Everyone with any type of dwarfism (that is, any proportionate or disproportionate skeletal dysplasia) is eligible to register for competitive events after providing to DAAA:

• Verification of height:
• 5 ft. 0 in. maximum - for a disproportionate dysplasia
• 4 ft. 10 in. maximum - for a proportionate dysplasia

• Agreement to abide by official DAAA policies, procedures, and sports rules.

• Agreement to conduct oneself according to the DAAA behavioral contract, both on and off the competition sites.

• Medical clearance from the personal physician, and in some cases special DAAA clearance based on copies of X-ray images. (Medical clearance is waived for boccia participants, only.)

• Agreement to the DAAA Waiver and release of liability and Publicity release.

• Submission of registration and sport entry fees.

No person shall, on the grounds of sex, race, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity of DAAA.

Certain non-achondroplasic dwarf conditions have abnormalities of the cervical vertebrae which may lead to instability of the neck and result in serious injury including paralysis. DAAA requires the following special procedures before individuals with non-achondroplasic dwarfism may participate in certain activities:

• Two X-rays of the cervical spine, including a lateral-flexion and a lateral-extension view, shall be submitted.

The X-rays will be evaluated by a DAAA sanctioned physician familiar with the cervical spine abnormalities of non-achondroplasic dwarfs. Upon clearance from the physician, the athlete may participate in all activities of DAAA.

If the cervical spine abnormalities are present, the athlete is not allowed to participate in any DAAA sanctioned event requiring running, jumping, or diving. Specifically, banned sport activities would include track, basketball, soccer, and the dive-start in swimming.

If DAAA has requested X-rays of an athlete, but these were not submitted, then athletes are required to sign the DAAA Special Waiver and Release of Liability Because No X-ray Provided.

Medical X-rays are not required for participation in boccia competition.

DAAA reserves the right to request X-rays of any athlete suspected of having cervical spine abnormalities.

DAAA events accommodate four age divisions: Future, Junior, Open and Master. At some ages, athletes could qualify for either of two divisions. DAAA requires that during DAAA Games, each athlete must compete in only one division for all events entered.

• 6 yr. and under: Future division sporting events are non-competitive. Every athlete receives encouragement for competing, playing fairly, and doing their best. Sports are limited to selected track, field, swimming, and soccer events (all sports will be non-medal, instructional events at which athletes will receive participation ribbons).

• 7-15 yr: Junior division events emphasize achieving personal best above winning. Individual performances are judged separately according to gender, age, and official classification. Due to the wide age range within the junior division and the resulting competitive concerns, athletes in the junior division compete in the following age classifications for these sports.
  • Volleyball, Basketball and Flag Football
    • 7-11 years old
    • 12-15 years old
  • Soccer
    • 4-6 years old (instructional)
    • 7-11 years old
    • 12-15 years old
  • Track & Field and Swimming
    • 7-9 years old
    • 10-12 years old
    • 13-15 years old: Athletes in this age range may register and participate in either the Junior or the Open division for track & field and/or swimming. Note that a 13 to 15 year old athlete must compete in the same division (junior or open) for all events entered into at the track & field or swimming meet.
  • Badminton & Boccia
    • 7-15 years old

If a 15 year old athlete desires to play in the Open category in team sports, he/she will need to petition the DAAA board for approval to do so. Playing "up" into the Open category in team sports will only be considered for those athletes that are 15 years of age and only after DAAA board approval.

• 16-39 yr: Open division athletes. Individual performances are judged according to the official rules and regulations for each sport. Some Junior aged athletes may compete in track & field and swimming in the Open division (as identified below).
  • 13-15 years old for track & field and/or swimming only: Athletes in this age range may register and participate in either the Junior or the Open division for track & field and/or swimming. Note that a 13 to 15 year old athlete must compete in the same division (Junior or Open) for all events entered into at the track & field or swimming meet.
  • 16-34 years old
  • 35-39 yr: Athletes in this age range may register and participate in either the Open or the Master division for track & field and/or swimming. Note that a 35 to 39 year old athlete must compete in the same division (Open or Master) for all events entered into at the track & field or swimming meet.

• 40 yr. and above: Master division athletes.
  • 35-39 yr: Athletes in this age range may register and participate in either the Open or the Master division for track & field and/or swimming. Note that a 35 to 39 year old athlete must compete in the same division (Open or Master) for all events entered into at the track & field or swimming meet.

Athletes should use their age as of June 1 in the year of competition to determine which age classification they will participate in. For team sports, all team members are required to meet the age classification for the team as identified above.

While it is the intention of DAAA to have Future and Junior athletes compete within the age classifications identified above, at times we may find that the number of registered participants within an age classification does not provide for complete teams or results in a tournament that is not competitive. At the discretion of the DAAA Board of Directors, the age requirements defined above may be modified in order to complete teams and/or ensure a competitive tournament.

Recognizing the diversity of body proportion types, height ranges, and mechanical advantages in the dwarf population, DAAA uses a classification system for the Open age division. This system allows athletes to be grouped by body proportions and height, thus allowing fair competition based on technique and ability, rather than mechanical advantage.

In general, athletes with average trunk and short extremity length are judged separately from athletes with short trunk and long extremity length. DAAA also considers cases of extremely short stature, regardless of body proportion type, when assigning classes.

