A Crash Course in Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby

Introduced to the Paralympic Games in 2000, wheelchair rugby is a fast-paced, action-packed sport bursting with excitement. However, if you’re new to the sport it can be a bit overwhelming. So, to get you prepared for the Games in Paris we’ve created a crash course in wheelchair rugby to ensure you can watch the Games like a pro!

Rules of the Game

The game is usually played on a basketball court in a sports hall but with the addition of two key areas, and much like rugby, the objective of wheelchair rugby is to score a try.

The try line is marked by two cones at the back end of each key area and a try is scored when a player carries the ball (which is round, not oval and looks a bit like a volleyball) over the line.

A game is thirty-two minutes long and is played in eight minute quarters where each team has twelve seconds to get the ball over the halfway line, and a total of forty seconds to score a try. If the team in possession of the ball do not score within forty seconds, then the ball is turned over to the opposition.

Full chair contact is allowed and encouraged resulting in a lot of hard hits which make the sport both thrilling to play and watch!

Different Wheelchair Rugby Chairs Explained

Due to the physicality of the sport, athletes play in specially designed wheelchairs which are built to handle the hits and crashes that occur during games. Some athletes may also have a bespoke chair that is made to measure and suits their function and style of play. Overall, there are two types of chairs within the sport, offensive chairs and defensive chairs.

Offensive chairs have a rounded front and are built for speed and nimbleness. Typically, they are used by more functional and faster players.

Defensive chairs are typically used by less functional players whose main role is to stop the opposing team’s offensive players from scoring.

How Paralympic Teams are Made

Wheelchair rugby is one of the few sports where men and women play on the same team and in the same competitions. The Paralympic squad is made up of twelve players, with only four players playing on the court at any one time.

To ensure participation by players with different levels of function, a classification system based on physical functionality and strength is used.

Each player is awarded a classification ranging from 0.5 to 3.5 with there being a maximum of eight points being allowed on the court at any time. However, teams are awarded an additional 0.5 to their eight-point total for every female player that they have on the court.

The maximum classification eligible in international games such as the Paralympics is 3.5 but domestically Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby permit players with a classification of up to 4.0.