Developing Evidence-Informed Recommendations for the Management of Parasport Classification Using the AGREE II Instrument

Sport administrators hold responsibility for implementing and managing parasport classification systems within national sport federations, yet they have called for guidance on how best to learn about and manage classification. This paper describes a consensus-based process, informed by the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II instrument of developing novel, evidence-informed recommendations for the management of classification by national sport federations. A consensus panel (N = 8) reviewed extant research on classification, shared first-hand knowledge and expert opinion of the subject, and formulated the recommendations. Seven recommendations resulted, each accompanied by specifics such as who, how, and when to implement them. External knowledge users (N = 37) provided additional feedback on the draft recommendations. These recommendations serve to advance the systematic management of classification across Canadian national sport federations. Additionally, this work provides guidance on how to utilize the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II Instrument when collaborating with parasport practitioners, thus bridging the gap between knowledge creation and implementation.