Wheelchair suppliers introduce the design and use of different types of wheelchairs

Wheelchair basketball is a highly competitive sport, consisting of athletes with lower limb amputations, spinal cord injuries, or numbness. The biggest feature is that athletes play on the basketball court using wheelchairs. Except for many special rules, wheelchair basketball is basically the same as regular basketball in terms of court and rules, except that each athlete has their own medical grading score.

In the competition, the total medical grading score of the 5 athletes on the field shall not exceed 14 points. Wheelchair basketball does not violate dribbling twice, but when players move the ball on the court, after pushing the wheelchair 1-2 times, they must hit the ball once or multiple times, or pass or shoot. During the competition, athletes are not allowed to touch the ground with their feet and their buttocks cannot leave the wheelchair.

Key points of wheelchair basketball competition rules

The rules of wheelchair basketball are basically the same as the International Basketball Federation basketball competition rules, except for the following special provisions.

Violation

(1) An athlete or any part of their wheelchair touching the ground outside the sideline is considered out of bounds.

(2) Any part of the body touching the ground, except for hands.

(3) Due to the wheelchair tilting, any part except for the tires touches the ground.

(4) It is not allowed to drive continuously for more than 2 times. For every 2 drives, one must dribble the ball. If there are more than 2 drives without dribbling, it is a violation. Driving refers to athletes pushing one or two wheels forward or backward with their hands.

(5) Dribbling the ball between the two knees.

foul

(1) Using unauthorized tools.

(2) Whether in a dead or live ball state, athletes come into contact with their opponents or their wheelchairs.

(3) Illegal path crossing: Wheelchair contact that occurs when a player with or without the ball suddenly changes direction in an attempt to cross the opponent's path without giving the opponent time to stop or change direction.

(4) Other fouls and fouls are the same as FIBA basketball rules.

(5) Technical foul

① In the competition, in order to gain an advantage, the buttocks are moved away from the wheelchair seat surface.

② In the competition, in order to gain an advantage, the foot is taken off the footrest.

③ Utilize any part of the lower limbs to gain an unfair advantage or provide power to a wheelchair.

④ Using wheelchairs that do not comply with regulations.

⑤ The total disability score of the 5 players on the field exceeded 14 points.

Disabled athletes who meet the grading requirements issued by the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation Athlete Grading Committee are eligible to participate in the competition.

The medical grading scores for athletes are: 1 point, 1.5 points, 2 points, 2.5 points, 3 points, 3.5 points, 4 points, and 4.5 points. Among them, 1 point and 1.5 points belong to low scoring team members with low motor function and severe disability; 3.5 points, 4 points, and 4.5 points belong to high scoring team members with strong motor function and mild disability.

During the competition, the sum of the medical grading scores of all athletes on the field for any team at any time cannot exceed 14 points. Otherwise, the coach will be awarded a technical foul and immediately corrected.

Wheelchair rugby is one of the three special events in the current Paralympic Games that do not correspond to Olympic events (the other two events are blind gateball and hard ground roll). Wheelchair rugby is a team sport specifically designed for people with severe physical disabilities. The athletes participating in the competition are mainly those with cervical spine injuries. In addition to relying on wheelchairs for the lower limbs, there are also varying degrees of obstacles in the upper limbs. It combines safety, competitiveness, and aesthetics, highlighting the individual skills of athletes while emphasizing teamwork. The competition is played by a mixed team of male and female players, and the official wheelchair rugby game is held indoors, with 4 athletes on each side of the offense and defense. All athletes must participate in the competition in a manually controlled wheelchair and meet the grading requirements of the International Wheelchair Rugby Union.

During the competition, contact between wheelchairs is allowed. When an athlete holds the ball or attempts to block the opponent, intense collisions occur with the opponent. However, some dangerous forms of contact, such as attacking the opponent from behind their wheelchair, are not allowed and can result in fouls. Additionally, athletes are not allowed to have physical contact with each other

Wheelchair Olive

The ball is divided into 7 different scores, ranging from 0.5 to 3.5 points, based on the balance and mobility of the athlete's upper body (torso), as well as their ability to control the ball and wheelchair. The stronger the athlete's ability, the higher the score.

Competition format:

Each game is divided into 4 sections, each lasting 8 minutes, with a 1-minute break after the 1st and 3rd sections. The halftime is 5 minutes. A draw will result in a 3-minute overtime match. Each team has 4 chances to pause each game, each time for 1 minute, and 1 chance to pause during extra time. During the game, athletes can move the ball on their thighs, pass it directly to their opponents, or pass it by hitting the ground. But the athlete must make a pass or dribble within 10 seconds, and the ball handler should pass or cross the center line to reach the opponent's half within 15 seconds. Finally, the team with the highest score wins the game.

