British Amputee & les Autres Sports Association

63 High Street
Loscoe
Heanor
DE75 7LG

Tel. 01773 7159847

BALASA's aim is to provide sporting opportunities for people with disabilities, particularly for those people who are involved in competitive sport and who are entitled to compete for Great Britain under the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports (IWAS) rules and classification system.

Athletes that are in membership of BALASA have locomotor impairments.

Amputee Athletes - Prospective athletes with an amputation are only eligible to compete if they have a minimum amputation that is through or above the wrist or ankle joints.

Les Autres Athletes - Athletes with locomotor conditions such as arthrogryposis, arthrosis, cerebral palsy (some types), spinal cord conditions, multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy are allowed to participate in events under the Les Autres classification. Les Autres also incorporates dwarf athletes under its classification. The locomotor conditions may be congenital or as a results of an injury or accident.

Athletes with locomotor impairments may have:

• A decrease in muscle strength or function.
• Motor paralysis of limbs.
• A decrease or weakness in joint mobility.
• Shortening of limbs.
• Severe reduction of mobility of the back or torso and may have scoliosis.

BALASA are involved in the following sporting activities and hold national training squads: athletics, sitting and standing volleyball, powerlifting, badminton, lawn bowls, archery, shooting (air pistol and air rifle), golf, table tennis, football, cycling.

Members attending training sessions pay for their own travel, meals and accommodation. Some athletes obtain grants to help cover these costs.

BALASA have highly qualified and experience coaches and support teams who provide regular training sessions for athletes with disabilities. To take part in these training sessions you will need to undergo a medical and functional assessment to establish that you comply with the rules of the sport.

All athletes who wish to attend training sessions must be a member of BALASA, for insurance purposes.

For further information please contact the above.