Experts’ consensus statement to guide the evidencebased classification of sitting volleyball athletes with a physical impairment: A Delphi study
Keywords:
Paralympic, sport, performance, class, disabilityAbstract
Purpose: The main aim of this study was to identify future steps and research priorities for developing evidence-based
classifications by experts’ consensus in sitting volleyball.
Methods: Forty-nine experts were invited to take part in a three-round Delphi study in eleven topic areas specific for
development of classification in sitting volleyball. Two researchers independently analyzed the opinions of experts from
each phase. To ensure external validation of the study, the third researcher reviewed the result of the analysis of the other
two researchers and proposed corrections.
Results: Fundamental sitting volleyball skills as sport performance determinants specific for the discipline were established.
Experts identified that upper limb function is crucial for all volleyball activities and agreed with nearly all current minimum
impairment and sport class VS1/VS2 criteria; however, they addressed that players with upper limb impairment are in the
same class with lower limb impairment players, and suggested consideration for a separate class for those players.
Conclusions: In the end, with conclusions pertaining to several eligible impairment groups of lower and/or upper limbs, the
separation for upper limb impairment athletes or new impairments criteria for class VS1 needs to be discussed and developed.
Importantly, respondents’ opinion should not be the only evidence for developing and changing the current classification
system. Any change in the system should come based on research results considering sport specific and participants needs.