Wheel of a deal
Basketball wheelchairs are different than everyday normal wheelchairs. Let’s take a look at the different chairs.
What would each chair cost?
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An everyday chair would cost about $1000 - $1500. |
A basketball chair $2000- $3000 |
The frame of a basketball chair is more rigid because basketball is a very physical game. The wheels are cambered out (wider at the bottom than at the top). This makes it more stable and allows you to turn and pivot so much faster. The other difference is a fifth wheel in the back to keep you from tipping over if a player bumps into you.
Play by the rules!
Wheelchair basketball rules are identical to most of the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) basketball rules for able bodied sports. The only changes are for the presence of wheelchairs on the court. To see all the rules – go to http://www.nwba.org (National Wheelchair Basketball Association). This is a great site to read more on the history of the wheelchair game.
Here are a few of the more unique rule modifications or additions for wheelchair basketball:
Traveling: A player may hold the ball while executing one or two pushes on his or her wheels. A push is made when either forward or backward force is exerted upon the wheel (by one or both hands). When a player with the ball takes more than two consecutive pushes (without dribbling, passing or shooting), a traveling violation is called.
Tilting or Falling: A violation is called when a player who is touching the ball tilts, leans or falls in a direction to the extent that the hands, feet, body, wheelchair footrests, or wheelchair anti-tip (safety) casters touch the floor.
Physical Advantage Foul: A player must remain firmly seated in the wheelchair at all times. Rising from the seat or using a functional leg (or stump) to gain an advantage results in a physical advantage foul. This infraction is treated as a technical foul. *1
Training on Wheels…
Handling the ball and the wheelchair at the same time is incredibly difficult. It takes practice like any other sport would. For instance, from a wheelchair you dribble the ball and in between the ball bouncing, you move or position your chair getting ready for your next move.
Teams practice a group of skills called chair skills. They will do one or two to start practice. These exercises help you get better at controlling your wheelchair. You work on exploding for your first push, which is the same as the first step in able-bodied sports. You want that first step – or push – to be as quick and sharp as possible.
Then there are different drills where you are constantly stopping, starting, and turning your chair. This helps you to improve at maneuvering your chair. There are other drills to practice with the basketball, such as weaving through cones while dribbling the basketball. Players also zigzag on the court as they dribble the ball.
“We would like to thank Joshua George for a unique look into the world of wheelchair athletes. Find out more about Joshua in the December issue of DiscoveringDigits magazine. Visit www.DiscoveringDigits.com and click on Ezine to find out more. Thanks also to Coach Michael Frogley, Head Coach University of Illinois Men's and Women's Wheelchair Basketball Teams. All this talk about basketball makes me want to shoot a few hoops. See you next month!”
*1 National Wheel Chair Basketball Association NWBA Official Rules
http://www.nwba.org/index.php
http://www.nwba.org/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=15