Sports - Shooting


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Shooting

Shooting is an official sport of the Paralympic Games and the Deaflympics.

In this sport athletes use pistols or rifles to fire a series of shots at a stationary target. Shooting styles differ in the distance, nature and form of the target, type of firearm, ammunition used, as well as the position of the athlete, the timing and the number of shots fired.

Target shooting requires the integration of mental and physical control. The competitive marksperson learns to coordinate all body parts prior to aiming and firing.

 

  

Photo (Chris Hamilton Photography, Atlanta, GA) from The Triumph of the Human Spirit: The Atlanta Paralympic Experience (p. 158 ). Oakville, Ontario: Disability Today Publishing Group.

Athlete Eligibility and Classification

Shooting competition is offered for male and female athletes with physical disabilities and athletes who are deaf. Athletes must achieve designated point totals to advance to international competitions. The classification systems vary by disability.

Athletes with physical disabilities compete under the IPC functional classification system, which is described in the IPC web site (http://www.paralympic.org). Click on "sports," then "classification," then "shooting."

bulletMinimum disability requirements are specified in the IPC classification procedures. Basically, the athlete must have a limitation in function which affects his/her ability to shoot a pistol or rifle. The classification procedures accommodate persons with amputations, spinal injuries, cerebral palsy, and other physical disabilities, with the specific exception of dwarf athletes.
bulletThere are only two primary classifications, SH1 and SH2. The SH1 class is for pistol and rifle shooters who do not require a shooting stand. The SH2 class is for rifle competitors who require a shooting stand because of upper limb disability. There are three sub-classes within each classification based upon the extent of the athlete's disability. The sub-classes determine parameters of the shooting chair.
Sub-class Brief description
SH1A & SH2A Athlete compete sitting or standing. No backrest is allowed on the shooting chair if the athlete chooses a sitting position.
SH1B & SH2B Athlete competes sitting. A low backrest is allowed on the shooting chair, and a sitting angle of 30o maximum is permitted.
SH1C & SH2C Athlete competes sitting. A high backrest is allowed on the shooting chair, and a sitting angle of 30o maximum is permitted.

Shooters who are deaf compete under CISS rules which require a minimum hearing loss of 55 dB in the better ear. Classification procedures and criteria are described on the CISS web site (http://www.ciss.org). Click on "about," then "regulations," then scroll down to Article 1.3 on eligibility.

Events

At the Paralympic Games, rifle events include air rifle (standing and prone), English match, free rifle, and standard rifle. Pistol events include air pistol, sport pistol, and free pistol. Events are further categorized as male, female, or co-ed. Three-person team events are conducted at world championship competitions, but not at the Paralympic Games.

The Deaflympics offers separate shooting competitions for males and females in the 50m free rifle prone, 50m free rifle three positions, 10m air rifle, 50m free pistol, 25m rapid fire pistol, and 10m air pistol. There are no team events at the Deaflympics.

Playing Area

Depending upon the event, competition is conducted using a 50m shooting range (rifle and pistol), 25m pistol range, and 10m air gun range.

Rules

The international governing body for shooting is the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), with rules posted on the ISSF web site (http://www.issf-shooting.org). Shooting competition at the Deaflympics is governed by the ISSF rules. Shooting competition at the Paralympic Games is governed by the ISSF rules as modified by the International Shooting Committee for the Disabled (ISCD). The ISCD modifications (e.g., specification of shooting chair seat angle and height of backrest) are posted on the IPC web site at http://www.paralympic.org. Click on "sports," then "shooting," then "rules."

Equipment

bulletSport-specific equipment
bulletRifles and pistols. Athletes use .22 caliber rifles and air guns (pneumatic, CO2 gas, spring). The spring action air rifle is often referred to as a BB gun. Air pistols hold CO2 cartridges that are inserted into the pistol chamber. Upon trigger activation, the CO2 liquid changes to gas and activates the projectile toward the target. The pneumatic rifle uses a multiple pump system to store air pressure in a reservoir and trigger compression activates the projectile toward the target.
bulletTarget. The standard target is a square of cardboard with concentric white and black rings around a black center ring (or bulls eye).
bullet

Disability specific equipment
bulletLapboard. A lapboard that secures to the wheelchair with mounting brackets or velcro. This is a support mechanism for one or both arms in shooting. It is critical that this device be securely fastened to the wheelchair as it could shift when firing the rifle.
bulletTripod. A modified camera tripod utilized to accommodate the marksperson with upper extremity involvement (i.e., cerebral palsy). A U-shaped device is utilized to secure the gun barrel to the tripod.
bulletForearm adapter. This device is for persons with an upper extremity amputee with a GRIP terminal device. It secures to the barrel of the rifle and the terminal device.
bulletHand substitutes. Several plastic hook devices are available to compensate for loss of trigger finger or hand grip. Many are designed for the person with quadriplegia who has elbow flexion and wrist extension (C6 - C7 level of injury). A strap secures the hook to the palm of the hand and a second strap encircles the wrist. This allows the person with quadriplegia to independently activate the trigger.
bulletShoulder harness with butt placement attachment. This device is designed for the quadriplegic in mind. A leather harness secures around the chest with a butt attachment at the shoulder. This device stabilizes the rifle to the shoulder during target shooting.

Links

bullet International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF)
bullet USA Shooting (USAS)
bullet International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
bulletComité Internationale des Sports des Sourds (CISS)

Page prepared by Mary Lou Schilling and revised by Gail Dummer

Disability Sports Web Site                        © Michigan State University                        Revised 12/12/2007