Host a Move United
Sanctioned Competition
About
Move United, the national leader in community adaptive sports, works alongside a nationwide member network to create and promote competition opportunities for youth and adults, including disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces. Specifically, the Move United Sanctioned Competitions includes approximately two dozen events annually, which vary in level and scope. These events serve over 1800 unique athletes with a physical, visual and/or intellectual impairment. They are training opportunities for national competitions such as National Governing Body National Championships and/or Trials, the National Veteran Wheelchair Games, and the Valor and Warrior Games and are qualifiers for the The Hartford Nationals.
For a complete list of events, event locations, and event director contacts, view our Move United Sanctioned Competition calendar.
Goals of the Competition Network
Individuals benefit greatly from recreational activities, yet many have a competitive edge. Our network offers competition opportunities to grassroots, amateur level athletes all the way up the athlete pipeline to those elite level athletes competing or aspiring to compete on the world stage.
Through the Network, we work on the Move United Vision 2028 to:
- Quadruple the number of youth with disabilities participating nationwide
- Ensure 90% of America will have access to adaptive sports through our network with regionally based opportunities
- Double the number of Veterans served
- Be the national leader and the #1 resource expert in adaptive sports
What is Sanctioning?
Sanctioning is a component of the Competition Network which approves the holding of a competitive multi-disability, single- or multi-sport event in the United States. The sanction represents an event’s commitment to follow national and international rules and regulations for each sport, to secure sophisticated venues, to utilize trained officials, and to provide a safe sport environment for athletes and spectators.
Which sports can be sanctioned?
Sports sanctioned by Move United include archery, para powerlifting, paratriathlon, shooting, swimming, and track and field. These are also the sports on the competition program at the The Hartford Nationals. Individual competitions in the network often include additional sports that are not sanctioned through Move United but available within the sport lineup. Additional sanctions from National Governing Bodies are suggested.
Benefits of involvement in Move United Sanctioning
- Increased credibility and sophistication
- Multi-Sport All in One Sanctioning Package all included in the price of organization membership
- Access to the Move United network of professionals with history and expertise in adaptive sport and event management (insight around the procurement of officials and classifiers, rules, electronic timing, equipment, event development, insurance questions, outreach, and marketing your event)
- Access to an Event Management Software application, if needed, to manage an event
- Pass-through grant and sponsorship opportunities, when available
- Outreach and social media promotion to a nationwide network
- Ability to buy into a sophisticated insurance program through Move United
- Qualification opportunities to the The Hartford Nationals and IWAS events, when applicable
- Downloadable rulebooks
- Records achieved recognized by Adaptive Track and Field USA (Level 3 track & field events)
- Resolve disputes
Apply to Host a Sanctioned Competition and Learn About the Requirements to Host
Sanctioning Application
Apply to host a Move United Sanctioned Competition.
Event Requirements for Sanctioned Competitions
Review the requirements for all Move United Sanctioned Competitions.
Data Collection Requirements
Review the 2023 Move United Sanctioned Competition data collection requirements.
2023 Sanctioned Competition Support Grant
Apply for a Sanctioned Competition Support Grant.
Sanctioning Levels By Sport
Sanctioning Levels by Sport
Level 2: a more serious competition that should attract adult and/or junior competitors. Qualifier for The Hartford Nationals.
Level 3: a serious competition attracting top-level competitors as well as emerging athletes. Qualifier for The Hartford Nationals
Below are details on the requirements per sport for each sanctioning level. For a hard copy of this information, click here.
Archery
| Requirements | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proper Butts (stands) secured to competition target are required | X | ||
| Proper Butts (stands) with wind flags required along with start & stop indicators /lights | X | X | |
| 80cm and 122cm target faces | X | X | X |
| USA Archery certified official(s) required | X | X | |
| One scorer per target | X | ||
| Two scorers per target | X | X | |
| Requirements | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
| Proper lane setup with target and lane numbers | X | ||
| Proper lane setup with target and lane numbers and lines drawn to USA Archery/Move United specifications | X | X | |
| Coaching at the shooting line is allowed during competition | X | ||
| Competition results may be used to qualify for Nationals | X | X |
Para Powerlifting
| Requirements | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A bench subject to World Para Powerlifting (WPPO) specifications is required. You can use equipment to modify the bench to conform to these. | X | ||
| A WPPO-approved bench manufactured by Eleiko or Eagle Sportschairs must be utilized | X | X | |
| Warm up bench requirements | Optional | 1 bench = if 10+ lifters | 1 bench minimum |
| Weights used may be pounds or kilograms | X | X | |
| Weights used must be kilograms | X | ||
| Scale may measure in pounds or kilograms | X | X | |
| Scale must measure in kilograms | X | ||
| Equipment such as a stopwatch for timing, resin and/or chalk, straps, and an official’s lift indicators are to be used (“lift” or “no lift”). | X | X | X |
| 20kg or 45lb Olympic bar must be used | X | X | |
| 20kg Eleiko WPPO certified bar must be used | X | ||
| One (1) referee per bench, minimum, is required | X | ||
| Three (3) referees per bench recommended. Lead referee must be certified and approved by Move United Competition Committee. An experienced lifter or coach *may* serve as the second and/or third referee only if certified referees are not available. | X | ||
| Three (3) certified referees per bench are required. All referees must be approved by Move United Competition Committee. | X | ||
