Wheelchair sports have greatly expanded as the disability community has become more active. Wheelchair team sports are fun ways of gaining the benefits of exercise and fitness as well as the social benefits of being a team member.
Listed here are several wheelchair team sports that have developed full fledged organization to organize and promote the sport. A few of these like tennis and fencing allow individual as well as team participation.
The common factor is participation in these sports requires using a wheelchair.
Wheelchair use requirements vary. Full time wheelchair use is not always a requirement. Some sports permits players who uses a wheelchair only for sport. Each sport’s organization has their own set of qualifications.
Other organizations feature multiple wheelchair sports. See these organizations on the Adaptive Sports page.
[otw_shortcode_content_toggle title=”International Tennis Federation” opened=”closed”]
http://www.itftennis.com/wheelchair
Wheelchair tennis has been part of the Paralympic Games since 1992. All four Grand Slams since 2007 have included wheelchair tennis as part of the event.
- Wheelchair tennis is played on any regular tennis court, with no modifications to the size of the court.
- There is no modification to the size of rackets or balls.
- The same rules as non-disabled tennis apply with one exception.
- A wheelchair tennis player is allowed two bounces of the ball.
- The ‘two-bounce rule’ is written into the Official Rules of Tennis.
The two bounce rule can allow a wheelchair player to practice or play recreationally with a non-wheelchair user.
The ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tour originated in 1992 with 11 international tournaments, and has grown in size and popularity with currently over 160 events taking place all over the world.
[/otw_shortcode_content_toggle] [otw_shortcode_content_toggle title=”National Wheelchair Basketball Association – NWBA” opened=”closed”]
The National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) was founded in 1948. It includes over 200 wheelchair basketball teams across 22 conferences. Today it consists of 7 divisions including: Championship Division, Division III, Women’s Division, Intercollegiate Men’s Division and Intercollegiate Women’s Division, as well as Junior 10’ (Varsity) and Junior Prep Divisions.
The National Wheelchair Basketball Association season begins in October. The NWBA National Tournament occurs between late March and mid- April each year. The top teams from each division compete for their national title.
- Players can play in basketball wheelchairs or everyday wheelchairs but the chairs must adhere to NWBA chair guidelines.
- The women’s division and prep division use a regulation women’s basketball.
- The Adult Divisions, Intercollegiate Division and Junior 10’ Division use a regulation men’s ball.
- A regular court surface is used with minimum dimensions of 84 feet (25.6m) in length and 50 feet (15.24m) in width.
A new website still under construction. Oct 2020
http://www.wheelchairsoftball.org
The National Wheelchair Softball Association (NWSA) was founded in 1976. It serves as the governing body for wheelchair softball in the United States and around the world.
The new game played on hard surfaces, such as a parking lot, instead of the normal grassy infield, and a 16-inch softball, which allows wheelchair players to keep one hand one the wheelchair while catching a softball without a glove. And it is played under the official rules of the 16-inch slow pitch softball as approved by the Amateur Softball Association of America with some rule modifications that are made for the wheelchair user (See NWSA Rules).
Today, NWSA governs over 30 teams worldwide. Several teams have sought and found allegiance and sponsorship with their Major League Baseball (MLB) team counterparts. Including: the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, and Tampa Bay Rays. All wear official MLB logos and uniforms and compete with pride under their respective professional team’s logo.
International teams are welcome to compete in the annual World Series. A team from Japan has competed in the past two WSWS.
[/otw_shortcode_content_toggle] [otw_shortcode_content_toggle title=”US Electric Wheelchair Hockey Association – PowerHockey” opened=”closed”]http://powerhockey.com / http://www.usewha.org
The U.S. EWHA is a non-profit 501 (C) 3 corporation, and member of Disabled Sports USA. We are dedicated to allowing participants the opportunity to play electric (power) wheelchair hockey. Our sport is officially called PowerHockey.
Through PowerHockey, we seek to break down barriers associated with disability and sports. PowerHockey provides a competitive sports opportunity for persons not possessing the physical upper body strength needed to participate in other sports (such as wheelchair basketball, sled hockey, quad rugby, etc.).
Participants get to be a part of a fast paced exciting program. They build lifelong attributes such as teamwork, good sportsmanship, strategy, goal-setting, self-confidence and self-esteem. Being a part of a PowerHockey team, league or program provides an incredible social opportunity that may not have been available to the participants
Our rules follow the basic hockey rules found in any hockey league around the country.
