Not surprisingly, wheelchair basketball is one of the most popular spectator sports at the Paralympics. It is a fast-paced team game that attracts competitive athletes with physical disabilities that prevent them from running, jumping, and pivoting. Not all athletes who play wheelchair basketball require the use of a wheelchair for daily life.
Open to male and female athletes, wheelchair basketball requires two teams to play. Each team has twelve players with just five on court during playtime. The objective of each team is to score more points than the opposing team. Points are given for scoring goals by shooting the basketball into the opposing team’s basket. A goal scores from one to three points . Teams actively try to prevent the opposing team from making goals. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.
Each team is given 24 seconds to complete a goal attempt. If the team with the ball exceeds this time limit, then the ball and the right of play is granted to the opposing team. Goals are scored in the following way:
- A free-throw goal = 1 point
- A goal from the two-point field goal area = 2 points
- A goal from the three-point field goal area = 3 points
Wheelchair basketball games have four ten-minute periods with a 15-minute interval between the second and third period and one-minute intervals between the first and second, and third and fourth periods. If the game is tied at the end of the fourth period, an extra five-minute period is added. Games can have as many periods as necessary to break the tie.
The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) is the world governing body for wheelchair basketball. Wheelchair Basketball Canada is the National Sport Federation.
Classification
In general, any individual unable to participate in stand-up basketball as a result of a disabling condition or injury is eligible to play wheelchair basketball. Disabilities include: amputee, spinal cord, cerebral palsy, and les autres (MS, MD, Polio, and SB).
Classification is based upon sport-specific tests, rather than a medical diagnosis or muscle function examination. Each player is assigned a classification number that is based on shooting, passing, rebounding, pushing, and dribbling ability. In Canada, classifications are based on the international classification system and range from 0.5 to 4.5.
In most divisions, the combined number of player points of the 5 players on court must not exceed 15 at any time.
History
Wheelchair basketball was originally developed by Sir Ludwig Guttmann to aid in rehabilitation efforts of World War II veterans. It was introduced to the Paralympic Programme in Rome in 1960. Wheelchair basketball has since developed worldwide and continues to be one of the most popular Paralympic events.
