Klassificering i 3X3 basket för idrottare med intellektuell funktionsnedsättning

Absence at the highest level of competitive sport has a significant social impact on the sport and its participants [1]. In 2002, shortly after the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) banned the International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairment (INAS, currently VIRTUS) from IPC sanctioned events [2], Yves Vanlandewyck, main applicant of this CIF project, started an international research group studying the impact of Intellectual Impairment (Il) on sport performance. Research from this group resulted in the reinstatement of VIRTUS and the re-inclusion of athletes with Il in the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Participation, however, was limited to athletics, swimming and table tennis, a situation that didn't change until today.

Early 2024, VIRTUS approached Yves Vanlandewyck to explore interest studying the impact of Il on 3X3 basketball performance, based on the conceptual model of sport-specific classification for athletes with II, developed by the research team [3]. In this model, the evidence-based system to demonstrate eligibility of athletes with Il in IPC sanctioned events is divided in 4 steps: 1) Primary eligibility; 2) Generic Cognitive Test; 3) Sport-Specific Test; and 4) Game observation. The first two phases represent generic assessment while phases 3 and 4 are sport-specific. To understand the interrelationships between generic intelligence (step 1), generic sport intelligence (step 2), and sport-specific intelligence (steps 3 and 4), we conduct all 4 steps of the eligibility process. However, the present application concentrates on the third phase of the conceptual model aiming to evaluate the impact of decision-making in 3X3 basketball for players with Il.

To assess decision making in 3X3 basketball, we develop a computer based test composed of 4 series of 20 photographs including different decision making scenarios. The photo series go through a strict validation process by a team of basketball experts. The final series are presented to equally well-trained adult male and female 3X3 basketball players with (N=40) and without (N=40) Il.

The uniqueness of the project is twofold: decision making in 3X3 basketball in athletes with Il has never been studied; and the application of the 4 steps of the conceptual model will provide insight in the interrelationships between generic intelligence (step 1), generic sport intelligence (step 2), and sport-specific intelligence (steps 3 and 4) in athletes with Il.

Tävlingar på högsta elit-nivå är viktigt för idrottens tillväxt och idrottarnas sociala identitet och status. Inom Paralympics (PG) finns idag endast 3 av 22 sporter där idrottare med intellektuell funktionsnedsättning (IF) kan delta. För att öka jämlikheten har VIRTUS, det internationella idrottsförbundet för idrottare med IF, valt 3x3 basket till att bli den första lagidrotten för idrottare med IF i PG. För att idrotten ska inkluderas i PG krävs att det finns ett klassificeringssystem som kan bedöma behörighet att delta på ett säkert sätt. Syftet med denna forskningsstudie är att utveckla ett test av idrottarnas beslutfattande-kapacitet, dvs. hur idrottarens IF påverkar prestationen i basket. Studien kommer att genomföras av vårt internationella forskningsteam tillsammans med VIRTUS.