June 22, 2017

New classification manual released

Dear IPCH Nations,

We are really happy and proud to be able the release the IPCH Classification Manual edition 2017.

Classification is a fast moving field, in Sport Assembly 2016 the basics and basis of the IPCH Classification Manual and its 1st edition were presented and agreed by the represented Nations. That document was based on the IPC Classification Code valid until end 2016. In January 2017 a new version of the IPC Classification Code was released. During the IPC Head of Classification meeting held in Bonn in February IPC released the new updated Classification Code and announced that all the International Federation recognized by IPC and also IPCH would have to undergo an audit to check the compliancy of the Classifications System and Procedures with the IPC codes and guidelines.

According to the decisions of the Sport Assembly IPCH is following IPC guidelines therefore in order to respect this decision and to result IPC compliant some changes have been done on the Manual.

Here a summary of the main changes that has to be done.

  1. Part A: New part including the IPC Model Rules which were released in February 2017: the classification terminology, organisation and structure which is in effect since 1 January 2017 and will be obliged from 1 January 2018 for all ParaSports and ParaSport organisations including IPCH/IWAS.
  2. Part B: this is the actual PCH Classification, as voted for by the countries in 2016, following the IPC structure from part A. Changes/updates in this part: (2) Non-eligible Impairment types (IPC obligation), (3) Health Conditions that are not underlying Health Conditions for all athletes (IPC obligation), (4.3) Minimum Impairment Criteria (MIC) for each impairment type: so not only for the Power impaired athletes, but also for those athletes with Range of Motion, Short stature, Limb deficiency and Coordination impairments (IPC obligation), (5.2) Extension of our needed tests for those (other) impairment groups (IPC obligation), (6.1) Assessment criteria Arm profile for all impairment types (IPC obligation).
  3. Part C Attachments: new here is (1) Attachment Classifier Training and Certification Program (IPC obligation and IPC Model), (3) Medical Diagnostic Form (IPC obligation), (5) Updated PCH Classification Form, (8) Measurement of loss of Limb/Limb deficiency (IPC obligation), (9) Coordination tests for coordination impaired athletes (IPC obligation).

The current edition of the Manual will be valid from 22nd June 2017.

Please download the Manual at this link:

Download “IPCH Classification Manual” 2017_IPCH_Classifications_Manual-2.pdf – Downloaded 272 times – 4 MB

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June 14, 2017

Italy awarded the IWAS Powerchair Hockey World Championship 2018

Italy will be hosting the IWAS Powerchair Hockey World Championships 2018!

From 24 September to 1 October 2018, the IWAS Powerchair Hockey World Championships will take place at the town of Lignano Sabbiadoro in Italy. The venues will be the same as at the WC 2010, this is a great chance for the LOC to further improve its previous services.

Members of the Executive Committee conducted site visits the past months and focused on specific criteria for the sports venues and team accommodations.

The 200m distance between the accommodation and competition venue gave the Italian bid the upper hand. Powerchair Hockey Vice-Chairman, Niels ten Hagen, said: “Italy has facilitated fantastic development of Powerchair Hockey over the last two decades and we greatly look forward to bringing the World Championships back to Lignano Sabbiadoro.”

The International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) Executive Board was pleased to accept the final recommendation from the IWAS Powerchair Hockey Executive Committee after the second site visit in Italy. Updates will be posted on both our website and Facebook page.

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March 17, 2017

Official PCH Classification Course during the ParaGames in Breda

Dear hockey friends

With pleasure the IPCH hereby announces that from 21st to 26th June 2017, during the ParaGames in Breda (The Netherlands) an official PCH Classification Course will be organized.

The main aim of the course is to educate IPCH classifiers on the new IPCH classification system which has been discussed and agreed during the Sport Assembly 2016. IPCH considers extremely important to be able to offer a wide group of fully updated IPCH Classifiers in good advance to let National Teams relay on the possibility of requesting advises and information regarding Classification before WC2018. This will also allow IPCH to be able to plan and accept requests for planning Official Classification Sessions before the WC2018 decreasing pressure and uncertainty for athletes and National Teams in the competition. Only classifiers with this new knowledge can be invited for future IPCH competitions.

This is actually the second aim that brought IPCH to the decision of organizing this course, the chance to classify already, at least, three National teams. To avoid extremely long classification sessions before the next competition.

You can find the official invitation and registration form below.

Download “Invitation Letter ParaGames ClassCourse” InvitationLetterParaGamesClassCourse.doc.pdf – Downloaded 84 times – 366 KB

Download “Class-Course RegistrationForm 2017” Class-Course_RegistrationForm_2017.pdf – Downloaded 70 times – 248 KB

 

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February 23, 2017

Rasmus Dissing Nielsen appointed as IPCH Marketing and Communication Officier

Dear IPCH Friends,
the Sport Executive Commitee has a brand new member!!

