Défi sportif AlterGo features thirdteen sports for students

Track and field

Athletics is comprised of a series of events covering a number of disciplines: races, jumps and throws. The adapted version is identical to the traditional one except it can be practiced in a wheelchair adapted to the discipline, in a tricycle or with a walker. At Défi sportif AlterGo, athletics also include a wheelchair slalom competition and a mini-marathon. The skill circuit is open to athletes with motorized or manual wheelchairs. The mini-marathon features walking, running, wheelchair, tricycle and bicycle events. Participants try to finish the race in the shortest time possible.

Read the track and field rules

Baseball

Adapted baseball is inspired by 6-player baseball. It is a team sport, played on grass and sand fields or on a hard surface for young people with more limited physical and/or intellectual abilities. It is played with bats to hit a ball and gloves to catch the ball. The competition is held on a regular baseball field, except for wheelchair participants who remain on the grassy areas. Rules are adapted to the different types of deficiencies and categories. In school competitions, athletes with different deficiencies can play together. The competition takes place outside.

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Basketball

Adapted basketball for school sports athletes follows rules that are similar to traditional basketball ones. However, the rules are adapted to the capacities of participants.

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Two young athletes in motion during a basketball game.

Boccia

Boccia is a precision-dependent sport, similar to pétanque. It is designed for athletes in a wheelchair that suffer from cerebral palsy or any other type of motor deficiency. It is played in a gymnasium, on a court about the size of a badminton court. Each team tries to position six leather balls as close as possible to a white ball, the “jack”, which serves as a target to tally the score. For school competitions, Défi sportif AlterGo features team tournaments, where boys and girls compete together. The balls can be thrown by hand, with the foot or with the help of a ramp that can be manipulated by an assistant who has his back turned to the game. This discipline requires concentration, strategy and precision. Given the competition will take place at the same location as the Boccia World Open, young and elite athletes will get a chance to mingle.

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Standing Boccia

Boccia is an italian sport that is related to pétanque. The balls are red or blue and a coin toss at the start of the game is held to determine which team uses which. The red team starts the game by throwing a white ball called « jack ». Players from each team then propel balls towards the jack ball and try to get as close as possible. Boccia is a good way for the athletes to develop interpersonal bonds, to improve their physical condition and to increase their self-esteem. The competition is held outdoors.

Read the standing boccia rules

CrossFit

CrossFit is a physical training method combining exercises from different disciplines to improve overall performance. At the Défi sportif AlterGo, young athletes will race against the clock all the while undergoing different physical competence tests. The competition takes place outside.

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Rythmic Gymnastics

In rhythmic gymnastics, participants perform a choreography to a musical background. This choreography includes floor exercises with instruments such as ribbons, ropes, hoops, balls, and clubs. School competitions include many categories: A, B, C and 1. The routine can be performed while sitting (levels A and B) or standing (levels C and 1). The level C hoop choreography can be executed by a group of 4 to 6 athletes.

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An athelete waving a ribbon during a rhythmic gymnastics event.

Ball Hockey

The sport is derived from traditional hockey. It is played in a gymnasium with a ball. Rules are adapted to the different types of deficiencies and categories. A team is comprised of up to 13 players.

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Mini-marathon

A mini-marathon is a long-distance road race of a distance which is less than a marathon. Défi sportif Altergo’s mini-marathon will hold races from 1 to 3 km. Athletes taking part in the events can either run or complete the race with their wheel chair, tricycle or bike. Individuals accompanying disabled people are allowed for the recreational race and for athletes with a visual impairment.

Read the mini-maraton rules

Un jeune en pleine course lors du mini-marathon.

Swimming

An athlete doing the front crawl technique in a pool.

At Défi sportif AlterGo, distances run from 25 to 50 metres. Two styles prevail: freestyle and back stroke. There are also relay races. Swimmers are classified according to their deficiency, their gender and their qualifying time.

Read the swimming rules

Wheelchair Slalom

Wheelchair Slalom has previously been an international event at the Paralympic Games with its inclusion in the event programme from Tokyo 1964 to Seoul 1988. Due to the many obstacles, slalom requires both speed and chair control. Apart from being great fun, slalom helps develop and improve core wheelchair movement skills which are essential for everyday life and will help you negotiate living spaces as well as helping you stay fit and healthy. Slalom is accessible to both manual wheelchair and powerchair users, with internationally recognised competition courses.

Read the wheelchair slalom rules

Soccer

Adapted soccer is similar to traditional soccer. Two teams fight for a ball that must be placed in the opponent’s goal without using the hands or the arms. The tournament is held outside, except for the primary school level competition that will be held inside.

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Volleyball

Two teams knock a ball to each other over a net, in midair and by hand. The ball used is lighter than that of traditional volleyball. For school competitions, the discipline uses a larger ball filled with air and that moves slower. The aim of the game is to roll the ball across the opponent’s goal line. Teams can include standing participants as well as participants in wheelchairs.

Read the volleyball rules

An athlete in motion during a volleyball game.

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