Classification:
Where people compete there has always been the question of equal changes and fair measure between the players we call this fair play.
"What is fair play about? Basically there are five principles of fair play, namely:
o Respect the rules
o Respect the opponents
o Respect the officials and their decisions
o Have everyone participate
o Maintain self-control at all times
Just imagine what sport would be like if everyone abused these fundamental principles. Winning is without value if victory has been achieved unfairly. To cheat is easy but it brings no pleasure. On the other hand playing fair requires courage and character and is more satisfying. Fair Play always has its reward even when one is on the losing side.
After all, sport is about games and games are pointless unless played fairly"
In a natural way classification develop in all kind of variants:
• gender
• age
• weight
• experience
• ability
• strength
• sport structure
• material
The difference between men and woman are obvious, men are in general stronger and faster than women, but that does not mean they can’t compete against each other.
There are a number of factors that are involved. Par example the sport structure, in chess a woman can beat men fairly. So classification must be reviewed in al aspects and make sense to provide that the best athlete may win. All of this applies directly to disability sport. There the categories are more numerous but the logic isn't. "Classification is simply a structure for competition. Not unlike wrestling, boxing and weightlifting, where athletes are categorized by weight classes, athletes with disabilities are grouped in classes defined by the degree of function presented by the disability. Similarly, the logic of "open competition" the freedom to enter an event in which one meets eligibility requirements with respect to times and distan-ces, with no consideration given to functional or medical classification" is also a direct corollary of this understanding of meaningful competition.
Special Needs Judo Europe classification system
All main (inter)national - tournaments for the disabled in the Europe are organised on recreation level, in most cases this means that the disabilities are not relevant for the competition anymore.
This process is called Functional Classification.
The process of functional classification developed since 1992. Before that time, the sportsmen mainly were classified based on medical diagnosis.
This means that sportsmen with a physical disability played against each other, sportsmen with a intellectual disability played against each other etc. Through this practice, there were many classes with a few sportsmen within these classes. The functional classification system enables judokas to practice their sport at an equal level, based on the judo skills of the sportsmen regardless of their kind of disability. This class division is not suitable for every type of sport, but experience shows that the judo sport is perfectly suitable to turn this kind of classification into practice. We are convinced that functional classification system will contribute to the emancipation of sportsmen with a disability. This contrary to the medical classification used in the past. Because of this, a development is created where sportsmen are accepted within regular associations.
Explanation of the five category scale from good to weak:
Category 1:
The judoka’s who are classified in this category can train and compete on almost equal base with regular judoka’s on recreation club level. These judoka's have excellent judo skills and competition insight where by there capability and initiative is well developed.
The judoka understands cause and effect of his own acts and will be given a penalty by break-ing the G-competition rules.
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Category 2:
The judoka’s who are classified in this category can train and take part in light competition (RANDORI) with regular judoka's on almost equal. These judoka’s have a good understanding technical rep-ertory and competition insight of which the capability and initiative is normally developed.
The judoka understands cause and effect of his own acts and will be given a penalty by break-ing the G-competition rules.
Category 3:
The judoka’s who are classified in this category can take part with some help in training with regular judoka's but only compete in special competition with judoka’s of the same level. These judoka’s understand the meaning and the rules of the G-competition and have a rea-sonable technical judo skills and competition insight of which the capability and initiative of his own act belongs to his possibilities.
Category 4:
The judoka’s who are classified in this category can take part in a special training and competition but need guidance during the competition These judoka’s understand the basic rules and the meaning of the G-competition and have a small technical understanding reper-tory and competition insight. Due to the low judo knowledge the judoka, a small amount of ba-sic techniques will be used during the competition.
Category 5:
The judoka’s who are classified in this category need a lot of guidance during the training as well as the competition and sometimes do not understand the basic rules or are physically not capable to preforme. Due to the low judo knowledge the judoka will use primary basic tech-niques during the competition.
Explaining classification here
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