Wheelchair Basketball

Background

Wheelchair Basketball was originally developed after World War II in the Hospital at Stoke Mandeville by Sir Ludwig Guttmann, in an effort to aid the rehabilitation of war veterans. Since then, the sport has developed worldwide and was introduced to the Paralympic Program in Rome in 1960. It is one of the most popular sports in the Paralympic Games. It is designed for athletes who have a physical disability that prevents running, jumping and pivoting.

Sport system

International Sport Federation: The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) is the world governing body for Wheelchair Basketball.

National Sport Federation: Canadian Wheelchair Basketball Association (CWBA)

Who can compete?

In general, any individual who is unable to participate in stand-up basketball as a result of a disabling condition, injury, etc. is eligible to play wheelchair basketball. Not all athletes who compete in wheelchair basketball will use a wheelchair for daily living. Disabilities include: Amputee, Spinal Cord, Cerebral Palsy, Les Autres (MS, MD, Polio, SB)

Sport description

Wheelchair Basketball is open to male or female athletes and is played by two teams of five players each. The aim of each team is to score in the opponent’s basket and to prevent the other team from scoring. The measurements of the court and the height of the baskets are the same as in able-bodied basketball. Particular attention must be paid to the wheelchair, as it is considered to be part of the player. Five players out of 12 from each team are on the court during playtime and throughout the game the total point value of each team must not exceed 14 points.

The match consists of four periods of ten minutes. After the first and the third period there is an interval of one minute. There is a 15-minute interval between the second and third period. If the score is tied at the end of playing time for the fourth period, the match will be continued with an extra period of five minutes or with as many such periods of five minutes as are necessary to break the tie.

A goal is credited to the team attacking the basket into which the ball has entered as follows:

• A goal from a free throw counts one (1) point.
• A goal from the two-point field goal area counts two (2) points.
• A goal from the three-point field goal area counts three (3) points.

Every team has 24 seconds to complete its attempt to score a basket. If the team with the ball exceeds this time limit, then the ball and the right of play is granted to the opposing team.

Classification

Depending on their functional abilities, the valid player classifications in the IWBF (International Wheelchair Basketball Federation) (link to www.iwbf.org) are 1.0 (most severe disability), 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 (more physical skills).

In Canada, classifications are closely based on the international classification system and range from 0.5 to 4.5. The total number of points on the court assigned for each of the five players may not exceed 15 points at any one time in most divisions. Visit CWBA website at www.cwba.ca for more details about classification.

Classification is based upon sport-specific tests of shooting, passing, rebounding, pushing and dribbling, rather than a medical diagnosis or muscle function examination.

(Source: CPC, CWBA, IWBF and IPC)

www.paralympic.ca