PARA-SWIMMING

Starting with the 2007 season, ASSA introduced Para-Swimming (formerly SWAD) events to its standard events list. This created an opportunity for swimmers with a disability to compete in ASSA competitions and advance to the Regional and Provincial levels in specific events.

Under these new regulations if a swimmer wishes to be recognized as a Para-Swimmer (swimmer with a disability) they need to be classified under the regulations of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Swimming classification system and be in compliance with all ASSA Para- Swimming Rules - see ASSA Rules and Regulations for further details

IPC Para-Swimming Classification

To compete as a Para-Swimmer within ASSA, swimmer's must meet all the eligibility requirements set out in section 2.2 of the  ASSA Rules and Regulations

Swimmer's with a disability seeking IPC classification should begin the process by completing the Request for Classification Form and submit it to the Swim Alberta office.

Following this, there are three types of classifications that could be done depending on the athlete's disability:

1. If the swimmer has a visual impairment then the swimmer will receive a form to be completed by their ophthalmologist and returned to Swim Alberta.
2. If the swimmer has a cognitive disability then the swimmer will receive a form that is to be completed by a specific specialist and returned to Swim Alberta
3. If the swimmer has a locomotor impairment then a classification session will need to be set up. Depending on the location and availability of the swimmer and the classifiers, there are three potential processes that could follow:
   
   1. If there is a full team available to perform the classification then a time will be set up for the process. Classifications take approximately 45 minutes.
   2. If a full team of classifiers is not available, and then a single classifier will do a provisional classification which will allow the swimmer to compete.
   3. If no classifier is available, a video classification will be completed which will allow the swimmer to compete.

In the last two cases a full classification session will be set up when the swimmer and a classification team can be brought together.

You can check to see if a swimmer has been classified by navigating to the Swimming Canada Para-Swimming Classification List.

Additionally, you can check to see if a swimmer has been registered with ASSA as a Para-Swimmer on this page.

Para-Swimming Events

ASSA currently offers the following PARA-Swimming Events:

• 50 Freestyle
• 100 Freestyle
• 100 Backstroke
• 100 Breaststroke

For further information about Para-Swimming events please see Section 2.2.3 of the ASSA Rules and Regulations

Para-Swimming Results

Para-Swimming events are contested and scored using a standardized scoring system, in this way participants in different classification categories can compete against each other on a level playing field. ASSA supports this format of competition at the Regional and Provincial meet level.

ASSA Para-swimming results are included in the ASSA Swimming Results, however, at this point in time the results are displayed with times only (ie. no points).

Para-Swimming News

Amber Thomas set a World Record in the Women's S11 800 Freestyle in Berlin on May 22, 2008 at the German Open. Her time was 11:50.66. Unfortunately, in the next heat a German swimmer broke her newly set record. Even though she no longer holds the World Record, she now holds the Americas Region Record (North, Central and South America) and the Canadian Record in the 800 Freestyle. Way to go Amber!

Questions about Para-Swimming?

Please forward all questions to:

Swim Alberta
Attention: James Hood
11759 Groat Road, Edmonton AB, T5M 3K6
Phone: (780) 415-1780Fax: (780) 415-1788
Email: jameshood@swimalberta.ca