Proposed Adaptive Classes
Broken Caber Adaptive Athletics Mission Statement:
Broken Caber’s purpose is to advise on adaptive highland games classifications so that adaptive classifications are represented in a fair, safe, and equitable manner and to promote the integration of adaptive classifications into highland games around the world.
With the increasing numbers of adaptive athletes competing in highland games across the world, a need has arisen for clear competitive classifications for adaptive athletes. These classifications will serve to create a level playing field within the large number of adaptive situations/needs presented by athletes. This will give highland games adaptive athletes the same representation as other highland games classes for record keeping, qualifying for championship events, and clear rules and regulations.
Adaptive Highland Games Classifications
Broken Caber Adaptive Athletics is not a governing authority. BCAA is an advisory organization for adaptive Highland Games classification. Our purpose is to help the adaptive community find a level playing field by advising federations, associations, and Athletic Directors on how to add and run adaptive classes safely, fairly, and regularly — alongside Open and Masters competition.
The framework is federation-neutral. Any Highland Games federation, association, or Athletic Director may adopt it without permission, fee, or attribution requirement. BCAA is available as an advisory body for classification questions.
The framework
Four adaptive classes:
Para-Seated
Para Standing Upper Limb Loss
Para Standing Lower Limb Loss
Para Standing Neuro/Muscular
Plus an Adaptive Masters sub-classification — Masters 40+ (M40+) and Senior Master 50+ (SM50+) — applied as cross-cutting tiers across the four classes. Per-class × per-tier × per-gender × per-event weight schedules are published in the full framework.
Eligibility reference
Adaptive eligibility is guided by the Paralympic model. From the Explanatory Guide to Paralympic Classification (2015): "Joints that can move beyond the average range of motion, joint instability, and acute conditions, such as arthritis, are not considered eligible impairments."
Visible adaptations (amputation, permanent prosthesis, observable mobility constraint) typically resolve quickly against the class definitions. Less-visible adaptations (neurological, neuro-motor, muscular, or limb-length deficiency without prosthetic) get a closer review against the Paralympic eligibility criteria.
Combining adaptive classes
The four classes are designed so an Athletic Director can hold an adaptive class and award places alongside the other classes on the field — even when athlete numbers in a single class are small.
When a specific class has fewer than three competitors, athletes can be combined for places as follows:
Para Standing Adaptive Class — Upper Limb Loss, Lower Limb Loss, and Neuro/Muscular combined for places.
Para Seated Adaptive Class — Para-Seated scored on its own.
Athletes always throw the implements specified for their own class and tier. Combining is for places, not for weights. Run What Ya Brung.
When a class has three or more competitors, that class is scored against itself for places. Athletic Directors may also score the standing adaptive field together for an Overall Para Standing place if it suits the event.
A class-specific record can still be set within a combined-scoring event, as long as the athlete is throwing their own class's implements per the framework.
Records
Adaptive Highland Games records are held by heavyathlete.com — the same records authority that holds the official records for able-bodied Highland Games classes.
Records must be set according to all existing Highland Games rules, with the allowable adaptations cited in each classification and the implements cited for the athlete's class and tier. All throws must be deemed legal by the governing body of the competition.
Submissions follow the standard records process: the host federation or Athletic Director forwards the official scoresheet (or a link to the official posting) to heavyathlete.com, which reviews and adds the record to the database.
Future direction
As the pool of adaptive athletes grows, the broad divisions may be split further. The objective stays the same — a more level playing field, without diluting the athlete pool in other divisions.
Companion documents
Full framework, rulebook, and playbooks are published at brokencaber.org:
Adaptive Highland Games Classifications — the full framework.
BCAA Rulebook — operational ruleset for federations and Athletic Directors hosting adaptive classes.
BCAA AD Playbook — Athletic-Director-facing playbook with implement guidance, pre-event checklist, and day-of flow.
BCAA Athlete Playbook — adaptive athlete entry guide.