Para-Sport Lawn bowls individuals must have a vision impairment or a physical disability that affects movement, usually due to birth defects, diseases, surgery or injury to be able to play and compete as a disabled player. To obtain the fairest set of players in each match, classifiers assess the degree of disability of each player and issue a code which reflects the degree of disability. Codes issued B1-B4 are reserved for those with visual impairment; B5-B8 are reserved for those with physical disabilities.
To determine a vision impaired athlete class, classifiers conduct a series of acuity and visual field sight tests.
To determine a physically impaired athlete class, classifiers observe athletes as they perform a range of movements. They test for muscle power, coordination and range of movement. They also measure the length of the athlete upper and lower limbs. The athlete is observed bowling balls, kicking back balls and walking the length of the green prior to game play and during game play, if necessary.
In order to be classified for Para-Sport lawn bowls you should first contact your country’s disabled lawn bowls organisation. Depending on the country’s rules there may be multiple opportunities in each season to be classified at a national level. Classification is overseen and conducted by us here at International Bowls for the Disabled.
Please refer to the next paragraph for the various classifications issued by visual and physical classifiers post-test. If in any doubt please feel free to contact us at admin@interdisabledbowls.org and we will point you in the right direction.
Visual impairment classification is based on the LogMAR system and is divided into the following classes:
B1: NLP up to LogMAR 2.7 (LogMAR 2.6 is out)
B2: LogMAR 2.6 up to LogMAR 1.5 (LogMAR 1.4 is out) irrespective of visual field
B3: LogMAR 1.4 up to LogMAR 1.0 (LogMAR 0.9 is out) irrespective of visual field
B4: LogMAR 0.9 or better acuity TOGETHER with a field of vision of less than 20 degrees
Physical disability classification is based on the following information:
B5: Wheelchair bowlers who can only use a very small bowl (size 00) due to limitation of upper limb function. Ambulant and wheelchair bowlers with restricted grip and upper body limb function, poor balance and co-ordination, unable to bowl a full length end or needing a splinting device to do so (Not including the bowling arm as used in Australia). Bowlers with no arms who bowl with their feet.
B6: Ambulant and wheelchair bowlers with reduced balance function (loss of 5 points or more) but able to bowl a full length end.
B7: Ambulant and wheelchair bowlers with minor balance problems (loss of less than 5 points).
B8: Ambulant bowlers, who have a permanent and irreversible disability, have lost 10 points on the bench test, but have no noticeable impairment of function. (Loss of 0-1 points on technical assessment)
