Wheelchair Basketball

Wheelchair Basketball is a fast-paced, exciting form of basketball open to everybody!

How Does Wheelchair Basketball Work?

Wheelchair Basketball is a game for Everyone!

While there are many similarities between other forms of basketball and wheelchair basketball, such as the court size, hoop height and length of game, there are few key differences.

Fouls carry the same concept for wheelchair basketball with the sports chair considered an extension of the player.  Blocking, shooting and charge fouls primarily occur through contact between wheelchairs.

For wheelchair basketball the travel rule is based on the numbers of pushes of the chair.  Players must dribble the ball after two pushes. There is no “double dribble” in wheelchair basketball which allows a player to resume dribbling the ball after stopping.

For players, an important difference is the physical load on the upper body.  Players must use their arms to both move the wheelchair around the court and to shoot.  Increased stamina is required to maintain this plus extra strength to make the increased distance to the ring.

Wheelchair basketball players also do not have lateral movement.  Offensive execution relies on the effectiveness of offensive screens and picks as poor defensive positions are difficult to recover from.

Players of a variety of abilities are welcomed to play wheelchair basketball. Players are classified based upon their physical abilities.  A 4.5 classed player is the most abled down to 1.0 players. The team cannot go over 17 points for the five players on court, however other leagues may have lower total points, and internationally, it is 14 points. Players with no classification, ‘Able Bodied,’ are given a 4.5 point classification.

Come out to the next Waratah League Round to witness the similarity and differences of wheelchair basketball.

GTK Waratah Wheelchair League powered by Spalding.

GTK Waratah Wheelchair League powered by Spalding.

The second season of the GTK Waratah Wheelchair League Powered by Spalding tipped off on the 24th of June 2023, and comprised of 4 rounds. Each round saw all teams compete by playing 2-3 games a weekend to determine who would head to the Waratah League Finals Weekend. At the Finals weekend, the top 4 teams of each division battled it out to see who would be crowned the 2023 champion of their division, which are:

  • GTK Waratah 1 Wheelchair League (Powered by Spalding): Illawarra Hawks Red
  • GTK Waratah 2 Wheelchair League (Powered by Spalding): Canberra Gunners

Division 1 Teams:

Division 2 Teams:

STATE AND NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS FOR WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL

Basketball NSW enters teams to represent NSW to compete in the Kevin Coombs Cup which is the national event held annually in conjunction with the Australian Under 18 Junior Championships. These championships present the an opportunity for junior wheelchair basketballers to represent their state in a National Championship. The age groups for the Kevin Coombs Cup are based on international junior wheelchair basketball age groups; Under-23 for Males and Under-25 for Females.

The 2024 KCC squad will be selected from athletes selected for the State Performance Program (SPP). Players wishing to represent NSW at a National Championship will be required to participate in the SPP. 

Basketball Australia has four national teams, Gliders (Women’s National Team) Rollers (Men’s National Team), Devils (Women’s U25 National Team) and Spinners (Men’s U23 National Team).

Click here for Kevin Coombs Cup information

Wheelchair State Performance Program (SPP)

The Basketball NSW Wheelchair State Performance Program (SPP) serves to identify, develop, and foster the skills of young athletes with classifiable limitations who aspire to compete at state, national and international levels of wheelchair basketball. Basketball NSW believes that the establishment of a direct pathway for athletes in the SPP into the State Team Program will improve the quality of State Team performance into the future.

The program is designed to develop individual skills and learn team concepts which will enable participants to compete successfully at the National Championships and on the International level. In addition to pathways, identified athletes and coaches in the program will reinforce and strengthen the efforts in associations to continue to develop the game of wheelchair basketball.  Click HERE to find out more information about BNSW High Performance.

The SPP talent identification and development model meets the needs of our athlete and coach pathways while assisting NSW in achieving its broad objectives and best preparation for the NSW Kevin Coombs Cup (KCC) State team for National Championships.

The SPP Program for Wheelchair Athletes ages are as follows:

  • Boys Under 12-Under 23 (Born between 2002 – 2012)
  • Girls Under 12-Under 25 (Born between 2000 – 2012)
WHEELCHAIR SPP TRIALS
Date Venue Times (Must Attend All Sessions) Registration
Saturday 2nd September Bankstown Basketball Stadium – 2 Third Ave, Condell Park NSW Male & Female

Session 1: 2.00pm – 3.30pm

Session 2: 4.00pm – 5.30pm

Session 3: 6.30pm – 8.00pm

Click Here

 

Expressions of Interest are also open for coaches to be involved Click HERE.

Click HERE for more information about the 2024 Wheelchair State Performance Program.

 

Get Involved!

If you would like to learn more about the GTK Waratah Wheelchair League Powered by Spalding, and participate in this exciting game, please contact the BNSW Wheelchair Basketball Manager, Janna Mizens.

If you would like to learn more about becoming a referee and officiating in the Wheelchair Basketball space, click here.

To find out more information about classification or to submit a request for classification, click here.

 

 

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