Wheelchair basketball facts for kids
Wheelchair basketball is a version of basketball played by people with different physical disabilities. These can include conditions like birth defects, cerebral palsy, paralysis from accidents, or amputations. It's a fast-paced and exciting sport!
The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) is the main group that runs this sport around the world. They make sure the rules are fair and that everyone can play. The IWBF is recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
The IWBF has 95 national organizations that play wheelchair basketball. This number grows every year! It's thought that over 100,000 people play wheelchair basketball. They play for fun, in clubs, or as part of elite national teams.
Wheelchair basketball is a big part of the Paralympic Games. The Wheelchair Basketball World Championship happens every two years after the Paralympic Games. Top teams often come from countries like Canada, Australia, the United States, Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Japan.
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History of Wheelchair Basketball
How Wheelchair Basketball Started (1940s-1960s)
In 1944, a doctor named Ludwig Guttmann started a program at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital in England. He changed existing sports so people using wheelchairs could play them. One of these early sports was called wheelchair netball.
Around the same time, starting in 1946, wheelchair basketball games began in the United States. These games were mostly played by World War II veterans who had been injured. It helped these soldiers get better physically and connect with other veterans. Playing wheelchair basketball helped them be more active. It also improved their coordination and communication skills. This started at the University of Illinois. Dr. Timothy Nugent created the National Wheelchair Basketball Association in 1949.
The Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Games began in 1947. These were the first games for wheelchair athletes. They started with a few events like shot put and archery.
More wheelchair events and players joined quickly. Wheelchair netball was added in 1948. In 1952, a team from the Netherlands played against the British team. This was the first International Stoke-Mandeville Games (ISMG). This event has happened every year since then.
Wheelchair basketball, as we know it today, was first played at the 1956 International Stoke-Mandeville Games. The US "Pan Am Jets" team won that first tournament.
Wheelchair Basketball Today (1970s-Present)
In 1973, the International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation (ISMGF) created a special group just for wheelchair basketball. At that time, ISMGF was the main group for all wheelchair sports.
In 1989, the ISMGF allowed its wheelchair basketball group to be called the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF).
The IWBF became fully independent in 1993. It took full charge of developing wheelchair basketball around the world. Over the years, more countries joined the IWBF. The international federation then split into four main areas: Africa, Americas, Asia/Oceania, and Europe.
Wheelchair Basketball World Championship
World championships for wheelchair basketball have been held since 1973. The first one was in Bruges, Belgium. Great Britain won the first men's world championship.
- Of the first 11 men's world championships:
* The United States won six times (1979, 1983, 1986, 1994, 1998, 2002). * Great Britain won twice (1973, 2018). * Australia won twice (2010, 2014). * Israel (1975), France (1990), and Canada (2006) each won once.
- For the women's world championship titles:
* Canada has won five times (1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2014). * The United States won twice (1990, 2010). * The Netherlands won once (2018).
Rules of Wheelchair Basketball
Wheelchair basketball uses most of the same rules and scoring as regular basketball. It has the same 10-foot hoop and standard court. The main differences are rules changed for the wheelchair.
For example, "travelling" in wheelchair basketball is different. It happens when a player touches their wheels more than twice after getting or dribbling the ball. The player must pass, bounce, or shoot the ball before touching their wheels again.
In some countries, like Canada, Australia, and England, players who do not have disabilities can play on mixed teams while using wheelchairs. However, non-disabled athletes cannot play in international competitions.
Player Classifications
Players in wheelchair basketball are given a "classification" score. This helps make the game fair for players with different levels of disability. All teams competing above a fun, recreational level use this system.
Players are scored on a scale from 1 to 4.5 points.
- A player with a very small disability is a 4.5.
- A player with a greater disability (like someone with a complete spinal cord injury below the chest) would be a 1.0.
Teams have a limit on the total points of the five players on the court at one time. The total points for the five players cannot be more than 14 points. This rule ensures that teams have a mix of players with different abilities.
Wheelchair Design for Basketball
Basketball wheelchairs are built to be very stable. They have lower seats and wheels that angle outwards. This design makes it harder for the chair to tip over during quick moves.
Different player positions use slightly different chairs:
- Forwards and Centers usually play closer to the basket. Their chairs have higher seats. This gives them less stability but helps them reach higher for shots and rebounds.
- Guards need to handle the ball and move quickly down the court. Their chairs have lower seats, which gives them more stability for fast movements.
Wheelchair 3on3
Wheelchair 3 on 3 is a newer version of the game that started in 2019. It's played with three players on each team.
See also
In Spanish: Baloncesto en silla de ruedas para niños
