Athletics

The BUCS Athletics & Para Athletics Programme runs a huge amount of events for students to get involved in. These are BUCS Cross Country Champions, BUCS Indoor Athletics Championships (as part of nationals) & BUCS Outdoor Athletics Championships. 

Ambulant events are for athletes who are able to compete whilst standing. This covers track and field disciplines.

Seated events are for athletes who are unable to compete whilst standing. This covers field throwing disciplines.

Wheelchair events are for athletes who are unable to compete whilst standing. This covers track disciplines.

Cross Country Championships - Para-Athletes may enter this event, providing that they meet entry criteria and counted within entry. No Para Medals or Points are awarded at this event. 

Indoor Athletics Championships - BUCS points and medals will be awarded in these specific Para events (Female and Male categories offered): 

• Ambulant 60m  
• Ambulant Long Jump
• Ambulant Shot Putt 

Para athletes of all eligible classifications will compete alongside each other and shall be ranked on a multi-classification basis using the RAZA system. Both the Indoors and Outdoor Athletics Championships are recognised for UK and World Rankings.

Para athletes may enter all other events, providing they meet entry criteria and counted within entry however no para medals or points will be awarded. 

Outdoor Athletics Championships - BUCS points and medals will be awarded in these specific Para events (Female and Male categories offered): 

• Ambulant 100m 
• Ambulant 200m
• Ambulant 400m 
• Ambulant 1500m        
• Wheelchair 100m 
• Wheelchair 800m 
• Ambulant Shot Putt 
• Seated Shot Putt 
• Ambulant Discus
• Seated Discus 

Para-athletes of all eligible classifications will compete alongside each other and shall be ranked on a multi-classification basis using the RAZA system. Both the Indoors and Outdoor Athletics Championships are recognised for UK and World Rankings.

Para Athletes may enter all other events, providing they meet entry criteria and counted within entry however no para medals or points will be awarded. 

Athletes are given a classification according to their type of impairment and severity. This may change over time. 

Classification Key

• T = Track 
• F = Field

Track and Jumps

• Ambulant classifications will be: T11-13, T20, T35-38, T42-47, T61-64 
• Wheelchair racing classifications will be: T33-34 and T51-54

Ambulant Throws

• Athlete classifications will be: F11-13, F20, F35-38, F40-41, F42-46, and F61-64

Seated Throws

• Athlete classifications will be: F31-34 and F51-57.

Athletes without a UK Classification, wishing to compete should get in touch with British Athletics at their earliest opportunity via [email protected]

To be able to participate in BUCS para events, it is strongly advised athletes have a UK Classfication. Athletes wishing to compete without a classification should contact the event lead at point of entry. 

IMPORTANT: Athletes needing Classification should start this process at the earliest opportunity.

For more information about UK Classification eligibility:

https://www.uka.org.uk/performance/paralympic-performance-pathway/national-classification/

All athletes must provide signed medical forms and may also be required to attend a clinic.

International athletes with an IPC Classification must provide their SDMS number to [email protected] in order to register performances on Power of 10.

Where classification is pending BUCS should be made aware. Classification must be finalised before the Championships take place to confirm Raza Points and Implement Weights.

For UK Athletics, the key impairment groups are: 

• Cerebral Palsy
• Visual Impairment
• Intellectual Impairment
• Amputees & Limb Impairment
• Dwarfism
• Wheelchair User

If you think that you would qualify in one of these groups and would like to get classified, we would encourage you to do so with plenty of time before entries close. 

In large events such as the Paralympics there are many athletes for each classification meaning that events can be run singly. E.G F13 Shot Put, F35 Shot Put.

In events such as BUCS this is not the case and so we use the RAZA system. This results system was designed to allow people with different disabilities to compete against each other and allows a direct comparison of performances so that placings can be determined. It is constantly evolving as more and more accurate athlete data is gathered.

The simple explanation for how it works: Each disability classification is given set points. The distance an athlete throws/ jumps, or time they run is put into the system and converted. The total number of points they achieve are their RAZA points. The athlete with most points is the winner.

All Athletes must enter events through BUCS Play which is detailed in the Entry Information. 

At the time of entry an athlete may still be awaiting classification. In this situation, enter TBC. This MUST be communicated to the BUCS event lead prior to the event so that they can liaise with UK Athletics.

If you are a para-athlete that has never competed in the event before, this is not a problem. You should enter N/A.

If you are a para athlete that has not competed and therefore do not have a Power of 10 profile. Again, enter N/A here.

Institutions must notify BUCS directly regarding any additional support an athlete needs to compete. For example:

• “Chalk for visibility of take-off board in the long jump”
• “Runs with a guide runner”

For available BUCS Points, please see Appendix 1. 

Please also be aware of the following subsection of Regulation 6.

REG 6.1.2.1.7 BUCS Points will not be allocated where the minimum number of individuals/teams has not been reached, or where there are not enough individual scores to extract a team score. Where the minimum number has been reached an individual/team (except for overall/extracted teams) must have beaten another individual/team to score BUCS Points. For example, if three individuals/teams compete in an event, only two will score BUCS Points. To be classed as beaten an individual/team must have competed – individuals/teams are regarded as having competed if they started the event, therefore 'DNS' or 'No Show' will not be regarded as having competed. Individuals/teams who are disqualified or listed as ‘DNF’ will not be eligible to receive BUCS Points.

For athletics clubs and institutions looking to recruit para athletes it is important to advertise Para Athletic opportunities on your club websites, sporting fixtures making opportunities clear to Para Athletes. Your university may also have Para / Disability Sport pages on the University Sport website.

University is a great place for students to try new sports and new disciplines. If there is someone who is asking regarding para-opportunities please make sure that you guide them to guide them to the UKA website and/or talk to your university/union regarding making your sport accessible. 

For further promotion there are potential contacts via the Student Union Disability Rep and Student Support Services who should know most disabled students needing adapted accommodation and / or learning support. University Gyms may also have disabled users and be a good place to promote your opportunities. 

If you are interested in para athletics or think that you might be eligable to be a para athlete, we recommend you to talk with your University Sport department, Students Union and/or student support services in the first instance. If you are a prospective student, we would recomend you getting in contact with institutions to see if there is any support or opportunities that they can offer. 

Your university gym may also be able to guide you to the best person to talk with.

If you have found no expertise or equipment within your institution, please see the UK Athletics guidance here: https://www.uka.org.uk/performance/paralympic-performance-pathway

If you would like to talk to BUCS regarding new opportunities or expanding the Para Athletics Programme, please contact Maddi Cannell.