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Boccia balls during a Boccia training session ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on August 23, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. 

CLASSIFICATION

Classification Overview
Classification provides a structure for Paralympic competition. The International Paralympic Committee has adopted a universal classification code in order to facilitate the implementation of accurate, reliable, and credible sport-specific classification systems. The classification process determines who is eligible to compete in a Paralympic sport and it groups the eligible athletes in sport classes according to their activity limitation in a certain sport. For more information about Paralympic classification and the IPC's Athlete Classification Code, please visit the IPC's Classification Webpage.

Boccia International Sports Federation (BISFed) is the international federation for boccia. BISFed is responsible for creating and implementing the rules and regulations that govern the boccia classification system. For more information about the boccia classification system, rules and regulations, please visit the World Boccia Webpage.

All national classifications conducted in the United States fall under the governance of U.S. Paralympics as the National Paralympic Committee for the United States. For more information about the national classification policies and procedures, please visit the U.S. Paralympics Classification Policies and Procedures Webpage.

 

Sport Classes

For competition purposes, athletes are classified into one of four classes:

  1. BC1 - Players in this class throw the ball with the hand or foot. They may compete with an assistant who stays outside of the competitor’s playing box, to stabilize or adjust their playing chair and give the ball to the player when requested.
  2. BC2 - Players in this class throw the ball with the hand. They are not eligible for assistance.
  3. BC3 - Players in this class have very severe locomotor dysfunction in all four extremities. Players in this class have no sustained grasp or release action and although they may have arm movement, they have insufficient range of movement to propel a Boccia ball onto the court. They may use an assistive device such as a ramp to deliver the ball. They may compete with an assistant; assistants must keep their back to the court and their eyes averted from play.
  4. BC4 - Players in this class have severe locomotor dysfunction of all four extremities as well as poor trunk control. They can demonstrate sufficient dexterity to throw the ball onto the court. Players are not eligible for assistance.

Classification Database

The U.S. Paralympics Boccia National Database includes all athletes whose classification information is on file with either the IPC, BISFed and/or U.S. Paralympics. Athletes who have been nationally or internationally classified as per the Code and/or the U.S. Paralympics Classification Policies and Procedures are included.

 


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