Wheelchair rugby 532792 225807404 2008-07-15T14:26:52Z 209.217.110.50 /* History */ [[Image:Wheelchair rugby game 2.jpg|thumb|250 px|right|Wheelchair rugby]] '''Wheelchair rugby''' is a team [[sport]] for [[Disabled sport|athletes with a disability]]. Developed in [[Canada]] in the late 1970s, it is currently practiced in over twenty countries around the world and is a [[Paralympic]] sport. The sport's original name was ''murderball''; in the [[United States]], it is referred to as ''quad rugby''. Not all wheelchair rugby players are [[quadriplegic]], though all wheelchair rugby players must have a disability that affects all or a portion of both the upper and lower extremities. Wheelchair rugby is a mixed sport, with men and women competing on the same teams. Wheelchair rugby is played indoors on a hardwood court. The rules include elements of [[wheelchair basketball]], [[ice hockey]], and [[handball]]. It is a contact sport and physical contact between wheelchairs is an integral part of the game. The sport of wheelchair rugby is governed by the [http://www.iwrf.com International Wheelchair Rugby Federation]which was established in 1993. ==History== Wheelchair rugby's roots go back to [[wheelchair basketball]] and [[ice hockey]]. It was created in 1977 by Jerry Terwin, Duncan Campbell, Randy Dueck, Paul LeJeune and Chris Sargent, five Canadian wheelchair athletes in [[Winnipeg]], [[Manitoba]] to be a sport for [[quadriplegia|quadriplegics]].{{Fact|date=February 2007}} At that time, wheelchair basketball was the most common team sport for wheelchair users. That sport's physical requirement for players to dribble and shoot baskets relegated quadriplegic athletes, with functional impairments to both their upper and lower limbs, to supporting roles. The new sport &mdash; originally called ''murderball'' due to its aggressive, full-contact nature &mdash; was designed to allow quadriplegic athletes with a wide range of functional ability levels to play integral offensive and defensive roles. Murderball was introduced to the United States in 1981 by Brad Mikkelsen. With the aid of the [[University of North Dakota]]'s Disabled Student Services, he formed the first American team, the Wallbangers. The first North American competition was held in 1982. In the late 1980s, the name of the sport outside the United States was officially changed from ''Murderball'' to ''Wheelchair Rugby''. In the United States, the sport's name was changed to ''Quad Rugby''. The first international tournament was held in 1989 in [[Toronto]], Canada, with teams from Canada, the United States and Great Britain. In 1990, Wheelchair Rugby first appeared at the [[World Wheelchair Games]] as an exhibition event, and in 1993 the sport was recognised as an official international sport for athletes with a disability by the [[International Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Sports Federation]] (ISMWSF). In the same year, the [[International Wheelchair Rugby Federation]] (IWRF) was established as a sports section of ISMWSF to govern the sport. The first IWRF World Wheelchair Rugby Championships were held in Notwil, Switzerland, in [[1995]]. Wheelchair rugby appeared as a demonstration sport at the [[1996 Summer Paralympics]] in [[Atlanta]], and was granted full medal status at the [[2000 Summer Paralympics]] in [[Sydney]], [[Australia]]. There are currently twenty-three active countries in international competition, with several others developing the sport. The current President of the IWRF is Brad Mikkelsen. ==Rules== [[Image:Wheelchair rugby court.png|thumb|300 px|right|Wheelchair rugby court]] Wheelchair rugby is mostly played by two teams of up to twelve players. Four players from each team may be on the court at only one time. It is a mixed gender sport, and both male and female athletes play on the same teams. Wheelchair rugby is played indoors on a hardwood court of the same mesurements as a regulation [[basketball]] court &mdash; 28 metres long by 15 metres wide. The required court markings are a centre line and circle, and a key area measuring 8 metres wide by 1.75 metres deep at each end of the court. The [[goal line]] is the section of the end line within the key. Each end of the goal line is marked with a cone-shaped pylon. Players score by carrying the ball across the goal line. For a goal to count, two wheels of the player's wheelchair must cross the line while the player has possession of the ball. A team is not allowed to have more than three players in their own key while they are defending their goal line. Offensive players are not permitted to remain in the opposing team's key for more than ten seconds. A player with possession of the ball must bounce or pass the ball within ten seconds. Teams have fifteen seconds to advance the ball from their back court into the front court. Physical contact between wheelchairs is permitted, and forms a major part of the game. However, physical contact between wheelchairs that is deemed dangerous &mdash; such as striking another player from behind &mdash; is not allowed. Direct physical contact between players is not permitted. [[Foul]]s are penalized by either a one-minute penalty, for defensive fouls and [[technical foul]]s, or a loss of possession, for offensive fouls. In some cases, a penalty goal