Wheelchair Basketball

Wheelchair basketball is perfect for those looking for a fast-paced, exciting, and intense team sport. From recreational to elite levels, there are numerous opportunities to play, and Quebec teams are shining on the court throughout the year.

In Canada, the sport became structured in 1975 with the creation of Wheelchair Basketball Canada, although teams like the Montreal Wheelchair Wonders already existed from the 1950s.

Today, it is the most practiced discipline within the federation. Mixed and inclusive, it allows athletes of all genders and ages to play together up to the national level.

It welcomes a wide variety of physical disabilities and it is not uncommon for friends, brothers, sisters, or even parents of athletes to participate, as it is not necessary to have a disability to play, even in the provincial league.

Classifications range from 1.0 to 4.5. Athletes in lower categories have more limited functional abilities, while athletes in higher categories have few or no limitations. The total number of points on the field, awarded to each of the five players, cannot exceed 14 points at any time in most divisions.

• Category 1.0 athletes typically have difficulty moving their torso in all directions.
• Category 2.0 athletes are generally able to rotate their upper body without using their arms for support.
• Category 3.0 athletes are generally able to rotate their shoulders and bend forward without difficulty.
• Category 4.0 athletes have torso mobility in all directions and a partial disability in the lower limbs (example: amputation, partial paralysis, etc.).
• For athletes who have no physical limitations, the classification is automatically 4.5.

The basic rules of wheelchair basketball are very similar to those of standing basketball. Two teams of five athletes compete in four ten-minute periods of play.

The dimensions of the court and the backboards are the same as in traditional basketball.

It is possible to block an opponent’s wheelchair, but the block must be made at the front of the wheelchair. If the contact occurs from the side or rear, the athlete will be penalized with a foul.

Offensive athletes must demonstrate control of their wheelchair. If they fail to do so and this results in contact with another player, a foul may be called against them.

The player in possession of the ball must bounce the ball every two pushes made on the wheels of their wheelchair.

Finally, at the national and international level, a team must not accumulate more than 14 points with its 5 players. At the provincial level, this is 15 points.

This discipline is well established in Quebec, with a provincial league including different divisions for beginners, experienced and elite, as well as a mini division for young people aged 16 and under, who participate in the Quebec Games every two years.

Several clubs, spread across different regions, are ready to welcome you and introduce you to an inclusive and supportive learning environment.

Quebec is also well represented on the national stage, with a junior (under 23) team participating in the Canada Games every four years, as well as senior women’s and men’s teams, frequently medalists at the Championships.

Quebec has three provincial wheelchair basketball teams:

• The junior team, coached by Nicolas Palmer (head coach), Collin Lalonde, Karine Chicoine and Matthieu Parent (assistant coaches)

The development of the Junior program is supported by the Bon Départ Foundation.

• The women’s team, coached by Jason Eng (head coach) and Karine Chicoine (assistant coach)
• The men’s team, coached by Christian LaSerra

To contact them:

basketball.junior@parasportsquebec.com

basketball.féminin@parasportsquebec.com

basketball.masculin@parasportsquebec.com

The coach training program is the one developed by Wheelchair Basketball Canada in partnership with the Coaching Association of Canada.

In accordance with this program, Parasports Québec offers the initial training courses that a coach must complete in their development. We typically offer one training course per year, depending on needs and demand.

Since there is little difference between basketball and wheelchair basketball, the majority of wheelchair basketball officials come from a basketball background. Specific training in wheelchair basketball is provided, and support is offered during the first few years.

Classification is a system that divides athletes into categories based on their abilities, ensuring that competitions reflect their sporting abilities rather than physical, intellectual, or sensory limitations.

If you have any questions or would like to become a coach, official, or classifier, please write to us info@parasportsquebec.com

The government offers financial support and services to identified athletes in Quebec to enable them to compete with the best athletes in the world.

Athletes identified at the “Excellence”, “Elite”, “Next Generation” and “Hopeful” levels are selected based on established criteria specific to the discipline.