participate in this research. Health conditions included spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, and amputations. All WR players completed a set of isometric strength tests (n = 6) and 3x10m sprints on court. The isometric test battery consisted of (a) shoulder flexion, (b) shoulder extension, (c) elbow flexion and (d) elbow extension for both arms. In addition, a sport-specific (e) push and (f) pull test was performed. One-way ANOVAs were conducted to test the differences between groups (LP and HP, Females and Males). The HP-players were split into a group with trunk (TR) and without trunk (NT) function. RESULTS: Female LP-players scored lower compared to Male LP-players on elbow flexion (113 N vs 214 N, p < 0.001), push (155 N vs. 287 N, p < 0.05) and pull (177 N vs. 285 N, p < 0.05) strength. Female HP-NT-players scored lower compared to Male HP-NT-players on elbow flexion (108 N vs 301 N, p < 0.001), shoulder flexion (158 N vs. 362 N, p < 0.01), shoulder extension (125 N vs. 259 N, p < 0.05), push (198 N vs. 508 N, p < 0.001) and pull (179 N vs. 407 N, p < 0.001) strength. Female HP-TR players scored lower compared to Male HP-TR players on elbow flexion (168 N vs. 362 N, p < 0.001), shoulder flexion (170 N vs. 499 N, p < 0.01) and push (153 N vs. 447 N, p < 0.001) strength. No differences were found in sprint performance between the sub-groups, 2 m times (0.9-1.6 s) and 10 m times (3.2-5.8 s). CONCLUSION: Female WR players have less strength compared to male players, yet sprinting performance was similar between sub-groups. Working towards fair sports in WR is essential for participation and equity. Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby