Understanding How Athlete Classification Is Supported by Administrators Within National Sport Organizations.

Abstract

Classification is an essential aspect of parasport. However, the exact roles and responsibilities of parasport administrators related to classification have not yet been fully explored. This study aimed to understand how administrators in national sport organizations support classification. Six administrators participated in semistructured interviews. Critical realist analysis generated three themes: knowledge of classification, classification context, and administrators' roles related to classification. Knowledge of classification speaks to the importance of administrators' understanding classification, as well as their reliance on experiential learning and mentorship to understand the classification system and their role within it. Classification context refers to the tension within parasport resulting from competing uses of classification: Some organizations use classification to facilitate participation, while others reserve classification for high-performance athletes. Resultingly, administrators' roles are responsive to the unique needs of their organization. Altogether, this work describes how administrators may act as knowledge brokers in the parasport context.