may be awarded in lieu of a penalty. Common fouls include ''spinning'' (striking an opponent's wheelchair behind the main axle, causing it to spin horizontally or vertically), ''illegal use of hands'' or ''reaching in'' (striking an opponent with the arms or hands), and ''holding'' (holding or obstructing an opponent by grasping with the hands or arms, or falling onto them). Wheelchair rugby games consist of four eight-minute quarters. If the game is tied at the end of regulation play, three-minute [[overtime (sport)|overtime]] periods are played. Much like able-bodied rugby matches, highly competitive wheelchair rugby games are fluid and fast-moving, with possession switching back and forth between the teams while play continues. The game clock is stopped when a goal is scored, or in the event of a violation &mdash; such as the ball being played out of bounds &mdash; or foul. Players may only be substituted during a stoppage in play. ==Equipment== [[Image:Wheelchair rugby chair.JPG|thumb|left|Wheelchair rugby chair]] Wheelchair Rugby is played in a manual [[wheelchair]]. The rules include detailed specifications for the wheelchair. Many players use custom-made sports wheelchairs that are specifically designed for wheelchair rugby. Key design features include a front bumper, designed to help strike and hold opposing wheelchairs, and wings, which are positioned in front of the main wheels to make the wheelchair more difficult to stop and hold. All wheelchairs must be equipped with spoke protectors, to prevent damage to the wheels, and an anti-tip device at the back. New players and players in developing countries sometimes play in wheelchairs that have been adapted for wheelchair rugby by the addition of temporary bumpers and wings. The wheelchair rugby ball is identical in size and shape to a regulation [[volleyball]]. Wheelchair rugby balls are typically of a 'soft-touch' design, with a slightly textured surface to provide a better grip. The balls are normally over-inflated compared to a volleyball, to provide a better bounce. The official ball of the sport from 2000-2006 is the [[Molten Corporation|Molten]] soft touch volleyball, model number WR58X. Players use a variety of other personal equipment, such as gloves and applied adhesives to assist with ball handling, and various forms of strapping to help them maintain a good seating position. ==Classification== [[Image:Wheelchair rugby classification.jpg|thumb|250 px|right|Wheelchair rugby classifier examining a new player]] To be eligible to play wheelchair rugby, athletes must have some form of disability with a loss of function in both the upper and lower limbs<ref>{{cite web|last = International Wheelchair Rugby Federation|title = About Wheelchair Rugby|url = http://www.iwrf.com/history.htm|accessdate = 2008-04-25}}</ref> . The majority of wheelchair rugby athletes have [[spinal cord]] injuries at the level of their cervical vertebrae. Other eligible players have multiple [[amputations]], [[polio]], or neurological disorders such as [[cerebral palsy]], some forms of [[muscular dystrophy]], or [[Guillain-Barré syndrome]], among other medical conditions. Players are classified according to their functional level and assigned a point value ranging from 0.5 (the lowest functional level) to 3.5 (the highest). The total classification value of all players on the court for a team at one time cannot exceed eight points. The classification process begins with an assessment of the athlete's level of disability to determine if the minimum eligibility requirements for wheelchair rugby are met. These require that an athlete have a neurological disability that involves at least three limbs, or a non-neurological disability that involves all four limbs. The athlete then completes a series of muscle tests designed to evaluate the strength and range of motion of the upper limbs and trunks. A classification can then be assigned to the athlete. Classification frequently includes subsequent observation of the athlete in competition to confirm that physical function in game situations reflects what was observed during muscle testing. Athletes are permitted to protest their classification if they feel they have not been properly evaluated. Athletes can be granted a permanent classification if they demonstrate a stable level of function over a series of classification tests. Wheelchair rugby classification is conducted by personnel with medical training, usually [[physicians]], [[physical therapy|physiotherapists]], or [[occupational therapy|occupational therapists]]. Classifiers must also be trained in muscle testing and in the details of wheelchair rugby classification. ==Active countries== [[Image:IWRF Countries.PNG|thumb|left|350px|Countries playing wheelchair rugby]] There are currently more than twenty-four active countries playing wheelchair rugby, divided into three zones: {{col-begin|width=70%}} {{col-3}} *'''Zone 1 &mdash; [[The Americas]]''' **[[Argentina]] **[[Brazil]] **[[Columbia]] **[[Canada]] **[[United States]] {{col-3}} *'''Zone 2 &mdash; [[Europe]]''' **[[Austria]] **[[Belgium]] **[[Czech Republic]] **[[Denmark]] **[[Finland]] **[[France]] **[[Germany]] **[[Great Britain]] **[[Ireland]] **[[Netherlands]] **[[Norway]] **[[Poland]] **[[Sweden]] **[[Switzerland]] {{col-3}} *'''Zone 3 &mdash; [[Asia / Oceania]]''' **[[Australia]] **[[China]] **[[Japan]] **[[New Zealand]] **[[South Africa]] **[[South Korea]] {{col-end}} ==International competitions== [[Image:Wheelchair rugby game 1.jpg|thumb|250 px|right|World Wheelchair Rugby Championships 2002, Gothenburg Sweden]] The major international competitions in wheelchair rugby are Zone Championships, held in each odd-numbered year; World Championships, held quadrennially in even-numbered years, opposite the [[Paralympic games|Summer Paralympic Games]]; and the Paralympic Games. ===Recent results=== *2007 Oceania Zone Championships &mdash; ''[[Sydney]], Australia'' **1. Australia **2. Canada **3. New Zealand *2007 European Zone Championships &mdash; ''[[Espoo]], Finland'' **1. Great Britain **2. Germany **3. Sweden *2006 World Championships &mdash; ''[[Christchurch]], New Zealand'' [http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/831330] **1. United States **2. New Zealand **3. Canada *2005 European Zone Championships &mdash; ''[[Middelfart]], Denmark'' **1. Great Britain **2. Germany **3. Sweden *2005 Oceania Zone Championships &mdash; ''[[Johannesburg]], South Africa'' **1. New Zealand **2. Australia **3. Japan *2004 Paralympic Games &mdash; ''[[Athens]], [[Greece]]'' **1. New Zealand **2. Canada **3. United States *2002 World Championships &mdash; ''[[Gothenburg]], Sweden'' **1. Canada **2. United States **3. Australia The 2006 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships was held in [[Christchurch]], New Zealand from September 12-16, 2006, of which the final was streamed live on the [http://www.tvnz.co.nz Television New Zealand website]. Wheelchair rugby is also on the program for the [[2008 Summer Paralympics]] in [[Beijing]], [[China]]. <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Murderball poster.jpg|frame|right|''Murderball'']] --> ==Other information== Wheelchair rugby was featured in the [[Academy Awards|Oscar]]-nominated [[2005]] documentary ''[[Murderball (documentary)|Murderball]]''. The character Jason Street in the NBC television show ''[[Friday Night Lights (TV series)|Friday Night Lights]]'', tries out for the United States quad rugby team. Prior to 2002, the United States was undefeated internationally, having won gold at the 1995 and 1998 World Championships, and at the 1996 and 2000 Summer Paralympics. Canadian star 3.5 Garett Hickling, who is shown above in a big hit on the United States' 2.0 Bryan Kirkland, was named the Most Valuable Player at the first three World Championships in the sport's history. No MVP was selected at the most recent World Championships, which were held in [[Christchurch]], [[New Zealand]] in [[2006]]. ==Other forms== A variety of other wheelchair sports have been developed based on the rules of [[rugby union]] or [[rugby league]]. These include: *[[Wheelchair rugby league]] ==Notes== <references/> ==References== *{{Harvard reference|Surname=International Wheelchair Rugby Federation|Given=Technical Commission|Authorlink=|Year=2006|Title=International Rules for the Sport of Wheelchair Rugby|Place=|Publisher=|Pages= |ID=|URL=http://www.iwrf.com/rules.htm|Access-date=}} *{{Harvard reference|Surname=International Wheelchair Rugby Federation|Given=Classification Commission|Authorlink=|Year=1999|Title=International Wheelchair Rugby Classification Manual|Edition=2nd|Place=|Publisher=|Pages= |ID=|URL=http://www.iwrf.com/classification.htm|Access-date=}} *{{Harvard reference|Surname=International Wheelchair Rugby Federation|Given=|Authorlink=|Year=2006|Title=About Wheelchair Rugby|Place=|Publisher=|Pages= |ID=|URL=http://www.iwrf.com/history.htm|Access-date=August, 2006}} *{{Harvard reference|Surname=International Paralympic Committee|Given=|Authorlink=|Year=2006|Title=Wheelchair rugby: About the sport|Place=|Publisher=|Pages= |ID=|URL=http://www.paralympic.org/release/Summer_Sports/Wheelchair_Rugby/About_the_sport|Access-date=August, 2006}} *{{Harvard reference|Surname=Pasadena Texans Wheelchair Rugby|Given=|Authorlink=|Year=2007|Title=Pasadena Texans Wheelchair Rugby|Place=|Publisher=|Pages=|ID=|URL=http://www.texansrugby.org|Access-date=September, 2007}} ==Further reading== * [http://www.iwrf.com International Wheelchair Rugby Federation] * [http://www.wsw.org.uk International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation] * [http://www.paralympic.org/release/Summer_Sports/Wheelchair_Rugby/About_the_sport/ International Paralympic Committee &mdash; Wheelchair rugby] * [http://www.wwrc2006.co.nz 2006 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships] * [http://www.quadrugby.com United States Quad Rugby Association] *{{imdb title|0436613|Murderball}} * [http://www.cwsa.ca/rugbylinks International wheelchair rugby links from the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association] ==External Links== *[http://www.accessibility.com.au/paralympics/wheelchair-rugby Beijing 2008 Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby Information with an Australian slant from accessibility.com.au] - includes nomination criteria for the 2008 Australian Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby squad. [[Category:Wheelchair rugby]] [[Category:Paralympic sports]] [[de:Rollstuhlrugby]] [[fr:Rugby en fauteuil roulant]] [[pl:Rugby na wózkach]] [[sv:Rullstolsrugby]]