For over sixty years wheelchair basketball has been a widely experienced sport. The National Wheelchair Basketball Association or the NWBA was founded in 1946. Also, what most people know to be the NBA or National Basketball Association was also formed in the same year. Many wheelchair sports formed because of the the injuries of World War II which greatly increased the liking and popularity of wheelchair basketball.
Injuries are widespread throughout the country and when significant damages occur to the human body leaving it sometimes paralyzed, it leaves the victim with decreased mobility and a sense of loneliness. Wheelchair basketball was a way to escape the feeling of being a victim. This in many ways helped sufferers overcome their new lifestyles. There really isn't much difference between basketball and wheelchair basketball. Both are played on the same boundaries and rules, the main difference between the two is that one is played with wheelchairs. There is both a national league for men and women and they compete against countries such as Canada, Australia, and Mexico. This last past Saturday the United States beat Canada 79-69 in overtimes in Vancouver, Canada. This game was not just any game but the gold medal for the win in the 2009 American Cup.
Wheelchair is abundant throughout the country and offers programs for junior varsity teams and young teenagers. The program starts the kids young and produces incredible special athletes. The NWBA follows NCAA rules and regulations almost exactly except for some minor differences for rules based on where the wheelchair is placed on the floor. The NWBA may be the professional side for wheelchair basketball players but just like regular basketball there are pick up games for wheelchair basketball. Many towns have clinics that offer night wheelchair basketball for injured and non-injured players. Sometimes clinics do not have many paralyzed people so sometimes non-injured people do participate in wheelchair basketball. Here at Cortland, we offer many intramural sports such as wheelchair basketball, softball, and even the Turkey Trot some volunteered to "run" the 5K in a wheelchair. When playing these sports the wheelchair is not the same kind of wheelchair that would be used in a hospital. The wheels are faced inward for better steering and also more control for the athlete. Also, the wheelchairs are much more stable than hospital wheelchairs because they're faster and made of stronger material.
In essence, wheelchair basketball is just as easily played as regular basketball for special athletes. Wheelchair basketball can be enjoyed by everyone and is a great upper body physical workout. If you ever get the chance to try this experience at Cortland, I hope you give it a try!
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This was really interesting to me. I never knew how wheelchair basketball came to be until I read this. I didn’t even know about wheelchair basketball until I came to Cortland! The sport is amazing and I commend any one who tries to play it. This sport is very demanding on your upper body and it easily tires you out! When people are injured, it affects them emotionally as well as physically, especially if that injury includes being paralyzed or losing a limb. However, if these people have something like wheelchair basketball to look forward to and enable them to continue being active and a part of a team is really invigorating.
ReplyDeleteWheelchair Basketballs a great choice of topic for you to blog about sports & disabilities. It's got to be one of the more popular sports for disabled people, probably because of it's similarities to regular basketball and how non-disabled people can easily join in (although I imagine it would be a much harder experience for someone who is not used to shooting while in a wheelchair). Have you ever played wheelchair basketball? I'd definitely give it a shot, thanks for the info about it!
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ReplyDeleteI was aware of wheelchair basketball (NWBA) but I wasn't sure when it was created. 1946 is a long time ago, wow. I honestly would have never guessed. This is a good topic that many people aren't aware of. People with disabilities aren't helpless like some people may think. They can be very successful, which includes being an athlete. The blog had alot of details which was very informative. People of all ages use wheelchairs in their daily lifes. You obviously did your research and was able to explain that this is a something that affects all age groups, old and young. Good idea.
ReplyDeleteWhat you said about the wheelchair basketball and WWII interested me a lot it got me more interested in your piece. I liked it because of not only the history part, but because i never knew that. Very good article i learned a lot just through reading this one thing you wrote.
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