World Shooting Para Sport releases new rules for 2017

World Shooting Para Sport has published an updated version of its Technical Rules and Regulations and Classification Rules and Regulations which come into force with immediate effect and run until 2018.

The publication of the 2017-2018 Technical Rules and Regulations follows a review process carried out in consultation with the shooting Para sport community.

“This was invaluable feedback and I believe that we have an even clearer set of rules.”

Whilst the new version does not contain any major rule changes, the main additions and amendments centre around updates that reflect new International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) rules. Some new wording also makes them clearer and easier to understand and includes provisions to move towards paperless Championships.

The 2017 season will also feature a new format for finals in both rifle and pistol disciplines. In the single position rifle and pistol events (every event except P3, P5, R7 and R8), the new finals will consist of two five shot series instead of a three shot series. This will lead to a total of 24 shots, up from the previous 20.

In P3 (mixed 25m pistol SH1), the final will change to a progressive elimination. In the new format, eight finalists will shoot four five shot series. After the fourth series, the eighth place athlete will be eliminated. Eliminations will continue until the gold and silver medals are decided after the 10th series.

In addition, a new world and regional rankings system will come into effect. This will determine the best performing athletes per event per season based on a point system, by considering both the rank and result achieved by the athletes. Rankings will be calculated on a rolling basis, with results from World Shooting Para Sport competitions counting towards the rankings for one year, whilst Paralympic Games and World Championships will remain for two years.

The Classification Rules and Regulations follow on from the adoption of a new sport class system where SH1 athletes are classified according to whether they are competing in rifle or pistol events.

In addition to minor updates and wording consistencies, the new rules and regulations include the adoption of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Classification Model Rules. These are designed to ensure shooting Para sport is compliant with the 2015 IPC Athlete Classification Code, which must be done by 1 January 2018.

Tyler Anderson, World Shooting Para Sport Manager, said: “I would like to thank the National Paralympic Committees and National Federations that took the time to give us their views during the review process for the 2017-2018 Technical Rules and Regulations.

“This was invaluable feedback and I believe that we have an even clearer set of rules which allows us to keep modernising whilst staying true to the fundamental spirit of shooting Para sport.

“In terms of classification, it is a very important step to adopt the IPC’s Model Rules. This will allow us to meet the standards required in the 2015 IPC Athlete Classification Code, which is designed to ensure International Federations are consistently applying the same policies and procedures to classification for all athletes.”

The 2017-2018 Technical Rules and Regulations and Classification Rules and Regulations are available at World Shooting Para Sport’s website: https://www.paralympic.org/shooting

The 2017 World Shooting Para Sport season gets underway in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, with a World Cup on 22 February.