Classification is used in individual competitive sports (track, field, swimming, table tennis) and in basketball.

Class 1
<> Athletes with very short limbs and average sized trunk
<> Athletes with extremely short stature in comparison to other dwarfs

Class 2
<> Athletes with short limbs and average sized trunk

Class 3
<> Athletes with have long limbs and short trunk
<> Athletes with short limbs in relation to an average sized trunk, yet not as severe as Class 2

Wheelchair
<> Athletes with limited mobility in two or more limbs, generally requiring adaptive appliances or mobility aids
<> Athletes using mobility appliances during competition

Note that for all classifications of body type, DAAA reserves the right to request X-rays of any athlete suspected of having cervical spine abnormalities.

Classification Measurements and Calculation:

For track and basketball, classification is based on the ratio of standing height to sitting height, measured in centimeters. To calculate the vertical body proportion ratio, measure the standing height and divide by the sitting height.

• Athlete removes shoes and stands on the floor with heels against a wall. Measure standing height from crown of head to bottom of feet or floor.
  
• Athlete sits on floor or bench with base of back against a wall. Measure sitting height from crown of head to floor or bench under bottom.
  
• Divide the head-to-foot height by the head-to-bottom height to get the ratio.

Class 1
- standing-to-sitting ratio < 1.519
- skeletal dysplasias include: achondroplasia, diastrophic dysplasia, spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SEDc), and any athlete whose standing height is significantly shorter than the average height of the dwarf population for their diagnosis.

Class 2
- standing-to-sitting ratio 1.52 - 1.629
- skeletal dysplasias include: achondroplasia, cartilage hair hypoplasia (metaphyseal chrondrodysplasia, McKusik type)

Class 3
- standing-to-sitting ratio > 1.63
- skeletal dysplasias include: achondroplasia, hypochondroplasia, SED tarda, cartilage hair hypoplasia, and most undiagnosed types of dwarfism.

For field and swimming events, classification is based on the ratio of arm-span to shoulder-width, measured in centimeters. To calculate the horizontal body proportion ratio, measure the finger-to-finger length and divide by the biacromial length.

• Athlete raises both arms parallel to the floor with left hand reaching left and right hand reaching right, stretching as far as possible. Measure length from leftmost fingertip to rightmost fingertip.
  
• Athlete relaxes arms at sides. Measure from the outer end of one shoulder bone tip to the outer end of the other shoulder bone tip, not upper arm bone (see illustration).
  
• Divide the fingertip-to-fingertip length by the shoulder-to-shoulder bone length to get the ratio.

Class 1
- reach-to-shoulder ratio < 3.159
- skeletal dysplasias include achondroplasia, diastrophic dysplasia, spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SEDc), and any athlete whose standing height is significantly shorter than the average height of the dwarf population for their diagnosis.

Class 2
- reach-to-shoulder ratio 3.16 – 3.539
- skeletal dysplasias include achondroplasia, cartilage hair hypoplasia (metaphyseal chrondrodysplasia, McKusik type)

Class 3
- reach-to-shoulder ratio > 3.54
- skeletal dysplasias include achondroplasia, hypochondroplasia, SED tarda, cartilage hair hypoplasia, and most undiagnosed types of dwarfism.

For all sporting events between individual athletes, competitors are separated by gender (male or female), age (division), and body type (classification).

In general, team sports such as basketball, volleyball, soccer, and team boccia allow teams composed of both females and males with any body type, but within a single age division.

Team events provide each participant with the opportunity to make new friends and result in a special bonding experience with other DAAA participants. Teams typically consist of both male and female participants on the same team. As everyone is encouraged to participate in team events, all participants who have not identified a team affiliation on their registration materials will be placed on a team.

Minimum and maximum roster sizes apply to each of the team sports as follows:

• Basketball
  Minimum of 10 on roster, Maximum of 12 on roster
• Flag Football
  Minimum of 10 on roster, Maximum of 12 on roster
• Soccer
  Minimum of 12 on roster, Maximum of 15 on roster
• Volleyball
  Minimum of 10 on roster, Maximum of 12 on roster

No, there is no membership requirement, only DAAA registration. In order to compete in DAAA National Games, athletes need only to register for the sports they will enter and pay the entry fees.

Separately, in order to qualify for reduced hotel fees at the hotel where the LPA Conference is being held, athletes need to be members of LPA for that calendar year.

DAAA has in the past been affiliated with United States Paralympic Committee, United States Olympic Committee, America's Athletes with Disabilities, Disabled Sports USA (DSUSA), United States Disabled Athletes Fund (USDAF), National Paralympic Commitees (NPC), International Organizations of Sport for the Disabled (IOSD), International Dwarf Athletic Federation (IDAF), Little People of America (LPA), and the Billy Barty Foundation. Whether the intent is recreational (to have fun), developmental (to learn techniques and skills) or elite (to be the best), most children, youth and adults in the United States have numerous opportunities to participate in sports. These same opportunities are not available to dwarf Americans. Setting a goal to be the best requires a context where there is a chance to reach your goal.

DAAA is here to provide that context. Where sports for dwarf athletes are rewarding, where each athlete's potential is taken seriously, and where each athlete has a realistic opportunity, through hard work and dedicated training, to be the best!