Wheelchair basketball words · Intermediate

The words that make the commentary make sense. They build on the beginner words.

I · Intermediate · 27 words · Step 2 of 2

General terms

International Wheelchair Basketball Federation

The world body for wheelchair basketball, founded in 1973 and based in Mies, Switzerland, which publishes the official rules.

Also called: IWBF
See also: Wheelchair basketball

Playing time (wheelchair basketball)

Four quarters of 10 minutes, with 2 minutes between the first and second quarters and between the third and fourth, a 15 minute half-time, and overtimes of 5 minutes as many as needed to break a tie.

Tap-off (wheelchair basketball)

The referee tosses the ball between two opponents, each with their wheelchair inside the half of the centre circle nearest their own basket and one wheel close to the centre line. The ball must be tapped by at least one of them after it reaches its highest point, and neither may leave position before it is.

Frontcourt and backcourt (wheelchair basketball)

A team has moved the ball into its frontcourt when an offensive player with all wheels and anti-tip castors completely on the frontcourt touches it, or when a dribbler's wheelchair is completely in the frontcourt. A defender with any part of their wheelchair on their backcourt keeps the ball in the backcourt.

Wheelchair and equipment

Wheelchair specifications

The chair has three or four wheels, two large rear wheels no more than 69 cm across including the tyres and one or two small front wheels, with one hand rim on each large wheel. Steering devices, brakes and gears are not allowed, and tyres or castors that mark the floor are not permitted.

Protective horizontal bar

A bar at the front or side of the wheelchair that must be 11 cm from the floor at its most forward point and along its whole length. Without a bar the footrest must be 11 cm from the floor, and with one the footrest behind it can be any height if it does not touch the floor.

Anti-tip castor

A small castor, one or two in all, at the rear of the chair that may touch the floor often or all the time. It must be no more than 2 cm off the floor when the player sits in the forward driving position, must not extend behind the rearmost point of the driving wheels, and is not a wheel.

The ruleWhat wheelchair is allowed in wheelchair basketball?

Seat height

The height from the floor to the top of the cushion, or to the seat platform if no cushion is used, may not exceed 63 cm for players classified 1.0 to 3.0 and 58 cm for players 3.5 to 4.5. It is measured with the player out of the chair.

Backrest padding

The padding on the horizontal bar at the back of the backrest must be at least 1.5 cm thick and flexible enough that it indents by at most half of its thickness when force is applied suddenly, to protect other players.

Wheelchair repair

If a wheelchair becomes unsafe or stops working, the referee stops the game at a suitable time for a repair. If it cannot be done in 50 seconds or less the player must be substituted. If a player falls out of the chair without a foul, the referee stops play when needed to protect the player.

Classification

Main official competitions of the IWBF

The world championships for men and women, the Paralympic tournaments for men and women, the world championships for U23 men and U25 women, and the qualification tournaments for each of these.

Movement and violations

Dribble (wheelchair basketball)

A dribble starts when a player pushes on the large wheels and dribbles at the same time, or takes one or two pushes with the ball resting on the lap, not between the knees, or held in the hand, and then dribbles. The sequence may be repeated as often as the player likes.

Jumping (wheelchair basketball)

Causing every part of the wheelchair to leave the floor while both hands are off the rear wheels. It is part of the lifting article and is not allowed.

Tilting

Lifting one rear wheel and one front castor off the floor, with one or two hands off the wheels, while shooting, defending, receiving, intercepting, rebounding or in the tap-off. Tilting is legal.

Three seconds (wheelchair basketball)

A player may not stay in the opponents' restricted area for more than three consecutive seconds while their team controls a live ball and the clock runs. To count as outside the area, all wheels and any anti-tip castors that touch the floor must be outside it.

Closely guarded (wheelchair basketball)

A player holding the ball is closely guarded when an opponent in an active legal guarding position is within 1 m, and must pass, shoot or dribble within five seconds.

Eight seconds and shot clock (wheelchair basketball)

A team must bring the ball into its frontcourt within 8 seconds of gaining control in its backcourt, and attempt a shot within 24 seconds of gaining control.

Contact

Legal guarding position (wheelchair basketball)

A defender has one when they have covered the path of an opponent, or have established a position in the path that allows time to avoid contact. A player's path is as wide as the parallels from either side of the seat in the direction of travel. A defender covers the path by placing the wheelchair across it, and may not place it between the rear wheels of an opponent's wheelchair.

Block and charge (wheelchair basketball)

Contact is caused by the player with the ball when the defender has established an initial legal guarding position, has been on the spot first, and has not extended the arms or moved the wheelchair illegally to stop the ball carrier passing.

Crossing the path

A moving player may legally turn into an opponent's path only if the axle of their rear wheel can be seen ahead of the opponent's most forward point, the footrest or horizontal bar, and they allow time and distance to avoid contact. Then the opponent is responsible for contact. Otherwise it is illegal crossing of the path.

Time and distance (wheelchair basketball)

A wheelchair cannot stop at once, so a player who stops in front of a moving opponent must leave enough distance for the opponent to brake or change direction, in proportion to the speed. Slight contact made while braking or turning may be treated as incidental.

Clear-out and spreading

An attacker may not use their arms to make extra space for themselves, or spread the legs or arms to cause contact during or just after a shot, against a defender in a legal guarding position.

Legal screening (wheelchair basketball)

A screen is legal if the screener was stationary inside their own cylinder when contact occurred and had a legal position. A screen set in sight of a stationary opponent may be as close as the screener likes without contact. If the opponent is moving, time and distance apply.

Competition

Injury (wheelchair basketball)

An injured player who cannot continue within about 15 seconds, or who is treated or helped by their own coach, substitutes or other team members, must be substituted, unless the team would be left with fewer than five on court.

Classification points (teams)

In a round-robin each team gets 2 classification points for a win, 1 for a loss, including a loss by default, and 0 for a loss by forfeit.

Tie-break (wheelchair basketball)

Teams level on wins and losses are separated by the games between them, then by the points difference and points scored in those games, then by the points difference and points scored in all group games. If that fails the IWBF ranking decides in national team competitions, and otherwise a draw.

Forfeit (wheelchair basketball)

A team that fails to show up without a valid reason, or leaves the court before the game ends, loses by forfeit and gets zero classification points. A second forfeit cancels all of that team's results in the competition.

All Wheelchair basketball words