What happens if a wheelchair breaks during a game?
A · Advanced · Play · 2 of 2If a chair breaks, the referee stops play at a suitable moment; if it cannot be fixed in 50 seconds, the player is substituted. An injured player who cannot continue in about 15 seconds must be replaced. In standings a win earns 2 points and a loss 1, but a forfeit earns none.
How it works
- Broken chair: stoppage at a suitable time.
- Repair: 50 seconds, or substitute.
- Fall out: stoppage to protect the player.
- Injury: about 15 seconds to continue.
- Help from the bench: player must be substituted.
- Win: 2 points.
- Loss: 1 point.
- Forfeit: 0 points; a second cancels results.
The glossary has the wheelchair repair, the injury (wheelchair basketball), the classification points (teams), the tie-break (wheelchair basketball), the forfeit (wheelchair basketball) and the playing time (wheelchair basketball).
Tricky cases
A player falls out of the chair. Is play stopped at once?
Only when needed for safety.
A team has only five players. Must an injured one go off?
No. A team keeps five on court.
How are teams level on wins separated?
Head-to-head games first.
A team forfeits twice. Result?
All its results are cancelled.
Why the rule exists
Chairs break often, so a short repair window balances fairness and flow.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Repair | 50 seconds | 3.1.11 |
| Injury | About 15 seconds | 5.3 |
| Forfeit | 0 points | App D.3 |
From the rule book
IWBF, Official Wheelchair Basketball Rules 2024 (version 2, valid from 3 February 2025), articles 3.1.11 and 5.3 and Appendix D. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: IWBF Official Wheelchair Basketball Rules 2024.