Wheelchair Rugby

Wheelchair rugby is a mixed team sport for male and female athletes. Wheelchair rugby is eligible for athletes with a mobility related physical impairment in at least three limbs.

Eligibility in Wheelchair Rugby 

The four following impairment groups are eligible for wheelchair rugby. Eligible athletes must have an impairment in at least three limbs, and many have impairments in all four.

  • 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 and/or
    • Arm length difference

Sport Entry 

  • Entering the Pathway

    Athletes looking to start their journey in wheelchair rugby should connect with and join the United States Wheelchair Rugby Association (USWRA) through one of their club teams. Most U.S. Wheelchair Rugby athletes began their career in the USWRA.

    USWRA clubs provide a great opportunity to introduce athletes to the game and help them gain experience.

    View the USWRA Calendar to see the full schedule of tournaments within the league.

    USWRA Team Finder, opens in a new tab

  • Equipment

    Each athlete will need their own competition wheelchair to begin competing. Many of the USWRA teams will have wheelchairs to loan to athletes; however, competition wheelchairs are often tailored the athlete's unique impairment.

    Athletes can visit the USWRA website for more information on the different types of rugby wheelchairs and different grant opportunities that exist to help offset the cost of purchasing a wheelchair.

    To begin training, athletes will also need access to a wheelchair rugby ball and court.

    Rugby Wheelchair Resources, opens in a new tab

Classification 

The USWRA offers national classification in conjunction with its member clubs. See below for how to get classified in wheelchair rugby as well as the different sport classes within wheelchair rugby.

  • National Classification

    1. The first step to being classified is to join a USAWR team.
    2. The league will automatically see new athletes from each club team through their established classification process.
    3. Classification will take place at several of the league's tournaments throughout the year. Athletes will need to attend a USWRA tournament offering a classification panel.

    For more information on classification within the league, please visit the USWRA website.

    USWRA Classification, opens in a new tab

  • Low Point Classes

    • 0.5: Athletes have very little to no trunk control or stability, little to no finger function in at least one hand, and a very limited ability to control or grip the ball.
    • 1.0: Slightly more upper limb function than 0.5 but still very impaired with weak or inconsistent trunk control.
    • 1.5: Better shoulder and elbow function with some wrist movement, and weak trunk control.
  • Eric Newby competing in wheelchair rugby

    Mid Point Classes

    • 2.0: Athletes in this class experience improved ball handling as they experience partial finger function and functional wrists as well as moderate trunk function.
    • 2.5: Improved trunk rotation compared to the 2.0 class, improved ability to isolate wrist and finger function, with some trunk control. Excellent shoulder strength and stability.
  • Chuck Aoki competes in a men's wheelchair rugby match at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

    High Point Classes

    • 3.0: Athletes have normal shoulder, elbow and wrist strength with the ability to grip the wheel rim. Strong trunk control.
    • 3.5: Least impaired athletes within eligibility requirements. Excellent trunk and hand function. Minimal impairment affecting all four limbs.

Team Point Totals 

  • In World Wheelchair Rugby competitions, teams are permitted a total of 8.0 points between the fours athletes on the court at any given time. The sum of point totals for athletes on the court must be 8.0 or less.

    This total results from a combination of the classifications of the athletes on the court. For example, if the four athletes on the court have classifications of 3.5, 2.0, 1.5, and 1.0, this would total 8.0 points.

    • An exception to this is made for female athletes on the court; a team is allowed an extra 0.5 points above 8.0 for each female athlete on the court with a classification of 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5.
    • A team is allowed an extra 1.0 point above 8.0 for each female athlete on the court with a classification of 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, or 3.5.

Next Steps 

  • Find a Team

    Find a team near you and connect with the team's contacts to start competing!

    Find a Team, opens in a new tab

  • Selection Procedures

    Learn more about the Wheelchair Rugby National Team athlete selection procedures.

    Athlete Selection Procedures 2026, opens in a new tab