Wheelchair Basketball – The Sport and History

posted on Dec 12 by Brian in the Disability News, Fun, Health, Veterans, Wheelchair Sports category

Wheelchair basketball has truly given a piece of freedom and independence to wheelchair users. Many athletes that have extraordinary talent for basketball and other sports have the chance to overcome their disabilities and compete in the sports they love and achieve their dreams of being professional athletes. Though today’s society still struggles with prejudice and social hardships for citizens with disabilities, organizations like the National Wheelchair Basketball Association is a giant leap towards overcoming these difficulties and giving all wheelchair users full access to the full enriched lives they deserve.

Wheelchair Basketball History

After World War II, many veterans with disabilities were left paralyzed and in wheelchairs. Many of the veterans found an outlet in sports. It began with simple games like ping pong and pool. Eventually, as spirits and confidence grew, the sports became more active to include swimming, water polo, touch football, and basketball. Two weeks later, the New England chapter played. As time went on, the sport became more popular and spread across VA hospitals across the country.

By 1948, there were six teams across the United States and via plane, they all played each other in the first playoff. It was that year that the first civilian team, the Birmingham Flying Wheels was formed as well as the birth of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association. Since then, the NWBA has grown to over 200 teams, 22 conferences, and 7 divisions. Teams are now international and include men’s, women’s, intercollegiate, and youth teams.

The Rules of Wheelchair Basketball

To be eligible for wheelchair basketball the rules state that one must have “an irreversible lower extremity disability such as paralysis, amputation, radiological evidence of limb shortening, partial to full joint alkalosis or joint replacement which consistently interferes with functional mobility. Findings such as soft tissue contracture, ligamentous instability, edema or disuse, atrophy, or symptoms such as pain or numbness without other objective findings shall not be considered a permanent lower extremity disability.”

The National Wheelchair Basketball Association has an 18 page official rule book including mandated size of courts to to amended regular basketball rules to accommodate for wheelchairs such as dribbling the ball along with wheeling the chair. There are regulations on sweatband colors schemes as well as fouls called Physical Advantage Fouls to keep players with more or less debilitating conditions on a level playing field. Each game consists of four 12 minute quarters, 5 minute overtime period periods, and a 24 second shot clock. Players are allowed to “hop” or bounce both wheels off the court or tilt their chairs. Depending on the level of play, even the height of the seat cushions is regulated.

The mission statement of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association states that “in the pursuit of excellence, the National Wheelchair Basketball Association provide qualified individuals with physical disabilities the opportunity to play, learn and compete in the sport of wheelchair basketball.”