We are very very happy to introduce you all to the new IPCH Marketing and Communication Officer Mr. Rasmus Dissing Nielsen.
He is 28 and live in Copenhagen, Denmark. Many of you should know him: he has been playing Powerchair Hockey since 2004 and he is also one of the players of the Danish National Team, so he took part to several European and World Championships.
What you probably do not know is that on a daily basis he is a partner at We Are Wonder, a digital communication company with specialities in social media and video for medium and large brands and companies.
In the summer he is usually quite busy touring Denmark with the largest touring music festival in the country, called Grøn Koncert (Green Concert) as part of the brand and communication team and in charge of Facebook-live, Snapchat and communication through our big screens in front of the stages.

You can imagine how big smiles we all had when we got his message saying that he was more than willing to help and keep up not only the Marketing and Communication Activities but also the vacant role of Marketing and Communication Officer!!!
As already happened with Annemieke van de Vries some months ago, Rasmus will from now on join and support SEC meetings and tasks but, as stated in the rules and regulations he won’t have voting right in the Sport Executive committee since he was not formally elected during the SA.
Welcome on board Rasmus!!!

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January 8, 2017

Two Nations bidding for hosting WC2018

IPCH is very proud to announce that we have received two excellent bids to host the World Championships 2018.

Italy as well as the Czech Republic is applying to host this major event.

The bidding package on paper looks real promising from both nations.

IPCH will visit the sports venues and team accommodations within the next 2 months.

Site inspections will also offer the chance to meet the Local Organisation Committees of both Nations and to have a better look and understanding of the future ideas and projects for the realization of the World Championships 2018.

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December 13, 2016

New Secretary Officer: Annemieke Van de Vries!

Dear PCH Friends,

The Sport Exceutive Committee is really happy and proud to announce that Miss. Annemieke Van de Vries accepted to join the IPCH board offering to support the SEC in the role of Secretary Officer.The IWAS Powerchair Hockey Executive Committee Appoints New Secretary Officer

We are sure many of you will remember her from her from the last EC2016 where she was one of the volounteers of the IPCH Crew. Following her outstanding contributions to the success of the IWAS Powerchair Hockey European Championships 2016 as a member of the volunteer team and identified for her enthusiasm, willingness to help and attitude of problem solving, it was with pleasure than Annemieke accepted her new role.

Annemieke, who is a keen hockey fan and coach herself, will begin the support of the Executive Committee with immediate effect as attentions turn to the IPCH World Championships due to be held in 2018.

 

She will from now on join and support SEC meetings and tasks but, as stated in the rules and regulations she won’t have voting right in the Sport Executive committee.

Welcome Annemieke!

 

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December 1, 2016

IPCH Classification Manual released

classification-manual-ipch-cover
All rules, policies and procedures for athlete classification, including IPC rules and guidelines which IPCH do follow.

IPCH is really happy and proud to present the final version of the IPCH Classification Manual.

The manual contains all rules, policies and procedure for athletes classification and also all the requirments and information to become an IPCH Classifier, or to request a Classification Session.

This project is the result of the last decisions related to Classification taken by the Sport Assembly and of the huge work of the Classification Committee that has been leaded by Dr. Denis Jaeken until the end of 2015 and in the last year by Mr. Kees van Breukelen who has accepted to succeed to him as Head of the IPCH Classification Committee.

The main goal was to renew and update the Classification system bringing it up-to-date and in line with IPC guidelines and standards, in order to do this a deep analysis and revision of the Classification methods and standpoints have been necessary and also the knowlegde and a good activities of comparisons with other wheelchair sports were useful.

Aims of the revision (following IPC rules and regulations):
1. Focus: focus on ‘impairment based’ classification instead of ‘performance based’ classification.
2. Formulation: formulate a new, modern, IPC compliant eligibility rule.
3. Replacement: replacing the ‘disability-list’ with IPC eligible impairment types.
4. Uniformity: Create uniformity in the classification of athletes with the same impairment type.
5. Transparency: making PCH classification more transparent: sportclass is the sum of Arm impairment profile and Trunk impairment profile.
6. Restoration: restoring the sportclass as an ‘impairment’ class instead of an ‘equipment’ class.

The IPCH Classification system is an ‘eclectic’ system: it comprises approved classification details from other wheelchair sports which are appropriate and were found useful for our sport.
The concept of ‘Volume of Action’ of a PCH player comes from Wheelchair basketball were it is used successfully since 1984 (Official Player Classification Manual, 2014 IWBF).
The TIC (Trunk Impairment Classification), which forms an integral part of the revised IPCH classification formula, is an evident based (part of) classification which do find its origin in
Wheelchair rugby (IWRF Classification Manual, 2015).

The Manual was presented, discussed and approved during the Sport Assembly held in De Rijp on 18th July 2016 and was previously shared also withIWAS and IWAS Sports Science & Medical Officer Mr. Johnson Nino-Soto, MD and also with IPC Classification Managers. 

If you have any doubt or want to know more about how to become an IPCH Classifiers or about the IPCH Classification System please contact : classification@powerchairhockey.org

Download “IPCH Classification Manual” 2017_IPCH_Classifications_Manual-2.pdf – Downloaded 272 times – 4 MB

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