- Off-sides and other penalty calls are routine during the game.
- Players can serve 2 or 5 minute penalties for such things as interference, delay of game, holding, high sticking and roughing.
A basketball court is normally used for the game. The size of the court seems to be the best floor size when considering the speed of wheelchairs and the general flow of PowerHockey. Ice is not a good surface for power wheelchairs.
Unlike other hockey leagues, a few minor adaptations allow everyone the ability to participate. Standard PowerHockey sticks are any light-weight plastic material. A light-weight plastic ball substitutes for the standard puck.
Some participants utilize their stick by taping it to their wheelchair. No other additions or alterations may be made to a wheelchair. Nothing can be added underneath the wheelchair to obstruct the ball from rolling underneath.
[/otw_shortcode_content_toggle] [otw_shortcode_content_toggle title=”USA Fencing – Wheelchair Fencing Program” opened=”closed”]http://www.usfencing.org/wheelchair-fencing
Since 2008, USA Fencing has accepted the responsibilities for the Wheelchair Fencing programs. The U.S. program for wheelchair athletes in the 1995. U.S. fencers have since distinguished themselves in World Cups, Americans Regional Championships, (Zonals), World Championships, and Paralympic Games. The official governing body is the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS).
Participants include men and women with various disabilities including: amputation, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy and other disabilities. They are eligible to compete in events including foil (men and women), epee (men and women), and sabre (men only).
The fencing measurement for epee and sabre is to the outer elbow and for foil is the inner forearm. The target for foil and sabre competitions is exactly the same as for able-bodied competition. In epee, the target is everything above the waist, with a conductive apron worn below the waist to aid in the cancellation of these touches.
The main object of this fast paced sport is the same as for able-bodied competition. The first fencer to score 15 points (direct elimination) or five points (preliminary pool play) against the opponent wins. Each time a fencer touches the opponent in the target area, a point is awarded. Direct elimination matches consist of three three-minute periods.
The rules for Wheelchair Fencing include the fixed distance between fencers. A frame attaches to each piste to keep the wheelchair static. The frame fixes the wheelchair in a stable position, by securing all wheels of the wheelchair to the frame. The chair attaches at a 110 degree angle to the central bar.
Fencers attack, lunge and retreat by moving within the chair. Feet must remain on the footrest and the fencer must remain seated. This makes the sport faster than standard fencing.
The United States Quad Rugby Association exists to provide opportunity, support, and structure for competitive wheelchair rugby to people with disabilities. We help people join the fastest growing wheelchair sport in the world.
Quad Rugby is a simple game with complex strategies for playing both offense and defense. We play with a volleyball on a basketball-size court with goal lines marked by cones and a lined-off “key” area (see diagram below).
The object of the game is to score a goal (1 point) by crossing the goal line with possession of the ball. The opposing team is defends that goal by blocking the chair from crossing. The team with the most points when time runs out wins.
Quad Rugby features full contact between the chairs, but prohibits personal contact. This includes all slapping, hitting, punching, gouging out eyes, biting off ears, etc.. Enforcing penalties usually requires time in the penalty box.
https://www.usta.com/Adult-Tennis/Wheelchair-Tennis/Wheelchair/?intloc=footernavsub
The USTA provides top-flight programming and developmental opportunities to wheelchair athletes of all ages and backgrounds. We have provided the central source for information on tournaments, rankings, camps, new and other resources for the wheelchair tennis community since 1998.
Some of the finest athletes in the world are a part of our game. Still the ultimate goal is for the athletes to learn the sport of tennis and have fun. Come play with us, you can be a part of it too.
http://www.wheelchairlacrosse.com/
WLUSA is the governing body of this emerging wheelchair sport. Organizing competitions, camps, and looking for opportunities to expand the sport.
[/otw_shortcode_content_toggle] [otw_shortcode_content_toggle title=”Wheelchair Sports Federation” opened=”closed”]http://www.wheelchairsportsfederation.org/
Wheelchair Sports Federation is a national non-profit. We are one of the first organizations to provide adaptive athletes with the opportunity to participate in a multitude of Adaptive Sports.
The Wheelchair Sports Federation provides opportunities for the disabled and wheelchair using adults and youth to play sports recreationally and competitively. Adaptive Sports such as Wheelchair Basketball have been around since post-WWII. Wheelchair Football and other Adaptive Sports are relatively new to the adaptive athletic population.
