Wheelchair Basketball
Wheelchair basketball follows many of the same rules as able-bodied basketball with teams comprised of five players on the court with seven substitutes. Wheelchair basketball is open to athletes with lower body impairments.
The four following impairment groups are eligible for wheelchair basketball. Only impairments of the lower body are eligible for wheelchair basketball.
Coordination Impairments
Athletes with a Coordination Impairment have one or more of the following three movement disorders that adversely affects the ability to voluntarily produce a full range of skilled movement fluidly, rapidly, and accurately:
- Hypertonia/Spasticity: an increase in muscle tension that may be velocity-dependent and/or a reduced ability of a muscle to stretch.
- Motor Ataxia: limited precision in direction and velocity of voluntary movement.
- Dyskinesia (Athetosis, Dystonia, Chorea): involuntary movements that interfere with voluntary movements.
Examples of Underlying Health Conditions that can lead to coordination impairments include Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke, and Multiple Sclerosis.
Impaired Muscle Power
Athletes with Impaired Muscle Power have a reduced (or no) ability to contract their muscles to generate force that is consistent with an Underlying Health Condition affecting the structure and function of the central or peripheral nervous system or the muscles.
Examples of Underlying Health Conditions leading to impaired muscle power include: spinal cord injuries, muscular dystrophy, post-polio syndrome, and spina bifida.
Impaired Passive Range of Motion
Athletes with Impaired Passive Range of Movement have a reduced ability for a joint to be passively moved that is consistent with an Underlying Health Condition affecting a structure of bones, joints, connective tissue, or soft tissues.
Examples of Underlying Health Conditions leading to impaired passive range of motion include: arthrogryposis and contracture resulting from chronic joint immobilization or trauma affecting a joint.
Limb Deficiency and/or Limb Length Difference
Athletes with Limb Deficiency or Limb Length Difference have a total or partial absence of a limb or anatomically irregular limb dimensions that are consistent with an Underlying Health Condition resulting from trauma (traumatic amputation), illness (example: amputation due to bone cancer), or congenital causes affecting the bones and/or joints (example: dysmelia).
This impairment group can be further divided into the following sub-categories:
- Limb deficiency
- Leg length difference
Entering the Pathway
Find a Team, opens in a new tabAthletes interested in starting in wheelchair basketball should connect with, and join a National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) team near you.
The NWBA offers teams from multiple different divisions for athletes of all skill sets:
- Junior Division - Prep and Varsity
- Adult - Division I, II, and III
- Women
- Intercollegiate - Men's and Women's
- Military
Equipment
At minimum, athletes will need to following equipment to start training and competing in wheelchair basketball:
- Wheelchair and a basketball
- Access to a full size basketball court with full size hoops
- Additional accessories like cushions for comfort or hand rim covers for improved grip
Wheelchair basketball wheelchairs are unique in that the wheels tilt outward to prevent tipping over, the chair has a front bumper to absorb contact, the chair has straps to help keep the athlete in place, and there are additional wheels in the front and back of the wheelchair for improved movement and stability when leaning.
Getting Started
NWBA Webinar Series, opens in a new tabAthletes wanting to get involved with the NWBA for the first time are required to register before their first NWBA sanctioned competition.
The NWBA website includes a series of recorded webinars to provide resources for athletes. Webinar topics are chosen via NWBA member feedback but cover various topics helpful to new athletes such as:
- Sanctioned events
- Junior division classification
- How to start a team
The NWBA reviews eligibility for all athletes applying to participate in the NWBA to both ensure each athlete participating in the league meets the sport's minimum impairment criteria and each athlete is assigned a national classification. See below for the process of applying for eligibility in the NWBA and the different sport classes in wheelchair basketball.
Player Eligibility
All players wanting to join the NWBA must apply for consideration of eligibility.
- To be considered eligible for the NWBA, all players must possess a permanent physical disability which consistently reduces the function of the lower limbs to a degree where they cannot run, pivot or jump at the speed and with the control safety, stability and endurance required to play running basketball as an able bodied player.
- Athletes can apply for eligibility through the NWBA website.
- Once an application is received, the application will be reviewed by the NWBA eligibility committee. If the athlete is deemed eligible, the athlete will receive a letter confirming their eligibility.
Classification
Player Eligibility Application, opens in a new tabAfter eligibility is confirmed, at the first official competition the athlete competes in where a classification panel is present, the athlete will be observed in competition and will receive a classification if there was sufficient observation time.
Athletes can find more information about eligibility, minimum impairment criteria, and the documents necessary for the application process on the NWBA website.
Lower Point Classes
- 1.0: Athletes have no controlled trunk movement in the vertical or sideways plane. Athlete rely on the wheelchair and/or arms for support in all movement. Athletes cannot hold a ball in front of them without adjusting the head or body for a counterbalance.
- 1.5: Athletes share many of the same characteristics of the 1.0 class except the athlete has more stability when absorbing contact and can make transitions in basketball moves like shooting, catching, etc. quicker than the 1.0 class.
- 2.0: Athletes possess active upper trunk rotation but no lower trunk rotation. Athletes are able to lean trunk forward to around 45 degrees and return to upright without the use of their arms, but do not have any control of the trunk in the sideways plane.
Mid Point Classes
- 2.5: Athletes have some characteristics of the 2.0 class, but they are more stable than the 2.0 class. They are able to activate and move the upper and lower trunk just not in one coordinated movement.
- 3.0: Athletes have complete trunk movement in the vertical plane and can rotate the trunk as one unit. Athletes have complete trunk movement in the forward plane and are able to lean forward through 90 degrees and return to upright position without the use of their arms. They can hold the ball above their head with no loss of stability but do require at least one arm to stabilize after leaning to the side.
- 3.5: Athletes have some characteristics of the 3.0 class and are able to remain upright when absorbing hard contact, but still do not possess full trunk stability when leaning side to side.
High Point Classes
- 4.0: Athletes have complete trunk movement in the vertical and forward planes but typically has limited trunk stability with one side. Athletes are able to actively move trunk to one side and return to upright position without the use of their arms but will use the arms for the weaker side. Can absorb contact from the front, back, and one side with no loss of stability.
- 4.5: Athletes have the ability to movement the trunk in all planes with no significant limitations to any side, and have the ability to lean completely to the side when performing basketball actions like defending, rebounding, dribbling, shooting, etc.
Classification
- In wheelchair basketball, teams are allowed to have a cumulative total of 14 classification points between the team's five players on the court at any time.
- For example: a team with five players on the court with classifications of 2.5, 2.0, 4.0, 4.5, and 1.0 would be 14 total.
Additional Rules
- Players alternate between two pushes of their wheelchair with the ball in their lap, and one or more dribbles of the basketball. Additional pushing of their wheelchair without dribbling will be considered traveling.
- Players cannot leave their chair to gain possession of the ball or gain any other advantage.
- Wheelchairs are considered extensions of the player and opposing players may not touch opposing player's wheelchair with their hand.
Skills Learning
Basketball Drills, opens in a new tabThe NWBA offers a free series of individual training videos for athletes learning the fundamentals of the game. Athletes should visit their website to learn more and start practicing.
National Team Selection Procedures
USA Wheelchair Basketball, opens in a new tabAthletes should view the national team selection procedures to learn more about the application process to be a part of the national team player pool.
Collegiate Programs
Find a ProgramAthletes interested in competing in wheelchair basketball at a collegiate program should view the full list wheelchair programs and get connected!