What does a 4.5 player mean in wheelchair basketball?
B · Beginner · Chairs and classes · 2 of 3Each player is classified 1.0 to 4.5 in half-point steps; a lower number means more activity limitation. The value is on the player's IWBF classification card and can change during a tournament until the play-offs. At the IWBF's main events, including the Paralympics, the five on court may never total more than 14. Exceeding it costs the coach a technical foul.
How it works
- Classes: 1.0 to 4.5, in halves.
- Lower: more limitation.
- Card: IWBF classification ID.
- Changes: possible until the play-offs.
- Limit: 14 points on court.
- Over the limit: technical foul on the coach.
- Fix: line-up corrected at once.
- Other competitions: may set other limits.
The glossary has the player classification points, the fourteen-point limit, the main official competitions of the IWBF, the seat height, the wheelchair basketball and the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation.
Tricky cases
A team goes over 14 after a substitution. Penalty?
A technical foul on the coach.
Can a player's class change mid-tournament?
Yes, until the play-offs.
Do national leagues use 14?
They may set a different total.
Is 4.5 the least limited?
Yes.
Why the rule exists
The points cap forces teams to play athletes with greater impairments. Every class gets court time.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Main IWBF events | 14 points | 51.2 |
| Other events | Own limit | 51.3 |
| Over the limit | Technical foul | 51.2 |
From the rule book
IWBF, Official Wheelchair Basketball Rules 2024 (version 2, valid from 3 February 2025), article 51. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: IWBF Official Wheelchair Basketball Rules 2024.