Wheelchair Sports in the Spotlight – Wheelchair Basketball
Published: February 7, 2014
Participating in sports is a great way to stay fit and active, make friends, satisfy your competitive juices, and have fun. And you can participate in sports even if you're reliant on a wheelchair – in fact, there are a number of different wheelchair sports that you can take part in, including rugby and tennis! One sport that makes an easy transition from the traditional arena to the wheelchair arena is basketball.
With smooth hardwood floors that are ideal for wheelchairs, and rules and gameplay that are in essence identical, the spirit of the sport remains intact perhaps more than any other adapted for wheelchairs. In essence, wheelchair basketball and traditional basketball differ only in that one features wheelchairs, and this continuity between the two sports makes it particularly appealing to many. If you're looking for a sport to participate in and are confined to a wheelchair, consider basketball.
The History of Wheelchair Basketball
Originally known as wheelchair netball, the sport was born in 1940's England during the waning years of World War II. Working with the rehabilitation program at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, Ludwig Guttmann adapted traditional basketball so that it could be played in wheelchairs. In 1947, the first-ever tournament was held for the sport, the Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Games. Since then, the sport has continued to grow to become one of the most popular wheelchair sports in the world.
The governing body for the sport is the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation, and the organization is recognized by the International Paralympic Committee as the sole authority on the sport, worldwide. In the United States, the sport is promoted through the National Wheelchair Basketball Association. A number of national and international competitions and tournaments are held throughout the year.
The Rules of Wheelchair Basketball
For the most part, the rules of wheelchair basketball and the wheels of traditional basketball are the same. Both are played on the same regulation-sized basketball court with regulation 10-ft hoops. Both feature the same one-, two-, and three-point scoring system for free throws, field goals, and three-point shots. However, there are some differences, including:
- Traveling – In wheelchair basketball, a player is considered to have traveled when he or she touches the wheels more than twice after having dribbled or received a pass from another player. The player must pass, bounce (dribble), or shoot the ball after touching his or her wheels twice, before the player is allowed to touch the wheels again.
- Categories – The functional abilities of players are classified on a point scale ranging from 1 to 4.5, with minimally disabled persons ranked at 4.5 and severely disabled persons ranked at 1. In all sporting competitions that are regulated (read: non-recreational games), a team cannot accrue more than 14 points from the five players on the court.
Major Tournaments
- Wheelchair Basketball World Championship
- European Wheelchair Basketball Championship
- America's Cup World Championship
- Asia-Oceana Wheelchair Basketball Championship
- Summer Paralympics
To find non-professional, amateur wheelchair basketball events in your community, contact your local recreation centers, sports leagues, and hospitals for more information. These groups may be able to point you in the right direction.
