France holds adaptive classifier workshop

Fifteen rowers were classified with ‘new’ status which will enable them to start participating in major competitions. Their first competition was the Euro Open Indoor rowing competition in Paris last month. 

The workshop included training for new technical and medical classifiers of adaptive rowers. Judy Morrison, FISA’s head of classification, and Simon Goodey, international technical classifier, both FISA adaptive commission members, taught the workshop to 12 students: six medical classifiers and six technical classifiers from Germany, China, France and Portugal.

World Rowing asked Morrison about the classification system:

World Rowing: How often does an adaptive athlete have to be classified or reclassified? 

Judy Morrison: Adaptive athletes only need to be reclassified if they are issued a review sport class status (because they may show improvement for some reason or another) or if the classification system changes.  There are no plans to have any major changes to the classification system in the future at this time.

Many of those rowers with review status are either new to rowing, or have a newly diagnosed disability.  They are the main reasons.

WR: What’s the difference between a medical classifier and a technical classifier? 

JM: Medical classifiers are physiotherapists or doctors and they assess the medical aspects of the rowers.  Technical classifiers are rowers, coaches, or sport scientists with a rowing background who assess the technical (or functional) aspect of the rowers.

WR:  Why was Paris chosen for the workshop? 

JM: The French Rowing Federation approached FISA’s adaptive commission to host the workshop.  They are increasing the numbers of adaptive rowers in France and wanted to have more classifiers to help around the country.  It also coincided nicely with the Euro Open.