Wheelchair Basketball

Wheelchair Basketball

Men’s wheelchair basketball has featured at every Paralympic Games since 1960.  Women’s competition was introduced in 1968.  The sport is governed by the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF).

HISTORY OF WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL

Wheelchair basketball first emerged around 1946 in the USA, developed by injured servicemen from World War II. Most were former able-bodied players who wanted to continue playing the game. The simple adaptations and slight rule variations for people in wheelchairs allowed the sport to spread across the US, and eventually worldwide.

The object of the game is to score the most points in the opposing team’s basket. The team with the most points by the time the clock expires wins. As the name suggests, wheelchair basketball is an adaptation of the able-bodied version.

The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) is the global governing body of the sport.

How to play

The court dimensions (28x15m) and basket height (10ft) for wheelchair basketball are the same as the able-bodied version, as is the playing time (4x10 minutes) and number of players on court (five).

The wheelchair sport also follows the same scoring structure:

Free throw – 1 point
Field basket – 2 points
Successful shot from behind the 3-point-line – 3 points

Dribbling: A wheelchair basketball player takes one or two pushes while the ball is either resting on his or her lap or held in his or her hand, followed by dribbling the ball, and this sequence may be repeated as often as the player wishes

Travel violation: Called when player in possession pushes more than twice without dribbling

Fouls: An infraction of the rules concerning illegal personal contact with an opponent - the wheelchair is considered a part of the player

n wheelchair basketball players are classified on a point system from 1 to 4.5.

While most athletes have normal arm and hand function, the main difference between classes are trunk control and sitting balance, which impact the reach of the player to catch and pass the ball (lower number means more restrictions).  

A team is composed of five players, and the sum of points must be 14 or less.

ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENT TYPES
Impaired muscle power
Athetosis
Impaired passive range of movement
Hypertonia
Limb deficiency
Ataxia
Leg length difference