====== Para Dance Sport — Eligibility, Classification and Impairments ======

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===== 1 ATHLETE ELIGIBILITY =====

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**1.1** All athletes who wish to compete in recognised competitions must:
  * **(a)** Hold a valid [[rules:definitions#athlete|Athletes Registration]] with DanceSport Australia.
  * **(b)** Adhere to the [[rules:start|DanceSport Australia Rules and Regulations]].
  * **(c)** Provide a Medical Diagnostics Form completed by a registered Australian Medical Practitioner.
  * **(d)** Junior competitors must have reached the age of 13 years by 31 December in the year of competition and a maximum of 20 years by 31 December in the year of competition.
  * **(e)** To compete in non-Junior competition, competitors must have reached the age of 13 years by 31 December in the year of competition.
  * **(f)** Comply and be assigned a Sports Classification in accordance with Para Dance Sport Classification Rules and Regulations.

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===== 2 PARA DANCE SPORT CLASSIFICATION =====

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**2.1** Classification determines which athletes are eligible to compete and how they are grouped together in competition to minimise the impact of the impairment on the athlete's performance.

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**2.2** The goal of Classification is to have a system in place that ensures winning is determined by skill, fitness, power, endurance, tactical ability and mental focus.

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**2.3** Athletes are grouped into "Sport Classes" by the degree of activity limitation from their impairments.

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===== 3 ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENTS FOR PARA DANCE SPORT =====

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**3.1** Para Dance Sport athletes must use a wheelchair and have at least one of the seven types of impairment listed in [[#p4|Rule 4]].

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**3.2** Competitors must have an **Eligible Impairment**, and that Eligible Impairment must be __permanent__. Impairment is determined through a medical diagnosis by an Australian Medical Doctor.

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===== 4 ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENT TYPES =====

  * **(a)** **Ataxia**
    * Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis
  * **(b)** **Athetosis**
    * Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke
  * **(c)** **Hypertonia**
    * Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke
  * **(d)** **Impaired Muscle Power**
    * Spinal Cord Injury (complete or incomplete, tetra or paraplegia or paraparesis), muscular dystrophy, post-polio syndrome and spina bifida
  * **(e)** **Impaired Passive Range of Movement**
    * Throgryposis and contracture resulting from chronic joint immobilisation or trauma affecting a joint
  * **(f)** **Limb Deficiency**
    * Traumatic amputation, illness due to bone cancer, or congenital limb deficiency e.g. dysmelia
  * **(g)** **Leg Length Difference**
    * Must be at least 7cm difference, dysmelia and congenital or traumatic disturbance of limb growth

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===== 5 NON-ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENT TYPES FOR PARA SPORTS =====

  * **(a)** Pain
  * **(b)** Hearing Impairment
  * **(c)** Low Muscle Tone
  * **(d)** Hypermobility of Joints
  * **(e)** Joint Instability, such as an unstable shoulder joint, recurrent dislocation of a joint
  * **(f)** Impaired Muscle Endurance
  * **(g)** Impaired Motor Flex Functions
  * **(h)** Impaired Respiratory Functions
  * **(i)** Impaired Cardiovascular Functions
  * **(j)** Impairment of Metabolic Functions
  * **(k)** Tics and Mannerisms, Stereotypes and Motor Perseveration