“Smashing Stereotypes One Hit at a Time”
General Information: Wheelchair Rugby is a team sport played with a volleyball on a basketball-size court with goal lines. Athletes play in a sport chair which has special accommodations for rugby such as a front bumper, wings, and spoke protectors. The sport is a combination of wheelchair basketball, ice hockey, and soccer. The object is to gain points by crossing the goal line while you have possession of the volleyball. Games consist of four 8-minutes quarters and whoever has the most points at the end of the game wins. Wheelchair rugby is a full contact sport, however, penalties are given to athletes when contact is intentional.
Who Can Participate? In order to participate, individuals must have a combination of upper and lower body extremity impairment. Most athletes have quadriplegia and are classified as to their abilities. There is a classification system ranging from 0.5 to 3.5, with 0.5 being the players with the greatest functional impairment.
Benefits of Wheelchair Rugby:
- Improve upper body strength
- Improve cardiovascular endurance
- Participate in an aggressive and competitive sport
- Improve strategy, power, and quickness
- Develop peer relationships
- Enhance overall health
- Improve quality of life
- Increase independence
- Focusing on possibilities
For more information on Wheelchair Rugby:
United States Quad Rugby Association - http://www.quadrugby.com/
Wheelchairs Sports Federation – www.wheelchairsportsfederation.org
