about Wheelchair basketball

Wheelchair basketball is a fast-paced game played by two teams of five players where the object is to shoot the ball into the opposing team’s basket, scoring the most points at the end of the game.

Two points are scored for a basket within the three-point line, three points from the outside, and one point for sinking each free throw.

Every team is comprised of five players and seven substitutes. Games consist of four 10-minute periods and extra time if scores are tied. The court, the hoop, and the backboards are the same dimension as standing basketball.

One big difference is the travel rule. Wheelchair athletes must pass or bounce the ball after every two pushes to avoid being penalised for travelling. There is also a no double dribble rule.

This sport is unique because teams are made up of players with a variety of sport classes. Each player is given a points score from 1.0 to 4.5 according to the degree of activity limitation on their ability to play basketball. The greater the points score the greater the players volume of action. A team can only have 14 points among the five players on the court at any one time.

Wheelchairs used in this sport are designed for speed and agility. Most are equipped with two large, cambered wheels, two small front castors, and one or two small rear castors to prevent tipping backwards. The game is fast and requires teamwork and eye-hand coordination.

The sport is governed by the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF).

Wheelchair basketball History

Wheelchair basketball was first played at two USA World War II veterans’ administration hospitals; Corona Naval Station, California, and Framingham, Massachusetts, in 1945.

Independently, in 1948 British war veterans started playing wheelchair netball at Stoke Mandeville Hospital under Dr Ludwig Guttmann.

The first national wheelchair basketball tournament was held in Illinois, USA, with six teams in 1949. In the same year the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) was formed in the USA.

Wheelchair basketball came to Europe when US teams were invited to play at the International Stoke Mandeville Games in 1955, initially having to settle for wheelchair netball. After dominating the competition, their performance initiated the switch from wheelchair netball to wheelchair basketball for future Games.

Wheelchair basketball was one of eight sports at the inaugural Rome 1960 Paralympic Games. A total of 96 athletes (95 men and one woman) from 12 countries competed across two medal events. At the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, 192 (96 men and 96 women) from 10 countries competed across two medal events.

USA is the most successful wheelchair basketball nation to date, having won 10 men’s and four women’s Paralympic gold medals since 1960. The USA men’s team have won gold at the last three Paralympic Games.

On the women’s side the Netherlands secured gold at the Paris 2024 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and bronze at Rio 2016 and London 2012 Paralympic Games.

A total of 15 nations have won medals in wheelchair basketball competition at the Paralympic Games.

Did you know ?

Jiske Visser has represented the Netherlands at five Summer Paralympic Games, winning two gold and two bronze medals in women’s wheelchair basketball.

At the time that Visser won her second gold medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, she also served as the Chairperson of the IPC's Athlete’s Council.