What are the rules of wheelchair basketball?
B · Beginner · Chairs and classes · 1 of 3Wheelchair basketball is five-a-side basketball in sports wheelchairs, under IWBF rules, on a normal court and basket over four 10-minute quarters. The chair counts as part of the player, so location and out of bounds follow the wheels. Players are classified 1.0 to 4.5, and the five on court may total at most 14 points.
How it works
- Teams: five on court.
- Time: four quarters of 10 minutes.
- Overtime: 5 minutes, as needed.
- Chair: part of the player.
- Classes: 1.0 to 4.5.
- Limit: 14 points on court.
- Travel: more than two pushes holding the ball.
- Lifting: off the seat is a foul.
The glossary has the wheelchair basketball, the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation, the wheelchair as part of the player, the playing time (wheelchair basketball), the player classification points and the fourteen-point limit.
Tricky cases
Is the basket lower?
No. It is the normal height.
The wheel touches the line. Out?
Yes.
Can a team field five 4.5 players?
No. That is 22.5 points, far over 14.
How is the game started?
With a tap-off at the centre circle.
Why the rule exists
The chair replaces the legs, so the rules treat it as the body. Classification points let players with very different function share a team.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Chair | Part of the player | 3.1.1 |
| Travel | Three pushes | 25 |
| Line-up | 14 points | 51.2 |
From the rule book
IWBF, Official Wheelchair Basketball Rules 2024 (version 2, valid from 3 February 2025), articles 1, 3, 8, 12, 25 and 51. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: IWBF Official Wheelchair Basketball Rules 2024.