2021 Sports4Vets Throwdown

The Department of Veterans Affairs' Sports4Vets inaugural Throwdown is a virtural adaptive functional fitness competion for disabled Veterans receiving care from VA. Participants must create a profile in Competition Corner before registering for the event. There are no fees or costs to create an account or to register for and participate in the event. 

Athletes will self-select their appropriate gender, division, and skill level (Novice or Experienced). Review the information on Divisions below carefully as you can only select one division. 

Divisions:

• WHEELCHAIR DIVISION (novice or experienced): Recommended for individuals with spinal cord injuries, neurological impairments, amputations, and other diagnosis that utilize the wheelchair as the principal method of mobility.
  • Two lower limbs affected by a spinal cord injury, the athlete will have little to no hip flexor engagement and will not be able to walk to stand without extreme assistance.
  • Double or single above knee amputees (prosthetic or no prosthetic) that use a wheelchair as their principle method of mobility.
  • Severe Traumatic Brain Injuries causing athlete to use a wheelchair as their principle method of mobility.

• MODIFIED MOBILITY (novice or experienced): Recommended for individuals with lower extremity conditions such as amputations, stroke or other disabilities that impact ambulation and exercise.
  • Condition may affect 1-4 limbs in a position where the athlete may only be affected on 1 side of the body affecting power and/or balance such as drop foot. Common impairments are Brain Injury or Multiple Sclerosis.

  • Athletes should have significant functional limitations of at least one leg to include:

    • Range of motion and motor impairment, above or at the knee, affecting function of the knee, ankle, and foot, or

    • Mild to moderate motor function and range of motion of the hip but lack of function of the knee, lower leg, ankle, and foot.

    • Below knee amputee or hip, knee or ankle impairment.

    • Above knee amputee or fused knee not allowing for squatting to parallel.

• MODIFIED UPPER EXTREMITY (UE) (novice or experienced): Recommended for individuals with upper extremity conditions such as amputations, stroke or other disabilities that impact arm and hand function.

  • Athletes should have significant functional limitations of at least one arm to include:

    • Range of motion and motor function, or

    • Some motor function and range of motion of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist.

• VISUALLY IMPAIRED (VI) (novice or experienced): Recommended for individuals with partial to total vision loss that are new to adaptive fitness.
  • Athletes have a diagnosed, permanent impairment, which causes reduced or no vision caused by damage to the eye structure, optical nerves or optical pathway, or to the visual cortex of the brain.

• OPEN (novice or experienced): Recommended for individuals with no conditions significantly impacting mobility or arm/hand function.

• Novice vs Experienced Categories:
  • Novice Division is appropriate for competitors that are new to working out, have not consistently followed a fitness routine over the past six months, or will require a modified/scaled version of the ‘Experienced’ Division workout requirements. This can be your first experience in competitions, everyone is welcome!
  • Experienced Division is appropriate for athletes that have been consistently following a fitness routine for the last six months or longer and can complete a workout without modifying or scaling the weight or repetitions. Athletes competing in the Experienced Division have knowledge of proper form, and understand a variety of workout styles to suit their goals.

Veterans must compete in all three weeks in order to be considered for the top three places in each category. Athletes may conduct the workouts multiple times and submit their top score for as long as the respective event is open. Once the submission period ends, no late submissions will be accepted.

Athletes are encouraged to upload videos of their qualifying workout, but it is not mandatory. 

Live workshops will be hosted on Webex for orientation to each upcoming week's challenge. Links for the Webex workshops will be e-mailed to Veterans that have created a Competition Corner account and have Registered for the Sports4Vets Throwdown 2021 event in Competition Corner.

Based on the registrations received, we may adjust to support a quality competition.

If you have any questions related to the appropriate category to select, definitions are provided. Or, please contact us directly at Sports4Vets@va.gov .