Adaptive shooting sports: Archery, air rifle, trapshooting

Abstract

Adaptive shooting sports include adaptive archery, parashooting, and adaptive trapshooting. Adaptive archery is a safe sport with excellent accessibility. With minimal modification and adaptive equipment, persons with disabilities can compete at a high level with individuals without a disability. Classification of adaptive archery is based on the presence of only lower-extremity versus both upper- and lower-extremity impairment, although an open competition class is also available. The injury pattern for adaptive archery is minor and generally avoidable with proper equipment and techniques. Parashooting has grown in popularity since its introduction in the 1976 Paralympic Games. The current classification rules are on functional impairment instead of disability-oriented classifications. Parashooting encompasses the athlete firing air pistols and air rifles in both prone and standing positions. Adaptive equipment, such as a shooting table for stability or trigger adaptation, can facilitate participation. Adaptive trapshooting is a popular sport but is currently the only adaptive shooting sport not recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as an official Paralympic sport. Currently, there are not any limiting rules in eligibility of participation due to the lack of a specific sport's governing body (SGB). Persons with disabilities are classified in accordance with the same rules as able-bodied trap shooters, except for competitions held by the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), which has developed a handicap review system to appropriately adjust for any trap shooter's impairments. Only minimal adaptive equipment is required to facilitate participation in adaptive trapshooting.