Wheelchair Basketball: Then and now

Wheelchair Basketball was invented as a rehabilitation activity for ex-servicemen with spinal cord injuries after World War II.

It was first played in 1946 and has since developed to include a wider range of wheelchair athletes.

Today, the sport is played competitively by more than 25,000 people in 90 countries around the world. Many thousands more play socially in their clubs, schools and colleges.

How to play – and win

Wheelchair Basketball is played by two teams of five. It is similar to the running game, with the same size court, basket height and near-identical rules.

Players move the ball around the court by passing or dribbling it. They are required to throw or bounce the ball after every two pushes of the wheel of the chair to avoid being penalised for ‘travelling’.

As in the running game, one point is scored for a successful free-throw, two for a normal field basket and three points are scored from behind the arc of the ‘three point’ line.

Wheelchair Basketball at the Games

Wheelchair Basketball is one of the most popular sports at the Paralympic Games. It was part of the first Games in Rome 1960, and has remained on the programme ever since.

Canada has been the team to beat in both the men’s and women’s events, but Great Britain, Australia and the USA continue to challenge strongly.

Facts about Wheelchair Basketball

• Top Wheelchair Basketball players use specially-designed titanium chairs that cost more than £3,500 ($7,000) and can last for as little as six months during periods of high-level competition. Athletes with different disabilities compete together in Wheelchair Basketball. Each player is given a classification that equates a certain number of points, and each team is required to have a specified minimum points total.
• Wheelchair Basketball was promoted worldwide by Sir Ludwig Guttman, who founded the Paralympic Games.
  Wheelchair Basketball is the subject of a new children’s television drama, ‘Desperados’, which features former Great Britain Paralympian Ade Adepitan.

Get involved

There are ever more opportunities to play Wheelchair Basketball around the UK, with players of all backgrounds enjoying this fast and skilful sport.

Find out more by contacting the Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association (see 'related websites').