Venue equipment:

Wheelchair rugby usually chooses a basketball court as the playing field, with a width of 15 meters and a length of 28 meters. The center line divides the field into two parts, and the radius of the middle circle is 1.8 meters. There are two circular vertebrae 8 meters apart on the goal line to indicate the position of the goal. For athletes to compete safely and fairly in wheelchairs, the height of the wheelchair cannot exceed 53 centimeters. The ball used in the competition is similar to volleyball, with a circumference of 65-67 centimeters and a weight between 260-280 grams.

Partial special provisions:

1. The rules of wheelchair rugby are developed by combining basketball and rugby events.

2. Each team consists of 4 players on the field and 8 substitute players. The sum of disability scores for the four players on the field cannot exceed 8 points.

3. The defensive player committed a foul during the game and was sentenced to one minute off the field.

4. When a defensive player commits a serious foul, a penalty will be awarded.

Wheelchair tennis athletes at the Paralympic Games must have a medical diagnosis of permanent motor disability, generally consisting of athletes with quadriplegia, lower limb disabilities, and upper limb amputations. During the competition, athletes with different levels of disabilities will compete together, and they must sit in wheelchairs for the competition.

Key points of wheelchair tennis competition rules

Before the start of the game, the referee uses the method of throwing coins to make a selection, and the winner has the right to serve or choose the court. When choosing to serve or receive, the opponent should be allowed to choose the court area; The venue selector should allow the opponent to choose between serving or receiving, and may also request the opponent to make one of the above choices.

The rules of wheelchair tennis in the Paralympic Games are basically the same as those in the Olympic Games. During the competition, athletes are not allowed to receive guidance from coaches. Wheelchair tennis matches are completely identical to the tennis rules established by the International Tennis Federation, except for the following special regulations.

The Two Jump Principle

Wheelchair tennis players are allowed to land the ball twice during matches. Athletes must counterattack before the ball lands for the third time. The second landing can be within or outside the boundary.

Wheelchair

Wheelchairs are considered a part of the body, and all rules related to athletes' bodies apply to wheelchairs.

The competition wheelchair is lighter than the daily wheelchair, consisting of a seat, footrest, front footrest, rear anti rollover device, rear tires, and other components.

serve

The serve should be served in the following way. Be prepared immediately before starting the serve, and the starting player should be in a fixed position. Allow the player to push the wheelchair forward before hitting the ball.

During the entire serving process, the wheels of the starter's wheelchair must not touch any areas other than the assumed extension line marked at the center and the sideline, as well as the area enclosed behind the end line.

If a quadriplegic athlete is unable to serve using conventional serving methods, another person can throw the ball for the athlete. However, the same method must be used for each serve. And it should be indicated by the grading doctor on the grading card.

Lost points

If an athlete loses points:

This athlete cannot hit the ball back before it lands for the third time;

During the active period, athletes use any part of their feet or lower limbs to brake or maintain balance while serving, hitting, turning, stopping the wheelchair, or reversing the wheel. Excluding those with three limb amputations.

When hitting the ball, the athlete did not keep one side of the buttocks in contact with the wheelchair seat.

Push the wheelchair with your feet.

If an athlete does not have the ability to drive a wheelchair through wheels, he can use one foot to drive the wheelchair.

Even under the above rules, an athlete is allowed to use one foot to drive a wheelchair during forward movements, including hitting the racket; From the start of serving to the moment the ball hits, other parts of this foot must not touch the ground.

If an athlete violates the above rules, they will lose points.

Note: The explanation for the lower limbs is: lower limbs, including buttocks, hips, thighs, calves, ankles, and feet.

Clothing

Require athletes to wear standard tennis sportswear.

Site protection

Protecting the venue from damage is a code of conduct that athletes should follow. The following components may damage the venue and must be inspected:

Wheelchair footrest;

Wheelchair front casters;

Wheelchair rear anti rollover device;

Wheelchair tires.

Time limit for repairing equipment

The chief referee and the presiding judge have the right to decide to suspend the game.

If the athlete's clothing, wheelchair, or equipment (including rackets) are damaged and unable or inconvenient to continue playing, the game may be suspended for repair and adjustment.

Handling: If this phenomenon occurs beyond the athlete's control, it is allowed to pause the game for handling. The main responsible officials should determine whether it is appropriate and decide on the suspension time (wheelchair repairs should not exceed 20 minutes from the start of the suspension).

Grading of participating athletes

Criteria for functional impairment of both upper limbs

(1) The level of nerve damage is at level 8 in the neck and accompanied by loss of motor function;

(2) Upper limb amputation;

(3) Shortlimb deformity of upper limbs;

(4) Muscle lesions in the upper limbs;

(5) Similar to the four disabilities mentioned above.

