Wheelchair rugby is a very fast-paced, competitive game, and an exciting spectator sport. The objective is to score more goals than the opposing team. Goals are scored by players crossing the opponent’s goal line while in possession of the ball. Players carry, dribble, or pass the ball while moving toward the opponents’ goal area. The ball must be dribbled or passed at least once every ten seconds. A goal is scored when a player in control of the ball touches their opponent’s goal line with two wheels.
Two teams of four players compete for four eight-minute quarters. Wheelchair Rugby courts have the same dimensions as a regulation basketball court; however, only the side, end, and centre lines are required to play, along with four cones or pylons to mark the ends of the goal lines.
Contact between wheelchairs is permitted and can be integral to the game. Players frequently collide as they try to stop opponents and take control of the ball. Some forms of more dangerous contact are not permitted and can result in penalties.
Wheelchair rugby is governed internationally by the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation (IWRF). Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association is the National Sport Federation.
Classification
Wheelchair rugby is played by male and female quadriplegic or tetraplegic players. Eligible players have either limited or no function in 3 of 4 limbs.
Typically, an athlete is assigned a class following the completion of the bench test and the functional skills test prior to game play (observation of ball handling and wheelchair skills). The athlete’s execution of ball and wheelchair handling skills are observed on court during actual play to make a final determination of the athlete’s class.
Players are classed into one of seven classes (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, or 3.5) depending on their functional ability. The higher classes are assigned to players with higher functional levels, while lower classifications are assigned to players with less functional ability.
Wheelchair rugby athletes are generally disabled as a result of a spinal cord injury, polio, cerebral palsy, or a progressive disease such as muscular dystrophy or multiple sclerosis.
The combined classification value of an on-court team cannot exceed eight points. This ensures teams play a mix of athletes with a range in functional levels. Female players can allow teams to play with an extra half–point per player, and are thus increasingly valuable players to recruit in to the sport.
History
Wheelchair rugby was invented in Winnipeg in 1976. It was developed by Canadian athletes who had become quadriplegics but who wanted to actively continue playing team sports.
At the Paralympic Games level, a demonstration event was first held at the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta, where Canada placed 2nd. Wheelchair Rugby became a full medal sport at the 2000 Paralympic Games held in Sydney, Australia, playing in front of 10,000 enthusiastic fans. Most recently, Canada won a silver medal at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, and a bronze medal at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China.
Canada has consistently earned medals at the World Championships level, earning the following medals since the inception of world championships in the sport:
1995 Nottwil SWI Silver
1998 Toronto CAN Bronze
2002 Gothenburg SWE Gold
2006 Christchurch NZL Bronze
