Alyssa Angelaccio

Activity: Wheelchair Basketball

Sources: About Wheelchair Basketball. (n.d.). Retrieved March 02, 2021, from

https://www.nwba.org/about

Cervical spinal cord injury: Symptoms and prognosis. (n.d.). Retrieved March 03, 2021, from

https://www.shepherd.org/patient-programs/spinal-cord-injury/levels-and-types/Cervical-

Spinal-Cord-Injury

Our game. (2018, January 13). Retrieved March 02, 2021, from https://iwbf.org/the-game/

Understanding spinal cord injury. (n.d.). Retrieved March 05, 2021, from

https://www.spinalinjury101.org/details/levels-of-injury

Equipment: Sport wheelchair, basketball, basketball court and hoops, and an adapted point

system.

Activity Description: The objective of Wheelchair Basketball is to allow people who have

experienced a Spinal Cord Injury to participate in a sport and remain active. Wheelchair

Basketball allows individuals to maintain their physical activity goals as well as create new ones.

Also, this activity helps improve social, emotional, mental, and spiritual domains.

1. Gather the group of participants and review the rules of Wheelchair Basketball with

everyone.

a. Players must be in two teams of five players each.

b. The game consists of four quarters that each last 10 minutes.

c. The game is played with a timer of 24 seconds and counts down.

 d. The team in possession of the ball needs to shoot before the timer runs out.

e. Players can score points by shooting the basketball into the hoop.

f. Players can take two pushes before shooting, dribbling, or passing the ball.

g. Players are not allowed to touch their wheels more than twice without dribbling.

2. Explain the classification system to ensure all participants understand them.

a. Points are determined by players capability to push, shoot, pass, and dribble.

b. Both teams must equal no more than 14 points.

c. Players are given points that range from 1 to 4 points.

d. Players with 1 point have a more severe disability.

e. Players with 4 points have a more minimal disability.

3. Divide the participants into two teams, if they do not already have set teams.

4. Begin playing and referee all the players ensuring the rules are being followed.

5. When the game is finished, announce the winners and have the teams shake hands to end

the game civilly.

Primary social interaction pattern(s): The primary social interaction pattern of Wheelchair

Basketball is intergroup. Intergroup is defined as the competitive nature between intragroup,

which are cooperative with an intent to reach a common goal. Each team is an intragroup

because they work together trying to reach the goal of winning. Wheelchair Basketball relies on

intergroup interaction patterns by adding the competitive nature between two teams individually

working together.

Adaptation: A C 1- 8 Spinal Cord Injury consists of injury to both the higher cervical nerves as

well as the lower cervical nerves. C 1-8 injury entails paralysis in the arms, hands, trunk, and

legs. People with cervical spinal cord injuries may be able to raise their arms and hands in order
to pass or shoot a basketball. C 1-8 Spinal Cord Injury correlates with difficulty or weakened

breathing which would call for frequent time outs. One researched adaptation specific to a person

with a C 1-8 Spinal Cord Injury, would be the used of the point classification system. This

system allows teams to be fairly on the same skill level, even if both teams have people with

differing disabilities. In wheelchair basketball, the classification system is based on the necessary

skills, like shooting, passing, and dribbling, in order to make playing a fair competition for all.

Every player is given points that can range from 1.0 to 4.5. A player who receives a classification

point of 1.0 have a more severe disability, whereas players with a 4.5 classification have a

minimal disability. In order to play using the classification system, every team must add up to

14.0 points or less. Another adaptation that can be made in wheelchair basketball is requiring

frequent time outs whenever players deem necessary. Since it can be difficult for a person with a

C 1-8 Spinal Cord Injury to breathe, adapting the game to have structured breaks would allow a

spinal cord injury player to continue participating.

Participant: 21-year-old man with a C 1-8 Spinal Cord Injury