WWR and Loughborough University would like to invite wheelchair rugby athletes, team support personnel and classifiers to partake in a study on the experiences and perceptions of classification processes in wheelchair rugby.
To date, there is very little research that has explored the experiences and impact of classification on para-athletes and their wider team. The purpose of this study is to investigate the perceptions and experiences of athletes and athlete support personnel when going through the classification processes in wheelchair rugby. This study aims to understand how classification may impact upon athlete and ASP wellbeing, sports performance and continued participation in the sport. Researchers would like to understand how to support athletes and ASP through the classification processes, and in navigating the outcomes of classification.
Who is doing this research and why?
This study is part of a PhD student research project supported by Loughborough University. The study will be undertaken by Ellie-May Storr and supervised by Dr Jamie Barker, Dr Carolyn Plateau and Professor Vicky Tolfrey. The study is funded by The Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport at Loughborough University.
Are there any inclusion or exclusion criteria?
You must be over the age of 18 and have the capacity to fully understand and consent to this research.
You must:
- Play wheelchair rugby to a club, national or international standard
- Have experience and/or knowledge of domestic OR International Classification
- OR be an athlete support personnel associated to a wheelchair rugby team or organisation, with experience of the classification processes
- Examples of athlete support personnel include coaches, managers, psychologists, physiotherapists
Exclusion Criteria
- Any athlete or athlete support personal who may find discussing classification distressing will be excluded from the study.
What will I be asked to do?
Those partaking in the study will be invited to provide written informed consent before participating. You will be asked to attend a 1-1 online interview (MS teams) to discuss your experiences and perceptions of classification processes. The interview will be audio and video recorded and will take around an hour.
Will my taking part in this study be kept confidential?
No identifiable personal information will be included in any of the project submissions or shared beyond the investigators. No individual will be identifiable in any report, presentation, or publication. A pseudonym will be used.
For the full Participant Information Sheet, please click here.
If you have any further questions, please contact Ellie-May Storr: E.Storr@lboro,ac,uk
If you would like to take part in this study, please contact the below:
Ellie-May Storr, Lead Investigator E.Storr@lboro.ac.uk School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU. Tel: 01509 225945
Prof Vicky Tolfrey v.l.tolfrey@lboro.ac.uk School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU. Tel 01509 226386
Dr Jamie Barker J.B.Barker@lboro.ac.uk, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU. Tel: 01509 226363.
Dr Carolyn Plateau, C.R.Plateau@lboro.ac.uk, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU. Tel: 01509 228487