Criteria for functional impairment of both lower limbs

(1) Neurological injury at the level of S1, accompanied by loss of motor function;

(2) Lower limb amputation;

(3) Shortlimb deformity of lower limbs;

(4) Lower limb muscle lesions;

(5) Similar to the four disabilities mentioned above.

Meet at least one standard

(1) Unable to continuously coordinate the action of hitting the ball above the head;

(2) Unable to continuously coordinate the forward and backward hitting movements;

(3) Cannot manually drive the wheelchair;

(4) During the competition, the ability to hold the racket without tying or using auxiliary devices is weaker.

Wheelchair fencing is a sport specifically designed for athletes with lower limb disabilities, including amputations, poliomyelitis, cerebral palsy, and paraplegia. For the audience, what sets wheelchair fencing apart the most is that the wheelchairs of both athletes are fixed on adjustable tracks for the competition. However, despite being in such wheelchairs, athletes can only freely move the upper half of their bodies, but their speed of swordplay is not slower than that of able-bodied athletes, and even faster.

Key points of wheelchair fencing competition rules

Due to the continuous improvement of the technology of fixing wheelchairs on the competition venue, the competition rules of wheelchair fencing have also been adaptively modified accordingly. The main rules are as follows:

(1) The distance between athletes is based on the distance between the athlete with the shorter arm holding the sword and lifting it flat, with the tip of the sword touching the opponent's elbow (the tip of the foil should touch the inside of the opponent's forearm). And, with the agreement of both athletes, once the distance between the athletes is determined, no further changes can be made.

(2) During the competition, the wheelchairs of both players are not allowed to move; Athletes' buttocks cannot leave the wheelchair, and their feet must remain fixed on the pedals. If an athlete's feet use the ground to gain favorable conditions, it is a foul.

(3) If an athlete loses balance, changes their sitting posture, loosens their wheelchair, or loses their ground clamp, the referee should immediately stop the game.

(4) In wheelchair fencing competitions, in order to reduce the adjustment time of the fencing frame, the arrangement order of leaving one athlete on the field after each match is often used, and it is necessary to ensure that there are enough staff to allow athletes to quickly get up and down the fencing frame.

(5) In the competition, hitting the effective area will also vary depending on the functional grading. Grade A refers to the area above the legs, while Grade B refers to the area above the waist.

(6) The main competition rules are similar to those of the able-bodied fencing competition. Athletes are equipped with sensing wires that are connected to a signal box that can record sword strikes. Fencers earn a valid score every time they hit their opponent's effective target area.

(7) Before the official competition begins, the grading experts authorized by the International Wheelchair Fencing Committee carefully inspect and test each athlete to determine their functional level. Athletes must strictly abide by the grading regulations and cannot participate in competitions beyond their own level. B-level fencers are eligible to participate in A-level competitions and must provide information during registration. Throughout the entire competition, they can only participate in A-level competitions. Athletes who do not participate in their own level of competition according to regulations cannot earn any ranking points.

(8) In any competition, participants cannot register for two or more sword competitions at the same time, including individual and team competitions.

Any athlete who uses a wheelchair can participate in wheelchair fencing competitions, including amputees, paraplegics, and cerebral palsy athletes. Starting from the 1988 Seoul Paralympic Games, a new functional grading system for wheelchair fencers was introduced and implemented. At the European Wheelchair Fencing Championships held in Glasgow in 1987, Rita Strohm, a German, first proposed this new grading system, and later made some modifications to form the version that finally appeared at the Seoul Paralympic Games. This new functional grading system fully considers various influencing factors, allowing athletes with different types of disabilities (amputation, poliomyelitis, cerebral palsy, and paraplegia) to have the opportunity to participate in competitions together.

Functional testing (conducted in a wheelchair) includes evaluation of stretching ability and measurement of chest tilt ability in different directions (with or without a sword). The tested movements are repeated technical movements from the competition, such as sudden body tilt while holding a sword, accompanied by elbow extension, and rapid chest return (or tilting in the opposite direction). Based on this, evaluate the scores in the tests, which aim to prevent athletes from being injured by opponents during the competition. The scores in the test are as follows:

0 points - completely lacking physical function and unable to perform technical movements;

1 point - very poor ability to execute actions, able to perform minimal activity;

2 points - relatively weak action execution ability, able to perform moderate level activities;

3 points - Normal ability to execute actions.

Test 1: Upper body stretching ability

Including evaluation of the stretching ability of the back muscle tissue: The test subject sits in a wheelchair, first in a forward leaning position, and then strives to return to an upright sitting position by contracting the muscles in the back and maintaining balance in the upper limbs.

