BC1

This article is about Paralympic boccia classification. For BC1 hybrids, see Backcrossing. For other uses, see BC-1.

BC1 is a Paralympic boccia classification.

Definition

In 2000, BBC Sport defined this classification as "in class 1 those athletes who are dependent on an electric wheelchair or assistance for mobility," In 2008, BBC Sport defined this classification was "BC1: Athletes may compete with the help of an assistant, who must remain outside the athlete's playing box. The assistant can only stabilize or adjust the playing chair and give a ball to the player on his request" In 2008, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation defined this classification was "BC1: This category is for both throwers and foot players (those who kick the balls to the jack). Athletes can have help from an assistant, who can hold the player's wheelchair steady or adjust it, and can give the ball to the player for the next attempt, if the player asks for it." In 2012, the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association defined this classification as: "BC 1 – These athletes have restricted trunk movement and poor sitting balance but is able to throw the ball, usually overhand. If needed, this athlete may have an assistnt hand them the ball." In 2012, the Great Britain Boccia Federation defined this classification as: "Players with Cerebral Palsy who are able to use their hands or feet to consistently propel a ball into play. BC1 athletes may have an aide on court to pass them their ball before each shot"

The classification is CP1 or CP2, a classification used for other sports classified using the CP-ISRA Classification system.

Events

Events this classification competes in are mixed gendered competitions for either single players or a pair of players. At the 2012 Summer Paralympics, this classification will compete in a six end individual event, and a team event featuring BC1 and BC2 competing against each other, with three players per team, one of whom must be BC1. The match will be six ends long, with each player having three balls per end. In team play, a team is allowed to have one substitute per classification. Players in this classification have five minutes to play an end.

Performance

At the 2012 Australian national championships held at the Sydney Sport & Recreation from 30 April to 3 May, the BC1 individual event was won by Tyler Ellis from the Australian Capital Territory, second was won by William Marshall of Queensland and third place was won by John Richardson of Victoria.

Becoming classified

Classification is handled by Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association. The classification officer for the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association is Joan Steele-Mills.

To be eligible for classification, a boccia competitor "must have a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, stroke, head injury or other nonprogressive brain damage with locomotor dysfunction, either congenital or acquired (exception: Boccia “BC 4” players)."

Protesting classification

Competitors are allowed to protest their classification if they disagree with it. There is a formal process in place to allow this. On the international level, there are two types of protests: "new" protests for competitors who have not been previously classified and "review" protests for competitors who seek review before a major international competition. The protest on the international level must be made by the competitor's representative national Paralympic Committee or by the competitor's representative national sport federation. When a boccia competitor has been classified in the lead up to a major international championship, the relevant sporting bodies have 60 minutes from the end of the classification to protest it. Otherwise, if a competitor is classified outside of an event period, the relevant sporting organisations have thirty days after the last competition in which to file a protest. The relevant sporting body may also file a protest in a period of more than sixty days before the competitor is supposed to participate in an international event.

See also

• Boccia classification