What is Wheelchair Basketball?

Wheelchair Basketball was introduced as a rehabilitation sport for people with spinal-cord injuries some decades ago.  It is a fast paced sport with rules similar to those of the running game.  Played with two teams of five players and two game officials, it has two 20 minute periods or four 10 minuted periods.  The game can be playedwith a running clock or a stopping clock. 

Players of all abilities (even able-bodied members) are permitted to play in all but the 1st Division, Premier Division and International Sides.  As you will imagine, peoples abilities can differ substantially and therefore a points/classification system has been devised.  It works like this:

Each team member classified from 1 to 5 points, 1 being less able and 5 being fully able (able-bodied).  In a game situation the team may field no more than 14 points on the court at any one time.  i.e. if they field two 5 point players then they can only field one 2 point player and two 1 point players to haev their maximum allowance.  As you can see this make for a better and more equal game as both teams can field the same amount of physical ability.

The baskets, court and ball are all to exactly the same specification as the running game the basket being 10 feet from the ground, and a size 7 ball is used in matches.

CHECK BACK LATER FOR MORE INFO ON WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL