Andrew Pace
Wheelchair basketball is a global sport with an estimated 100,000 players participating at various levels, from recreational and club play to elite national teams. The sport emerged from World War II, with veterans playing in hospitals in Birmingham (CA), Framingham (MA), and the Corona Naval Station (CA) in 1945 or 1946. In 1947, the Birmingham team traveled to Corona Naval Station for the first match between two wheelchair basketball teams, and in 1948, the first official National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament was organized by Tim Nugent of the University of Illinois. The first national wheelchair basketball tournament took place in 1949, featuring six teams and marking the formation of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) in the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of origin | 1945 or 1946 |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Originators | World War II veterans |
| Place(s) first played | Birmingham, CA; Framingham, MA; Corona Naval Station, CA |
| First wheelchair basketball tournament | 1947 or 1948 |
| Number of teams in the first tournament | 6 |
| Year the first international tournament was played | 1955 or 1956 |
| Governing body | International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) |
| Number of National Organisations for Wheelchair Basketball | 95 |
| Estimated number of players | 100,000 |
| Court and hoop | Standard basketball court and 10-foot hoop |
| Allowed players | People with disabilities, non-disabled athletes in some countries |
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What You'll Learn
World War II veterans and its origins in the US
Wheelchair basketball emerged in the aftermath of World War II, with its roots in the United States. The sport was first played in 1945 or 1946 by World War II veterans at the Corona Naval Station in California and in Framingham, Massachusetts. These veterans were being treated for varying degrees of paralysis resulting from the war.
The Birmingham Report published an article on November 26, 1946, titled "Plegics Win Wheelchair Game, 16 to 6", about the veterans' victory over the doctors of Birmingham Hospital. In 1947, the Birmingham team travelled to the Corona Naval Station, where they competed in the first match between two wheelchair basketball teams. Within two years, six teams emerged, representing Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals across the US. National tournaments were organized and hosted by the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA).
In 1948, the first official National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament (NWBT) was organized by Tim Nugent of the University of Illinois. That same year, the Birmingham VA Flying Wheels challenged VA hospital teams across the US, and wheelchair basketball became the number one sport for individuals with disabilities. The first national wheelchair basketball tournament took place in 1949 in Illinois, featuring six teams, and marked the formation of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) in the US.
Wheelchair basketball has since become a global sport, with an estimated 100,000 players participating at various levels, from recreational to elite national teams. The rules are similar to those of basketball, with some modifications for wheelchair use. The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) is the governing body for this sport and is recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
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The first official games
In 1947, the Birmingham team travelled to the Corona Naval Station, where they competed in the first match between two wheelchair basketball teams. Within two years, six teams emerged, representing VA hospitals across the US. National tournaments were organised and hosted by the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA).
In 1948, the first official National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament (NWBT) was organised by Tim Nugent of the University of Illinois. That same year, the Birmingham VA Flying Wheels challenged VA hospital teams across the US, and wheelchair basketball became the number one sport for individuals with disabilities.
In 1949, the first National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) tournament took place in Illinois, featuring six teams. This also marked the founding of the NWBA in the United States.
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The rules of the game
Wheelchair basketball was born out of World War II, with veterans playing the first-ever game in 1945 or 1946 in Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals in Birmingham (CA) and Framingham (MA), as well as at the Corona Naval Station (CA). These veterans were being treated for various degrees of paralysis. Within two years, six teams emerged representing VA hospitals across the US, and national tournaments were organised and hosted by the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA). In 1948, the first official National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament (NWBT) was organised by Tim Nugent of the University of Illinois.
Wheelchair basketball retains most of the major rules and scoring of basketball, including a 10-foot basketball hoop and a standard basketball court. The following are some of the rules that have been modified with consideration for the wheelchair:
- "Travelling" occurs when the athlete touches their wheels more than twice after receiving or dribbling the ball. The individual must pass, bounce, or shoot the ball before touching the wheels again.
- Double dribble is not considered a violation.
- The wheelchair is considered an extension of the player's body in relation to establishing responsibility for contact on the court.
- All teams that compete above a recreational level use a classification system to evaluate the functional abilities of players on a point scale of 1 to 4.5. The sum of points is not allowed to exceed 14.0 points for five players on the court at any given time.