Test 2: Lateral Balance Ability

Fix the upper limbs of the test subject and measure their lateral balance control ability: the test subject bends their torso and tilts to the left and right as much as possible until they lose balance. In this way, the function of the trunk side muscles and the abdominal side muscles can be evaluated.

Test 3: Abdominal Stretching Ability

Similar to Test 1, the assessment of trunk extension ability is conducted, but the focus is mainly on the ability of abdominal muscles. In the test, participants are required to place their hands behind their necks to eliminate the inertial effects of upper limb movements and the assistance of trunk and back muscle abilities.

Test 4: Side balance ability of wielding a sword

Similar to Test 2, but more difficult to measure because during the measurement process, the subject must hold a sword, and the weight of the sword will significantly reduce their ability to maintain balance during body roll.

It is very important to note that during the process of conducting tests 2 and 4, the subject's upper limbs (opposite to the direction of their body movement) cannot grip the wheelchair, nor can they rely on the hand wheel rim and wheelchair armrest to ensure the validity of the measurement results.

For an athlete with spinal injury (paraplegia or poliomyelitis), according to the regulations of the International Wheelchair Sports Federation (ISMWSF) and the International Organization for Sport with Disabilities (ISOD), their muscle strength test score ranges from 0 to 5. The International Wheelchair Sports Federation (ISMWSF) has added additional testing items including shoulder tests, thumb strength tests, hip and knee rotation tests, and foot extension tests. Excluding finger extension ability testing.

For athletes with cerebral palsy, muscle tone disorders, or hand foot hyperkinesia, their activity control abilities are rated based on the following criteria:

1 point - does not have motor function, does not have or has minimal motor coordination ability;

2 points - only able to complete some continuous actions very slowly and with great difficulty. If a certain action is quickly repeated, its maximum motion amplitude shall not exceed 25% of the normal value;

3 points - Same as above. If a certain action is quickly repeated, its maximum motion amplitude shall not exceed 50% of the normal value;

4 points - Minor movement incoordination and/or maximum movement amplitude not exceeding 75% of the normal value;

5 points - Normal motor coordination ability.

When injuries are caused by congenital deformities, resulting in stiff movements or potential limited range of motion for disabled athletes, the scoring statement is as follows:

0 points - no physical ability;

1 point - minimum motion amplitude;

2 points - reaching one fourth of the normal range of motion;

3 points - reaching half of the normal range of motion;

4 points - reaching three-quarters of the normal range of motion;

5 points - normal range of motion.

After completing the analysis, evaluation, and functional testing, functional classification should be carried out according to the following criteria:

Grade 1A - Athletes with poor swordsmanship and inability to maintain balance while sitting or standing. Without effective elbow extension to overcome gravity, the hand has no residual function, making it impossible to secure the sword to the hand with a bandage. This functional level is equivalent to the 1A level in the original ISMGF and falls between the C5 and C6 levels for spinal injuries.

Grade 1B - Athletes who cannot maintain balance while sitting or standing, and have obstacles with their swordsmen. It has elbow extension function, but the fingers are not flexible, and a bandage must be used to fix the sword on the hand. This level is equivalent to C7/C8 in complete paralysis, or higher levels of incomplete injury.

Level 2- Athletes have moderate sitting and standing balance ability, with normal swordsmanship. Equivalent to D1 to D9 levels of paraplegia (with a total score of no more than 4 points in Functional Test 1 and Functional Test 2), or incomplete paralysis (with minimal obstacles in the swordsman and good sitting and standing balance).

Level 3- Athletes have good sitting and standing balance, no leg support, and normal swordsmanship. For example, D10 to L2 levels in paraplegia (ideal functional tests 1 and 2: scores between 5 and 9). Athletes with amputations above the knee (with a small number of residual limbs), incomplete injuries above level D10, or other similar disabilities can also be included in this level, but evidence must be provided to prove that the legs can help the athlete maintain sitting and standing balance.

Level 4- Athletes have good sitting and standing balance, lower limb support, and normal swordsmanship. For example, injuries below level L4, or other similar disabilities (with a minimum score of 5 in tests 3 and 4).

The lowest degree of injury - equivalent to lower limb disability with amputation below the knee.

In cases where athletes are disabled or have other doubts due to brain injury, it is necessary to observe their fencing activities in order to complete the assessment. The most important thing is to have athletes personally participate in the grading process, and in fact, the grading committee has taken measures within its scope of responsibility to have athletes sign and confirm the grading results.

Grading: According to the degree of loss of athletic ability, participating athletes are divided into two levels, A and B.

Grade A: Levels 3 and 4 mentioned above

B level: The above 2 levels and the above 1A and 1B levels