Welcome to Wheelchair Basketball

Wheelchair basketball was originally played only by men with spinal cord injuries. Today, both men and women, with a variety of disabilities, compete in the sport. Many of the same rules from able bodied basketball apply in the wheelchair game. The plays and strategies are similar. In addition there are special rules in place to adapt to disability. The National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) governs all aspects of the game in the United States.

BlazeSports Wheelchair Basketball Program

Practice and compete as a member of the Georgia Blazers Wheelchair Basketball Team. Participants receive instruction from a qualified coach, become knowledgeable in the basic rules of the game, develop fundamental skills, and learn offensive and defensive strategies.  Additionally, players learn the values of teamwork and leadership skills, gain confidence, meet friends and are encouraged to strive for academic success.

Who: Youth 6-18 who have a physical disability including: spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, amputation and muscular dystrophy.

Please note, you do not have to be a full time wheelchair user to play wheelchair basketball. 

When: Saturdays (September 2012—April 2013)               

Varsity: Ages 14-18  10am—12pm

Prep: Ages 6-13  12pm—2pm

Location: The Shepherd Center, 2020 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

Cost: $25 monthly

Equipment loan: BlazeSports offers a free equipment lending program which includes basketball wheelchairs.

2012/ 2013 Competitions:

The Georgia Blazers prep and varsity teams compete in 4 annual regional tournaments and also the National Wheelchair Basketball Championships.  The dates for these events are as follows:

November 3^rd /4^th 2012                 North Carolina Winter Classic                                    Charlotte, NC

January  12^th 2013                        Lakeshore Pioneer Classic                                           Lakeshore, AL

February 2^nd /3^rd 2013                     Lakeshore Regional Basketball Tournament          Lakeshore, AL

March 9^th /10^th  2013                     South East Regional Basketball Tournament          Atlanta, GA

April 18^th-21^st 2013                         NWBA National Basketball Championships           Louisville, KY

If you are interested in wheelchair basketball please contact us:

jjones@blazesports.org  or 404-270-2036

Related Links:

International Paralympic Committee

U.S. Paralympics

IWBF Classification

NWBA Classification