Wheelchair basketball is a style of basketball played using a sports wheelchair. The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) is the governing body for this sport. It is recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as the sole competent authority in wheelchair basketball worldwide. The IWBF has 95 National Organizations for Wheelchair Basketball (NOWBs) participating in wheelchair basketball throughout the world, with this number increasing each year. It is estimated that more than 100,000 people play wheelchair basketball from recreation to club play and as elite national team members. Both men and women will participate in this game. Wheelchair Basketball Olympics
In wheelchair basketball, players with a variety of physical disabilities are eligible to participate. The most important thing is that the handicap must significantly affect the player’s capacity to play basketball with an able body. The Olympics, formally known as the Olympic Games, are a major international sporting event featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate. The Games are considered the world’s foremost sports competition, with more than 200 nations participating.
Some Rules of Wheelchair Basketball
- Traveling: A player is considered to be traveling if they push their wheelchair more than twice before dribbling or if they move it without dribbling.
- Possession: The team with the ball has 24 seconds to attempt a shot. It’s a shot clock violation if they don’t.
- Substitutions: Substitutions are allowed and occur during play stops.
- Timeouts: Similar to the rules in healthy basketball, teams are allotted a certain amount of timeouts to employ during the game.
- Free Throws: Wheelchair users are permitted to attempt free throws under the same rules as basketball players with able bodies.
Most Common Fouls in Wheelchair Basketball
- Charging – When a player having a ball makes contact with stationary challenger. Its believed to be charging.
- Blocking – It is a blocking foul when a defensive player blocks an offensive player’s path without taking up an appropriate defensive position.
- Technical Foul – Unsportsmanlike conduct, such as arguing with authorities or protesting excessively, can result in these.
- Personal Fouls – Similar to healthy basketball, personal fouls in wheelchair basketball include illegal physical contact like pushing or hitting.
- Goal-Tending – It is against the law to block the ball as it is falling or traveling toward the basket.
- Five-Second Violation – It is a penalty when a player spends longer than five seconds waiting for the ball.
These fouls promote fair play and keep up the flow of the game in wheelchair basketball.
These are a few of the notable teams:
Wheelchair basketball has had several successful teams, especially in international and Paralympic games.
Men’s Wheelchair basketball
United States:
Achievements: The American men’s squad is among the best, having won several gold medals at the Paralympic Games (1960, 1964, 1968, 1988, 1996, 2004, 2008). Steve Serio and Jerry Tarkanian are notable players.
Australia:
Achievements: Known as the “Rollers,” Australia has been a frequent competitor and winner of gold medals in 2000 and 2008. Jason Lees and Nick Morris are notable players.
Spain:
Achievements: The Spanish men’s squad has taken home two silver and one bronze medal at the Paralympics in 2004 and 2008. José Manuel “Chechu” Rubén and Alejandro Zubillaga are notable players.
Great Britain:
Achievements: The British squad has shown itself to be competitive, winning a gold medal in 2012. John Pugh and Ade Adepitan are notable players.
Women’s Wheelchair Basketball
United States:
Achievements: With multiple gold medals (1960, 1964, 1968, 1984, 1996, 2004, 2008, 2016), the U.S. women’s team has dominated the sport. Jennifer Adams and Kendra Lancaster are notable players.
Netherlands:
Achievements: The women’s Dutch team has had great success, taking home gold in 2000, 2004 and 2016. Jitske Visser and Mariska Beijer are notable players.
Germany:
Achievements: The German women’s squad has proven to be a formidable opponent, winning silver in 2008 and gold in 1992. Notable Players: Sabrina Mersch and Kerstin Tschorn.
Australia:
Achievements: The Australian women’s team took home bronze in 2008 and silver in 2004 and 2012. Notable Players: Tracey Norman, Sarah Stewart.
Wheelchair basketball has gained international recognition thanks in large part to the efforts of these teams, who have significantly improved the sport.
Also Read: Top 10 Indian athletes poised for medals at the Paris Olympics 2024
