7000-200 SPORT: SPECIAL OLYMPICS DIVISIONING
Review Date: February 2021
Effective Date: January 2022
Special Olympics Canada has implemented the Pan Canadian Policies for all chapters.
PAN CANADIAN DIVISIONING POLICY
Due to the size of Special Olympics Ontario programs and to ensure the most equitable competition environment within Ontario, Special Olympics Ontario reserves the right to implement the following exceptions:
Divisioning for Individual Sports
Swimming, Athletics, Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoeing and Speedskating
For events that do not have preliminary heats, athletes will be re-divisioned based on final times.
Step 1: Gender
Step 2: Divide by Ability*
The recommended maximum performance difference between athletes in a division is 25%.
Step 3:
When necessary, the following age groupings may be used:
8-11; 12-15; 16-21; 22-29; 30-39; 40+
For multi-day competitions the first day of competition will be used for setting the age groups. For Provincial Games, divisions will be set on the Thursday.
Step 4: Divide number of athletes registered in an event
For 3 or more athletes:
Place athletes into divisions no less than 3 (as long as their abilities are within 25%), no more than 8. Starting with the highest ability and working down.
If you have more than 8 athletes in a division, reduce the performance percentage to produce new ability groupings for that division only. Decreasing the performance percentage by 5% increments at a time is suggested. For example an ability group could be reduced to 20% difference in performance to create two ability groupings.
For 2 Athletes entered into an event:
Athletes would compete against each other as long as their abilities are within 25%, otherwise they would compete against themselves.
For 1 athlete entered into an event or 1 athlete in a division
See Pan Canadian Policy
Alteration to Divisions: Athletes with tied times following divisioning – Due to the maximum allowable number of athletes in a division being 8 at times GMS may split athletes with tied times between 2 divisions. i.e. if the 7th , 8th, and 9th positions are tied 7th and 8th would be in one division and 9th would be in the next division. The GMS operator is to ensure that all athletes with tied times/distances are in the same division.
As per the Pan Canadian Policy, if an athlete is disqualified in a divisioning event, they will not advance to the finals.
Divisioning in Alpine Skiing:
Within each Race Discipline, athletes will be divisioned in the following order:
- Gender
- Skill Level (Novice, Intermediate and Advanced)
- Ability – Refer to Individual Sport Divisioning for further clarification on divisioning by Ability.
A divisioning race should take place prior to each corresponding race in all disciplines.
Four Race Disciplines:
- Downhill
- Super G
- Giant Slalom
- Slalom
Athletes should be pre-registered in one of three skill levels:
- Novice
- Intermediate
- Advanced
If time permits, athletes should be divisioned on three separate skill race courses for each of the four disciplines.
The Alpine Referee is responsible for supervising the divisioning in 2 steps
- A visual assessment during the first of two timed runs on pre-registered skill ability level course. The referee will determine if the athlete is in the correct skill level. If not, then the athlete is moved to correct ability level. If the athlete is in the correct ability level, their fastest clean run (no DQ’s) will be used to division the athlete within their ability level.
The decision of the referee cannot be appealed. - If an athlete is moved to a different ability level, their fastest clean run (no DQ’s) on the new course is used to division them and create the start list for the race.
It is not recommended but if time is limited the divisioning may be done in one discipline (must be Giant Slalom) and that start list is used for all of the disciplines.
Divisioning for Judged Sports
See Pan Canadian Policies
Rhythmic Gymnastics
If there are more than 8 competitors in a level and if time permits, a preliminary round will be run. Athletes will be placed in their final division according to their preliminary round scores.
If a preliminary round is not available, athletes will be divisioned based on their final scores (each apparatus) within the competition.
Divisioning for 5-Pin Bowling
Team Play:
-
Teams shall be divided into competitive divisions according to the team total average; starting at the highest ability level. Teams are co-ed therefore gender is not a factor in divisioning. Teams are not divisioned by age.
-
There will be a minimum of three teams per division and a maximum of eight teams per division.
-
Teams with the same total averages will be included in the same division.
Individual Play:
-
Athletes will be divisioned by Gender. Athletes are not divisioned by age.
-
Athletes will be divisioned based on average starting at the highest ability level.
-
There will be a minimum of three athletes and a maximum of eight athletes per division.
-
Athletes with the same average will be included in the same division.
An individual athlete may or may not be assigned to the same division for the individual and team competitions.
Divisioning For 10 Pin Bowling
Team and Doubles Competition:
- Teams and Doubles Pairings will be divided by gender. Any mixed team, with at least one (1) male bowler, will be included in the Male Divisions. Teams and Doubles Pairings are not divisioned by age.
- Teams and Doubles Pairings shall be divided into competitive divisions according to the team total average; starting at the highest ability level.
- There will be a minimum of three teams/pairings per division and a maximum of eight teams/pairings per division.
- Teams/Pairings with the same total averages will be included in the same division.
- A 25% guide will be used for divisions but may not be implemented due to the three team minimum.
Individual Play:
- Athletes will be divisioned by Gender. Athletes are not divisioned by age.
- Athletes will be divisioned based on average starting at the highest ability level.
- There will be a minimum of three athletes and a maximum of eight athletes per division.
- Athletes with the same average will be included in the same division.
- A 25% guide will be used for divisions but may not be implemented due to the three athlete minimum.
An individual athlete may or may not be assigned to the same division for the individual and team competitions.
Divisioning for Powerlifting
Step 1: Athletes will be divisioned by gender. Athletes are not divisioned by Age
Step 2: Athletes are divisioned by Weight Class.
Divisioning for Golf
Step 1: Athletes will be divisioned by gender. Athletes are not divisioned by Age
Step 2: Athletes will be divisioned by ability: Athletes will be divisioned by their preliminary round stroke score using the 20% performance rate. Athletes with the same preliminary round stroke score will be included in the same division.
If a preliminary round is not available, athletes will be divisioned based on their qualifying scores for competition. Upon completion of the competition, athletes will be re-divisioned based on their final tournament stroke score using the 20% performance rate to determine the final divisions.
There will be a maximum of eight athletes per division.
Divisioning for Bocce (Singles)
Step 1: Athletes will be divided by Gender
Step 2: Athletes will be divided by Ability: Athletes will complete the Pre-Divisioning Skills Assessment (as per the sport rules).
Divisioning for Team Sports
See Pan Canadian Policies
During preliminary games all athletes must play the position(s) they are listed in on the entry form for no less than half of each game.
The Divisioning Process and the Final Divisions cannot be protested.