Due to growing interest in providing track and field programs to America’s high school athletes with physical disabilities, AAASP has issued its National Recommendations for Interscholastic Track & Field Competitions for Students with Physical Disabilities.

These recommendations are based on equitable opportunity for this student population, with an eye toward program start–up and growth, sustainability, and coaches’ education.

• Any high school student whose primary disability is physical should be afforded the opportunity to compete on their high school track and field team.
• The State High School Athletic Association will determine those events in which the student–athlete with a disability may compete, adding additional competitions as interest and participation grow.
• The student–athlete with a disability will be treated as an equal member of the team just as are their peers who are not disabled, and receive reasonable accommodations.
• The State High School Athletic Association should require that coaches attend an orientation and/or training specific to wheelchair track and field for student–athletes with disabilities provided through a source with demonstrated expertise in this area and level of competition.
• For students competing in wheelchair racing events, they must compete using the proper equipment, this being a racing wheelchair, helmet and gloves.
• The student–athlete with a disability will compete at local, regional and state meets and receive points as established under the guidelines of their State High School Athletic Association.
• The State High School Athletic Association should create a disability division within their current boy/girl infrastructures in conducting competitions and in applying points.
• State High School Athletic Associations are encouraged to work cooperatively with each other and professionals in this area in establishing or adopting standardized rules of competition, training and policies for the quality, continuity and growth of these opportunities.
• To learn more on the AAASP/GHSA Alliance and the wheelchair division, contact Ralph Swearngin at GHSA (706) 647–7473 or Bev Vaughn at AAASP (404) 294–0070.