Pacific-Rim Deaf Rugby Sevens: HEARING LOSS QUALIFICATION POLICY

A Points-Based Hearing Loss Qualification Policy has been adopted as the criteria for determining eligibility to play in PRDRS tournaments. This will ensure that the majority of players in a team have a substantial (moderate to profound) hearing loss, but will also provide an opportunity for a small minority of lower hearing loss players to participate.

A predominance of moderate to profound hearing loss Deaf players in each team is necessary so that the Deaf culture and identity of Deaf rugby is preserved and reflected in the way the tournament is conducted on and off the field, and that there is a clear distinction between standard “mainstream” rugby events and Deaf rugby events.

The PRDRS Points-Based Hearing Loss Qualification Policy operates as follows.

Hearing loss levels are divided into 3 Bands and Points allocated to each Band:

BAND A - 5 Points: 25dB to 40dB hearing loss (low hearing loss)

BAND B - 3 Points: 41dB to 55dB hearing loss (moderate hearing loss)

BAND C - 1 Point: 56dB and above hearing loss (profound hearing loss)

The above hearing loss levels are defined as average, bilateral hearing loss across both ears.

All players must also have at least 25dB hearing loss in each ear. If a player does not have a hearing loss of at least 25dB in each/both ears, he or she is immediately disqualified and cannot play in the team/tournament.

For each Band, the number of players in the team on the field at any time is multiplied by the Points allocated to that Band and the three figures are added up to give the total points score for the team.

For a Deaf Rugby Sevens team to comply with the Policy, the total points score of the team on the field must at all times throughout the match be 20 or less.

EXAMPLE 1: Team qualifies to participate

If the team on the field that has 2 players with a low hearing loss (Band A), 2 players with a moderate hearing loss (Band B) and 3 players with a profound hearing loss (Band C), the total team score is 19 points and the team is eligible to participate.

Band A: 2 players x 5 points = 10 points

Band B: 2 players x 3 points = 6 points

Band C: 3 players x 1 point = 3 points

TOTAL: 19 points

EXAMPLE 2: Team does NOT qualify to participate

If the team on the field has 2 players with a low hearing loss (Band A), 3 players with a moderate hearing loss (Band B) and 2 players with a profound hearing loss (Band C), the total team score is 21 points and the team is NOT eligible to participate:

Band A: 2 players x 5 points = 10 points

Band B: 3 players x 3 points = 9 points

Band C: 2 players x 1 point = 2 points

TOTAL: 21 points

EXAMPLE 3: Team qualifies to participate

If the team on the field has 3 players with a low hearing loss (Band A), 0 players with a moderate hearing loss (Band B) and 4 players with a profound hearing loss (Band C), the total team score is 19 points and the team is eligible to participate:

Band A: 3 players x 5 points = 15 points

Band B: 0 players x 3 points = 0 points

Band C: 4 players x 1 point = 4 points

TOTAL: 19 points

EXAMPLE 4: Team does NOT qualify to participate

If the team on the field has 3 players with a low hearing loss (Band A), 1 player with a moderate hearing loss (Band B) and 3 players with a profound hearing loss (Band C), the total teams score is 21 points and the team is NOT eligible to participate:

Band A: 3 players x 5 points = 15 points

Band B: 1 player x 3 points = 3 points

Band C: 3 players x 1 point = 3 points

TOTAL: 21 points

EXAMPLE 5: Team does NOT qualify to participate

If the team on the field has 3 players with a low hearing loss (Band A), 2 players with a moderate hearing loss (Band B) and 2 players with a profound hearing loss (Band C), the total team score is 23 points and the team is NOT eligible to participate:

Band A: 3 players x 5 points = 15 points

Band B: 2 players x 3 points = 6 points

Band C: 2 players x 1 point = 2 points

TOTAL: 23 points