- Basketball wheelchairs are designed for enhanced stability. The centre of gravity is where the chair and the athlete's mass are equally distributed in all directions.
- Guards use wheelchairs that are different from those of centres and forwards. Forwards and centres are typically under the net, so their chairs have higher seats and therefore less stability, but the height increases their reach for shots at the hoop and for rebounds. Guards have lower seats and therefore greater stability for ball handling and getting down the court as quickly as possible.
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The growth of the sport
Wheelchair basketball has grown significantly since its inception in the late 1940s, becoming a global sport with an estimated 100,000 players worldwide. The sport's growth can be attributed to several key factors and milestones over the years.
In the early years, wheelchair basketball gained popularity among World War II veterans in the United States, particularly in VA hospitals and rehabilitation centres. By 1947, the first match between two wheelchair basketball teams took place, and within two years, six teams emerged representing VA hospitals across the country. This led to the formation of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) in 1949 by Dr. Timothy Nugent, with the first official National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament (NWBT) taking place the same year.
Internationally, the sport began to gain traction in 1952 when competitors from the Netherlands joined the Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Games, which had been founded in 1947 by Dr. Ludwig Guttmann, a German-born neurosurgeon. The inclusion of wheelchair basketball in these games further fuelled its growth, and by 1956, it was featured in the International Stoke-Mandeville Games (ISMG).
The International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation (ISMGF), the world governing body for all wheelchair sports at the time, established the first sub-section for wheelchair basketball in 1973. This marked a significant step towards the sport's independence and global recognition. In 1989, the ISMGF accepted the formation of the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) as its wheelchair basketball sub-section, and in 1993, the IWBF became fully independent, taking on the role of the world body for wheelchair basketball.
The inclusion of wheelchair basketball as an official sport in the inaugural Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960 was a pivotal moment in its growth. This exposure on the international stage helped to solidify its status as a premiere Paralympic sport. The first unofficial men's World Championship took place in 1973, with the first official championship held in 1975 in Bruges, Belgium, where Israel claimed the title.
Since its early beginnings, wheelchair basketball has expanded globally, with the IWBF now boasting 95 National Organizations for Wheelchair Basketball (NOWBs) worldwide, and this number continues to grow annually. The sport has also evolved to include women's teams, with the first recorded wheelchair basketball game between two organized women's teams in the US taking place during the 1973-1974 season. The first Women's World Championship was held in 1990, showcasing the significant growth and development of the sport.
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The formation of the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF)
The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) was established in 1993 as the world body for wheelchair basketball, marking a significant step towards full independence for the sport. The journey towards the formation of the IWBF began in 1973 when the International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation (ISMGF), the then-world governing body for all wheelchair sports, established the first subsection for wheelchair basketball. This subsection would eventually become the IWBF.
In 1989, the ISMGF accepted the name change to the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) for its former subsection. This was a pivotal moment as it set the stage for wheelchair basketball to have its own dedicated global governing body. Over the years, the IWBF's membership grew, and it configured itself into four geographical zones: Africa, the Americas, Asia/Oceania, and Europe. The formation of these zones was based on the number of National Organizations for Wheelchair Basketball (NOWBs) with active programs.
The IWBF's governance structure includes an Executive Council that is elected at the World Congress every four years. The first President of the IWBF was Philip Craven (Great Britain), who had served as Chairperson of the ISMGF Wheelchair Basketball Section since 1988. Under his leadership, the IWBF continued to grow and gain recognition.
Today, the IWBF is the sole competent authority in wheelchair basketball worldwide, recognised by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The sport has seen significant growth, with an estimated 100,000 players participating at various levels globally. The IWBF continues to promote, develop, and oversee wheelchair basketball, ensuring its accessibility and inclusivity worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
The first documented game of wheelchair basketball was played on November 25, 1946, by a group of World War II veterans in the United States.
Wheelchair basketball was founded by World War II veterans who played in Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals in Birmingham (CA) and Framingham (MA), as well as at the Corona Naval Station (CA).
The IWBF is the governing body for the sport of wheelchair basketball. It is recognised by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as the sole competent authority in wheelchair basketball worldwide.
It is estimated that more than 100,000 people play wheelchair basketball at various levels, from recreational and club play to elite national teams.
