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Basketball
Wheelchair basketball is an inclusive sport that essentially means anyone can play irrespective of age, ability, gender etc. You don’t need to be a wheelchair user to get involved in wheelchair basketball and, in addition, people who are non-disabled are also welcome to play and compete within the UK – making it a great sport to play alongside friends and family. No specialised equipment is needed to get started; your local club will be more than to happy provide you with a sports chair and advice.
There are currently 17,000 people playing the sport in the UK, 200+ teams, and a potential participation growth of up to 70,000.
It is a sport of skill and physicality on the court and provides competitors with the tools to become more resilient and independent in their everyday lives.
British Wheelchair Basketball (BWB) are the National Governing Body for the sport in the UK, catering for players of all levels – from grassroots to Paralympic medallists – and housing almost 200 teams throughout England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
At elite level, the Great Britain men’s senior team has won eight Paralympic medals, has been European Champions three times in a row and brought home the World Championship title in 2018. The GB Women are the most successful female squad in the sports history holding the 2018 World Championship Silver and six consecutive European Bronze Medals.
Domestically British Wheelchair Basketball is home to a thriving league network with our National League, Women’s League and Lord’s Taverners Junior League games regularly streamed via BBC Sport Online.
Britain has one of the largest women’s leagues in the world and has experienced a 50% increase in university participation in the past few years.
From 2022 Great Britain will be home to the world’s first women’s wheelchair basketball league and the first professional para-sport league in the UK. The British Wheelchair Basketball Women’s Premier League will run from January to May 2022, with franchises based at four universities: Cardiff Metropolitan University, Loughborough University, University of East London and University of Worcester. They will also act as elite bases for top male and female players.
Amy Conroy (ParalympicsGB – Rio 2016)
BRITISH WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL’S INSPIRE A GENERATION PROGRAMME’S PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO DEVELOP NEW FUN AND RECREATIONAL LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO ENGAGE WITH WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL, ENSURING INCREASED LEVELS OF PARTICIPATION AND TO SUSTAIN SPORT, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE IN THE LONGER-TERM.
The initiative is vital in helping support disabled participants find or return to physical activity, many of whom have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and WheelPower are delighted to be partnering with British Wheelchair Basketball on the delivery of this exciting programme. Sign up for a 6 week course today and discover what this fantastic sport has to offer.
The Inspire A Generation programme isn’t just for the players, you can also get involved by becoming a Local Activator and support the growth of the sport in your area.
“It is our ambition to ensure disabled people have opportunities to play sport and lead healthy active lives.Wheelchair basketball is accessible to all, regardless of age or ability and we are delighted to be working with British Wheelchair Basketball on the delivery of the Inspire a Generation programme. It’s been a very challenging year for disabled people but we know that playing sport can enrich lives and we look forward to supporting this exciting programme and linking it to our work with newly paralysed men and women and young disabled people.” – Martin McElhatton, Chief Executive at WheelPower.
As well as offering junior, mixed, and women’s leagues, BWB also provides the opportunity to earn qualifications in coaching, officiating, and classifying. You can quickly find your local club by entering your postcode into the Club Finder on the BWB website.
For more information or any queries, please visit the BWB website, check out their Facebook page or contact the BWB Office on 01509 279900 / office@britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk
Wheelchair Basketball at the WheelPower Inter Spinal Unit Games
If you are currently not active, have a look at how you can start:
View all wheelchair sports
