RUNNING TECHNIQUES

Guidance Methods for Children With Visual Impairments (CWVI)

Running can be an incredibly empowering activity for children with visual impairments. To ensure safety, efficiency, and enjoyment, several guidance methods have been developed, each suited to different settings and individual needs.

1. Verbal Guidance Method

While running, the athlete can be guided by another person (referred to as a “guide athlete”) either by a tether or through verbal commands.

The verbal guidance method is preferable for leading the athlete over very short distances. For example, it is the ideal method for guiding the athlete during warm-up or training drills (such as high knees, butt kicks, etc.), as it allows for greater freedom of movement. This guidance method can also be used when the athlete performs short sprints at high speed, such as during start training.

In the past, this method was also used for sprint races, but it fell into disuse because it required the audience to remain silent throughout the race, allowing the athlete to perceive the guide’s position. Therefore, the tethered guidance method is now preferred, as it is the officially recognized method at the international competition level.

Finally, the athlete can also run without a guide by using a running line.

How to Do It in Practice?

The guide positions themselves at the end of the short running segment and provides constant verbal feedback to direct the athlete.

2. Tethered Guidance Method

The tether is a practical and safe guiding method for leading a visually impaired person while running, both at a recreational/amateur level and in competitive sports. It is also the officially recognized guiding method in international paralympic athletics regulations for athletes with low residual vision.

We will now present the regulations for competitive sports; however, a section with tips on how to easily use this method in school and amateur settings will follow.

Tethered guidance method: regulations for competitive sports

Regarding the use of the tether in competitions for visually impaired athletes, the WPA (World Para Athletics) regulations specify that:

• Use of the tether: The use of a tether connecting the guide and the visually impaired athlete is permitted during races. The tether must have a length and material that ensure safety and coordination between the athlete and the guide, without providing an unfair advantage.
• Guide’s position: The guide must run alongside the visually impaired athlete and cannot overtake them during the race.
• Guide replacement: In some competitions, changing the guide between different race phases is allowed, provided it takes place in designated zones and according to the established rules.
• Material and length: The tether shall be made from non-elastic material and shall not store energy and/or offer a performance gain to an athlete. It shall consist of two closed holding loops and a middle section with a fixed stopper of 1cm in length at each end. For track events, the maximum length between the two furthest points of the holding loop at the full extension of the tether shall not exceed 30cm. For road events, the maximum length between the two furthest points of the holding loop at the full extension of the tether shall not exceed 50cm.

Refer to the explanatory image for a visual guide on how to create a tether that complies with international competition regulations:

Who can use the tethered guiding method, according to WPA regulation?

• T11: Totally blind athletes who always require a guide during races.
• T12: Athletes with low vision, with a visual acuity between 1.50 and 2.60 logMAR (approximately 0.3/10 to 0.025/10) and/or a visual field restricted to a diameter of less than 10°. The use of a guide is optional.

Athletes classified as T13 have better residual vision (visual acuity between 1.40 and 1.00 logMAR, approximately 0.4/10 to 1/10) and/or a visual field with a diameter of less than 40°. For these athletes, the use of a guide is not allowed in any event.

Therefore, according to international regulations, T11 and T12 athletes are permitted to run with a tether, while T13 athletes cannot use a guide during competitions.

How to do it in a school or recreational/amateur setting?

• A basic tether can be easily made using recycled materials, such as a badge lanyard. The key is to use a strong but manageable material that is non-elastic and does not risk breaking during running.
• Precise measurements are not essential; however, it is recommended not to use excessively long tethers, as they make it more difficult for the guide to accurately direct children with visual impairment. A maximum length of 30 cm could be ideal.

3. Running Line

A third guiding method that allows the athlete to run independently without relying on a guide (either through voice or tether) is the running line. This method involves using a rope or cord stretched between two fixed points, along which the athlete can run while maintaining manual contact, ensuring direction and safety during the activity.

While it is not an officially recognized method for competing at the international level, it is an effective way to help children become familiar with running speed independently and to train their running technique.

When building a running line, recycled materials can be used. The video shows a running line made with climbing ropes and an athletics relay baton.

In this running line model, the child can run while holding the baton for a greater sense of security or holding the running cord, which allows for the correct movement of the upper limbs:

How to do it at school?

These techniques can be adopted easily at school: a simple rope held by two people can be used as an improvised running line during PE lessons or playtime.