Classification FAQs

During the athlete classification process, a certified classifier assesses an athlete on how their impairment influences their sporting ability to determine their classification. Classification is sport specific, and therefore each sport has its own classifiers. The evaluation process for a classification typically includes:
• Medical testing
• Demonstration of sport skills
• Observation during competition
At the completion of the classification process a classifier will allocate the athlete with a class and a class status.

In Australia, Shooting Australia provide the opportunity for athletes to seek a classification through a provisional classification process. This is an entry level classification assessment that provides athletes and competition organisers with information on eligibility, sport class and status. The provisional process is a paperwork process that generally requires:
1. Athletes to agree to the process and provide background details of themselves and their impairment
2. A medical professional/specialist to complete a specific section of the form
3. Athletes to provide medical documentation from their specialist
4. It may also require a video submission of the athlete doing physical skills related to their sport
5. Athletes with a provisional classification are not able to gain selection to Australian teams, or achieve National records.
The completed forms are reviewed by a certified classifier. At the completion of this process, an athlete will be allocated a class, and a class status. Generally provisional classification is valid until you attend a face to face classification opportunity.

In Australia, there are varying age requirements in each state’s legislation in relation to use of firearms, Shooting Australia recognises these laws, therefore, an athlete can be classified from the required age in their state.

This will depend on your impairment and level of classification. The majority of athletes will be classified more than once during their shooting career. Classifiers will decide whether an athlete needs to be reviewed during the classification process. Common reasons for attending classification more than once include:
• You may be allocated a review date and will need to be reviewed in a certain year or event.
• Your age and physical maturity.
• You may be requested to attend classification at a major championship (such as an international event).
• You have a fluctuating condition or your impairment has changed.
• The classification rules for the sport change and you need to be reviewed.

If your medical condition has changed or you have had medical intervention that may impact upon your classification, you are required to advise Shooting Australia of these changes. This may result in a review of your classification. Any requests need to be accompanied by medical documentation. Contact Shooting Australia for more information.

Each sport has a different classification process so you will need to be classified by recognised classifiers for the sport and according to the classification rules for the sport. It is possible that an athlete may meet the criteria in one sport, but may not meet the criteria in another sport.

Athletes are matched as fairly as possible into a class with others who have a similar level of impairment. As no two athletes are the same, within each class there may be differences between athletes.

Athletes should receive a copy of their classification outcome page which shows their class and class status. Athletes should keep a copy of this paperwork for future reference. Athletes can also refer to the Shooting Classification Masterlist on the Shooting Australia website to verify their classification.

All athletes who have been through a classification process will have their records kept on file, and their classification details will be entered into the Shooting Classification Masterlist which can be found on the Shooting Australia website. Competition organisers can confirm your classification by referring to this Masterlist as well.

Every time an athlete is classified they are provided with a class status. The following outcomes may occur:
• An athlete is allocated a National Review (R) status, with no date for review, which means they will be required to attend classification again at the next competition where classification is held, and it is an entry requirement to hold a valid classification.
• An athlete is allocated a fixed review year e.g. NR 2015, which means they will not be able to attend classification until the year that is allocated. Once the review year arrives, the classification will revert to R status and the above R status conditions apply.
• An athlete is allocated a National Confirmed (C) status, which means the athlete will not be classified again for any National competitions.
Regardless of what status is allocated an athlete may be classified again if:
• The classification rules for the sport change.
• An athlete's condition has changed since their last classification to the extent that they most likely do not fit his/her current class due to medical interventions, change in condition (progressive/fluctuating) or skeletal maturity (growth) changes. Refer to the FAQ "I have changed since I was last classified - What do I do?".
• As an outcome of protest or appeal.

There are rules surrounding ineligibility for each competition. If you have been told you are Not Eligible, this means that that you do not meet the minimum impairment criteria for shooting as per the WSPS classification rules. You will not be able to compete in competitions as a para-athlete. Where an opportunity exists you may be able to attend a second evaluation with alternative certified classifiers at an equal or higher level. As classification rules are specific to each sport, an athlete who is eligible for one sport; is not necessarily eligible for another, as the minimum impairment criteria for each sport are different.

Athletes have a right to lodge a disagreement, or protest their classification. You should contact Shooting Australia if you wish to do so.

Athletes have a right to lodge a disagreement, or appeal their classification. You should contact Shooting Australia if you wish to do so.

No. You can continue to compete as a provisional athlete indefinitely. You will only need to upgrade to a National classification if you attend a national level competition such as the SA Open or the Member Bodies National Championships.

No. Once you have a national classification you never go back to a provisional classification. .

You can compete until the next opportunity to be seen by a classification panel. As an example if Shooting Australia only puts on one national classification per year and it is always at the SA Open, but you never go to the SA Open again (e.g. you went once and live in Perth but the SA Open is always in Sydney) then you can keep competing in local and state competitions indefinitely as it is not your fault that Shooting Australia has not provided an opportunity in your home state or local area to be classified.

This process has been designed to allow athletes who do not have access to a full Classification panel, to gain an indication of whether they are eligible and where they may fit within the National Shooting classification system. This provisional classification must be given by a certified medical classifier, and is conducted in line with International classification rules for Shooting Para Sport.
All provisional athlete evaluations provide an indication of a classification and are usually valid until a national classification is held in your home state and within a reasonable distance.
A provisional classification is generally not valid for state level competition and beyond. Athletes should attend a face to face classification with a national panel at the next available opportunity. Athletes with a provisional classification are not eligible for national rankings and records or team selections.

If you disagree with a Provisional Athlete Evaluation outcome, the usual process would be to present for a face to face athlete evaluation before a full classification panel.
Provisional athlete evaluation, while endeavouring to be an accurate indication of class, is a general guide only and may change upon face to face assessment by a full classification panel.

STEP 1. Complete Section 1: Athlete Details and Informed Consent
The athlete (or parent guardian if under 18 year of age) completes the athlete details and agrees to the terms in the Informed Consent form in the attached.
Please leave the Classification Outcome Section blank. This is to be filled in by a trained classifier.
STEP 2. Complete Section 2: Shooting Athlete Evaluation Sheet (Provisional Shooting Classification Form)
Athletes are to make an appointment with a local physiotherapist or medical doctor to complete the attached forms in Section 2. The Physiotherapist or Medical Doctor is to fill in Section 2.
STEP 3. Complete SECTION 4: Application Submission
(Section 3 is to be left blank to be completed by a trained classifier)

Athletes who have never been classified (international new), or those with international review status with no review year, need to be classified at the next event they compete in where classification is held.
Athletes with an international review status who have been allocated a future review date (e.g. Review 2020) do not need to attend classification until the year of review, in this case 2020.
Athletes with a Confirmed status do not need to attend any future classification, unless their condition changes, or unless there is a protest against their classification by the WSPS.
Should any athletes change in condition (either deteriorate or improve in condition) they may be entitled to have their classification reviewed, regardless of the status (Review or Confirmed) of their classification. This will need medical paperwork to support and a request for review will need to be submitted to the WSPS before any upcoming events where classification is held.