Sitting Volleyball Classification Rules – January 2018 – PDF Document

Beach ParaVolley Classification Rules – October 2020 – PDF Document

IPC Athlete Classification Code 2017 (pdf)

World ParaVolley Covered Competitions

The World ParaVolley Classification rules apply to all the following competitions within World ParaVolley for the sitting volleyball and beach paravolley (standing) disciplines, termed a ” Covered Competition” – e.g. the Paralympic Games, the World Championships, all competitions that are part of the direct pathway to participate in the Paralympic Games, and any other competition at the discretion of World ParaVolley, where meaningful Observation Assessment can take place as part of the classification process. For example, “other” Covered Competitions will include World Cup, World Super Six, and Beach ParaVolley (Standing) World Cup.

For clarification, the Paralympic Games are considered a Covered Competition because all athletes attending have been evaluated at a Covered Competition and have sport class statuses that do not require further classification prior to the Games, and the classification rules apply in all aspects with respect to Athletes attending the Games, even though the Games have a zero-classification policy and no classification evaluation takes place at the Games.

For 2026, the “Covered Competitions” will include:

What is Classification?

Athletes competing in para-sports have an impairment that leads to a competitive disadvantage. Consequently, a system has to be put in place to minimise the impact of impairments on sport performance and to ensure the success of an athlete is determined by skill, fitness, power, endurance, tactical ability and mental focus. This system is called classification.  Classification determines who is eligible to compete in a para-sport and it groups the eligible athletes into sport classes according to their activity limitation in a certain sport. It also provides a structure for Competition.  Classification aims to remove the level of impairment as a factor that determines the outcome of competition.  Classification is sport specific.

The World ParaVolley classification system is based on the loss of locomotor function as it applies to volleyball (sitting or standing). This covers amputees (or congenital abnormalities like amputees) as well as Les Autres (a French word meaning ‘the others’) which includes other musculoskeletal injuries / conditions, as well as many neurological conditions.  Examples of types of impairments with different conditions that may be eligible to play ParaVolley disciplines include:

• Impaired muscle power – e.g. following nerve injury
• Impaired passive range of movement
• Limb deficiency – e.g. amputations
• Leg length difference
• Hypertonia/Ataxia/Athetosis

What is required for Athlete Classification?

Athlete Evaluation by trained and certified World ParaVolley Classifiers forms the basis of the classification evaluation, and is supported by functional testing as well as observation during training and/or competition.

International classification can only happen in official World ParaVolley international events. Athletes must undergo evaluation by a panel of 2 or 3 classifiers prior to his/her first international competition. Classifiers work together to answer three questions:

1. Does the athlete have an eligible impairment for ParaVolley?
   It is the responsibility of the athlete to provide medical information to provide evidence of the health condition that leads to an eligible impairment for any sport discipline of ParaVolley. Athletes with a status of “New” or “Review” should have his/her doctor or medical specialist complete a World ParaVolley Medical Diagnostics Form and provide all supporting medical reports to be uploaded to the ParaVolley Sport Administration System (PVSAS) at least three months prior to international competition.
   The Medical Diagnostics Form Completion Guide provides information and tips for Doctors and NPCs/NFs on how to complete the form fully and correctly.
   World ParaVolley Medical Diagnostics Form (EDITABLE PDF)
   Medical Diagnostics Form Completion Guide (PDF)
   For further information on Eligible Impairments, please refer to the:
   IPC – International Standard for Eligible Impairments (PDF)
2. Does the athlete’s eligible impairment meet the minimum disability for a ParaVolley discipline?
   The criteria for minimum impairment criteria for Sitting and Standing Volleyball is outlined in the World ParaVolley Classification Rules and Classification Charts.
3. Which sport class describes the athlete’s activity limitation most accurately?
   There are two sport classes in sitting volleyball and three sport classes in Standing Volleyball.

The World ParaVolley International Classification Master List – What is it?

World ParaVolley maintains a Classification Master List of Athletes, which includes the athlete’s name, gender, year of birth, country, Sport Class and Sport Class Status.  This List identifies Athletes that are eligible to enter International Competitions.
World ParaVolley International Classification Master List – Dec 18, 2025 (PDF link)

Medical Review Requests

An athlete with a Confirmed or Review (with Fixed Review Date) Status who has reason to believe that their Impairment and Activity Limitations are no longer consistent with the profile for their Sport Class (due to medical deterioration or a medical improvement) should have his or her sport class reviewed. The means by which this can take place is referred to as a “Medical Review”. The Medical Review request (MRR) must be submitted by the Athlete’s NPC/NF. Medical Review Requests must be submitted into PVSAS and received by The Team Leader of the World ParaVolley Classification Commission at least 3 months before the next competition where the athlete intends to compete, along with a non-refundable fee of 100 EUR. Each Medical Review Request will be assessed by a Medical Review panel. Should the panel believe the athlete’s impairment is no longer consistent with the athlete’s sport class, the athlete will be given the sport class status “Review – Next Available Opportunity (R-NAO)” and will be required to undergo classification at their next available opportunity.” Details of the MRR submission process can be found on the first page of the Medical Review Request form below.
World ParaVolley Medical Review Request Form (editable PDF)

GET CLASSIFIED!

Please contact your Zonal Chair of Classification or National Classifier to get more information:

Zonal Classifier Contacts:

• ParaVolley Africa – Tina Sachs – tina.classification@gmail.com
• ParaVolley Asia-Oceania – Dr. Ma Jin Zhong – majinzhong007@sina.com
• ParaVolley Europe – Maiju Marjamaki – maiju@paravolley.eu
• ParaVolley Pan America – Saro Keresteciyan – datamanager@worldparavolley.org

HOW TO BECOME A CLASSIFIER

As a professional International Sports Federation, World ParaVolley has an ongoing responsibility to educate and train International Classifiers that are capable of delivering high quality classification services for ParaVolley athletes.

World ParaVolley has devised an education and training pathway for International Classifiers that provides them with the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to deliver classification evaluation at the highest possible standard.  World ParaVolley places a high priority on developing its human resources in order to provide the necessary services for the conduct of classification now and into the future.

World ParaVolley Classification Certification Pathway (.pdf)

Expression of Interest to become a Level 1 World ParaVolley Classifier (.doc)
Expression of Interest to become a Level 2 World ParaVolley Classifier (.doc)

For information on how to host a Classification Course, click HERE.

Classification Protests:

Rules concerning Protests made in respect of an Athlete’s Sport Class can be found on page 24 of the World ParaVolley Classification Rules document, and the Protest Form can be accessed here:
World ParaVolley Classification Protest Form (PDF)

For further information on classification, please contact World ParaVolley and see the links below:

• Classification – International Paralympic Committee
• International Paralympic Committee Classification Code

Other relevant links:

• Rules of the Game – Sitting Volleyball
• Rules of the Game – Beach ParaVolley