| Competition results may be used to qualify for Nationals | X | X |
Paratriathlon
| Requirements | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum 25m/25yd pool | X | X | X |
| Lap Counters for each athlete in pool | X | X | |
| Transition Area within a reasonable distance from swim exit (parking lot, etc.) | X | X | X |
| Bike Racks in Transition Area for Upright Bikes | X | X | |
| Wheelchair athlete is allowed more than one personal handler in transition area | X | ||
| Wheelchair athlete is allowed only one personal handler in transition area | X | X | |
| Athlete can have a “guide” or volunteer complete the race alongside them | X | ||
| Only athletes with a visual impairment can have a sighted guide (of the same gender) tethered during swim, pilot tandem bike, and tethered during run | X | X | |
| Bike helmets are to be worn by any athlete or volunteer while cycling or when athlete is using a racing wheelchair | X | X | X |
| Bike/Run course must be less than 12% gradient at any point | X | X | |
| Bike Course on path, trail, or road | X | X | |
| Bike Course on roads completely closed to traffic | X | ||
| Entire Bike/Run Course must be wide enough for athletes to safely pass each other | X | X | |
| Hydration Aid stations on bike/run course | X | X | |
| Arm/Leg to be marked with race number. | |||
| Race number bib to be worn during run. | X | X | |
| Hand timing or Finish line Clock for recording time | X | X | |
| Individual Timing Chips and Electronic Timing Mats for each discipline (swim, bike, run, transition area) | X | ||
| Accessible Restrooms/Porta-Potties near transition area | X | X | |
| Directional Signage on Bike and Run Course | X | X | |
| Course Marshalls/volunteers at street crossings, turns, or areas of concerns on bike/run course | X | X | X |
| Course maps or course preview available to athletes, coaches and volunteers prior to competition for review | X | X | |
| Athletes are allowed to use a recumbent foot pedaled cycle for the bike portion of the race | X | X | |
| Based on athlete’s disability, athletes are required to use specific equipment per USAT Paratriathlon rules. Ambulatory athletes must use an upright bike and can run using equipment that keeps them ambulatory (i.e. running prosthetic, crutches, etc.) Athletes with a visual impairment must use a tandem upright bicycle. Wheelchair athletes must use a handcycle for the bike and a racing wheelchair for the run. Athletes cannot mix equipment (i.e. ambulatory athlete using upright bike and racing wheelchair) | X | ||
| Handcycle needs to have a mirror properly mounted | X | ||
| Event is certified by USA Triathlon | X |
Shooting (Air Rifle / Air Pistol)
| Requirements | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intra-team shooting competitions; recreational shooting “SH2 Modified,” etc.; (minimum results of 3 matches for individual ranking.) | X | ||
| Inter-team competition | X | X | |
| Minimum qualifying scores needed to compete (200 points for Open, SH1 and SH2 divisions; SH3 (VI) division 100 points. | X | ||
| Minimum staff | 1 – Level 1 coach 1 – Range Safety Officer (RSO) | 1 – Event Director 1 – Level 1 coach 1 – Certified Range Safety Officer (RSO) | 1 – Event Director 1 – Level 1 coach 1 – Certified Range Safety Officer (RSO) |
| Manual paper, electronic, or Orion scoring | X | ||
| Electronic or Orion scoring | X | X | |
| Equipment meets ISSF, USA Shooting, and Move United standards | X | X | |
| Coach certifies scores and equipment | X | ||
| Visual timing required | X | X | |
| Follows USA Shooting qualifying and elimination round formats | X |
Swimming
| Requirements | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum 25m/25yd pool required with a diving area of at least 4 feet depth | X | X | |
| 50m pool desired with a diving area of at least 4 feet depth. Pool must be able to be converted to a 25m/yd set up. | X | ||
| Minimum 1 certified USA Swimming/YMCA/High School official required | X | ||
| Minimum 2 certified USA Swimming/YMCA/High School officials required | X | ||
| Minimum 4 certified USA Swimming and/or WPS certified officials required with at minimum 2 of the 4 officials being WPS certified | X | ||
| Hand timing (minimum of 2 timers per lane) or electronic timing is acceptable | X | X | |
| Electronic timing is required | X | ||
| Starting requirement(s): | Whistle or starting horn | Starting horn or electronic starter | Electronic starter |
| Lap counters required for events 500 yd/m or longer | X | X |
Track & Field
| Requirements | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A legal distance and approved track surface 400 meter track must be used. (“Mondo” like surface is highly recommended). | X | X | |
| A track survey must be submitted for approval | X | ||
| Track lanes must be a minimum of 42” (unless an exception is given) | X | X | |
| The event must run a full ATFUSA complement of events for all Para athlete classes. (Exceptions can be made if approved and published in advance) | X | ||
| The event may add events not in a traditional track program (ie: powerchair 100m) | X | X | X |
| All events must be Electronic timed (events longer than 1500m may be hand timed). | X | ||
| Events may be hand timed or electronically timed. | X | X | |
| Wind gauge must be used for the 20m, 40m, 60m, 100m, 200m, long jump, and triple jump. | X | ||
| Seated field may be offered on a turf field for open, master, or junior athletes | X | X | X |
| Ambulatory field must be offered in legal concrete circle venues | X | X | |
| Ambulatory long jump, triple jump must be contested on a suitable runway with a legal takeoff board (wood or taped). | X | X | |
| Ambulatory high jump must be run in an approved high jump venue | X | X | |
| Ambulatory and seated discus & club must be contested in a protective cage | X | X | X |
| All lead officials on the track and at each field pit must be USATF (or foreign officials certified by their governing body) or WPA certified officials. | X | X | |
| There must be a minimum of 1 certified field official per pit with a strong suggestion to have 2 or more. | X | X | |
| There must be a minimum of 5 track officials (Referee/finish line, starter, umpires, and wind gauge [if not provided my timing company]). | X | X | |
| The Track and Field Referees must have WPA certification or be approved by ATFUSA/Move United. | X | X | |
| All officials utilized should be SafeSport certified and in good standing with their certification organization (ie: WPA, USATF, etc.). | X | X | X |
| Weights and measures official(s) is required. | X |