Track & Field for blind athletes consist of two divisions of three categories T11, T12 and T13 or F11, F12 and F13. The T stands for Track while the F stands for Field events. The numbers stand for amount of vision that the athlete has. T11 or F11 means no vision or some light perception. T12 or F12 means the ability to recognize the shape of a hand up to visual acuity of 2/60 and or a visual field of less than 5 degrees. T13 or F13 means a visual acuity of above 2/60 up to visual acuity of 6/60 and or visual field of more than 5 degrees and less than 20 degrees.
An ophthalmologist is required to complete a sight classification form for all athletes. Sight classification is done in both eyes. Classification is judged on the eye with the most vision. (i.e. one eye may have be 20/60 and the other No light perception at all in then the athlete would adhere to the 20/60 classification. Any athlete who use contact or corrective lenses must wear them for classifications, whether they intend to compete wearing them or not).
While most of the fully sighted athletes may choose to wear sun glasses T11 athletes are required to wear blacked out glasses. Guide runners are aloud to run with T11 athletes to provide them a direction (keep running straight), a guide runner are not aloud to lead the runner or set the pace. T12 athletes have the choice of running with a guide runner while T13 must compete on their own.
In field events, the only adaptation is for High Jump where an athlete can have a towel on the bar, allowing the participant to know where the bar is. Long Jump offers a one meter jump off area before the pit to allow for a larger surface to leap from.
More information is available upon request at the address shown below.
info@blindsports.on.ca
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