Monday, May 12, 2008 Disability resource directory of disabled aids support products services advice  Recreation & Sports  Wheelchair Sports  Wheelchair Basketball

Wheelchair basketball.

A sport played primarily by people with disabilities. It is based on standard basketball with some adaptations to reflect the presence of the wheelchair. All teams which compete above a recreational level use a classification system to evaluate the functional abilities of players on a point scale of 1 to 4.5. In places where teams are integrated, able-bodied athletes would be classified as a 5, and an individual with the highest degree of disability (such as full paraplegia below the chest) would have the classification of 1.0. Classification is an international regulation for playing wheelchair basketball, where competitions restrict the number of points allowable on the court at one time. However, at this time, athletes are only allowed to compete internationally if they have a disability.

Wheelchair basketball retains most major rules and scoring of FIBA basketball, and maintains a 10-foot basketball hoop and standard basketball court. The exceptions are rules which have been modified with consideration for the wheelchair. For example, "travelling" in wheelchair basketball occurs when the athlete touches his wheels more than twice after receiving or dribbling the ball. The individual must pass, bounce or shoot the ball before he or she can touch their wheels again.

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