More than 100,000 people with disabilities play wheelchair basketball, an action-packed team sport that continues to grow in popularity world-wide. Adaptive sports camps increasingly offer wheelchair basketball instruction, and games are available for anyone from a recreational to the Paralympic level. Men, women, and youth all play wheelchair basketball.

Rules of the Game
Wheelchair basketball follows many of the same rules as the able-bodied game, and uses the same court with a 10-foot high hoop and regulation ball. Five players make up a team, with eight seconds to get the ball over center and 24 seconds to take a shot for a two- or three-pointer.

Fouls are committed by both the chair and hands, and there are violations. For example, travelling is called when a player touches the wheels of their chair more than twice after dribbling or receiving the ball. The athlete can only touch their wheels again after passing, bouncing or shooting the ball.

Dribbling is different because players use their hands to move their wheelchairs around the court. Carrying the ball and double-dribbling are allowed, but players can push or hold their wheels only two times in a row between dribbles.

Disability Classifications
While regular basketball teams send players onto the court solely on the basis of their playing ability, wheelchair basketball demands another consideration. Each player is given a point status from 1.0 to 4.5, depending on their degree of disability. The lower the number, the greater degree of disability the player has, and a team is only allowed to put 14 points on the court at one time. This makes it tricky when the coach needs to make a substitution!

Chair Skills and Strategy
Instead of footwork, wheelchair basketball demands precise and daring chair skills. The best players can stop on a dime after flying downcourt, twist through a block, and go up on one wheel to increase their reach. According to coach Bruce Enns, it's a little like a hockey game, where backing up, changing speed and direction, and manoeuvering around your opponents are critical skills.

And wheelchair basketball players may have to reach up to grab a pass flying toward their head with both hands while their chair is sailing down the court. It's not at all uncommon for players to go down in the heat of the game! Experienced players can catch, pass, rebound and shoot with one hand, because the other is on a wheel to stabilize the chair or pivot around.

Dribbling is used to cover distance quickly, create a better angle for a pass, or to provide a dribble screen for an outside shooter. Defenders learn to maintain a position of power (POP), positioning their wheelchair to prevent an opponent from blowing by. The best offensive players ramp up to top speed, beating a defender down the court so they can turn the corner and edge them out under the basket, a tougher skill in a wheelchair than on foot, since the chair can't make a lateral move.

Just as in able-bodied basketball, game strategy varies, depending on the opponent. Sometimes a press is best to wear out the other team's starters and get to their bench. In another game, a team might put five defensemen on the court to control the clock. Or a team may need to mix up their defense in response to offensive players their opponent is putting on the floor.

Basketball Wheelchairs
While a specialized basketball chair can cost in the range of $5,000, most players start with their regular chair in a recreational league, or at a wheelchair basketball camp, and work their way up. When a player is ready for a basketball chair, it is made specifically for that player to meet their particular needs while conforming to game rules. It's a good idea to bring additional wheels, pads and bolts to practices and games in case of a needed repair.

International Competition
The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation is the sport's governing body on a world scale, and Canada, Australia, the USA, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Japan all field top-ranked teams. Wheelchair basketball is a Paralympic summer sport, with a Gold Cup tournament held two years after the Paralympic event and an annual world championship since 1973.

Find a Team
The National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) governs men's, women's, intercollegiate, and youth teams throughout the US and Canada. Use their directory to find a team near you or explore the game's unique history. Many adaptive sports camps offer wheelchair basketball programs for children and adults.