Wheelchair rugby facts for kids
Wheelchair rugby is an exciting team sport for athletes who are differently abled. It's played in over twenty-five countries around the world. This fast-paced game is also a summer Paralympic game. In the United States, it's sometimes called quad rugby.
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What is Wheelchair Rugby?
Wheelchair rugby is a unique sport that combines elements of rugby, basketball, and ice hockey. It's played by two teams of four players each. The goal is to carry the ball across the opponent's goal line. Players use special wheelchairs designed for both speed and strength.
How the Game is Played
The game is played on a basketball court. Teams try to score points by crossing the opponent's goal line with the ball. Players must dribble or pass the ball every 10 seconds. Physical contact between wheelchairs is allowed and is a big part of the game! This makes it very exciting to watch.
The Court and Ball
The game uses a standard indoor basketball court. The ball is similar to a volleyball. Players move the ball by passing it or carrying it in their lap. They score by crossing the opponent's goal line with two wheels of their wheelchair while holding the ball.
Special Wheelchairs
Players use two types of wheelchairs. Offensive chairs are built for speed. They have a round bumper in front to help players move quickly. Defensive chairs are designed to block and hit. They have a long bumper that sticks out. These chairs are very strong to handle all the bumps and crashes during a game.
Who Can Play?
Wheelchair rugby is for athletes with a disability that affects at least three limbs. This often includes people with quadriplegia. To make the game fair, players are given a "classification" score. This score depends on how much their movement is affected.
Player Classification
Each player gets a score from 0.5 to 3.5 points. A player with more movement has a higher score. During a game, the total score of the four players on the court for each team cannot be more than 8 points. This rule helps make sure teams are balanced and the game is fair for everyone.
History of Wheelchair Rugby
Wheelchair rugby was invented in Winnipeg, Canada, in 1979. It was created by a group of athletes with quadriplegia. They wanted a sport that allowed more physical contact than other wheelchair sports. They called it "murderball" at first because of its tough nature!
From Murderball to Paralympics
The sport quickly grew in popularity. It was first shown at the 1996 Summer Paralympics in Atlanta, United States. It became a full medal sport at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, Australia. Since then, it has been a highlight of every Summer Paralympic Games.
Images for kids
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Wheelchair rugby court layout
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A classifier examining a new wheelchair rugby player
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Countries where wheelchair rugby is played
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A game at the World Wheelchair Rugby Championships 2002
See also
In Spanish: Rugby en silla de ruedas para niños
