Teams

Teams consist of at least four (4) and no more than eight (8) players. Teams must have at least one (1) male and at least one (1) female. There are four (4) players on the court for a team at one time. At least one (1) player on the court for a team must be male and at least one (1) must be female.

Teams must have a name. Teams are to wear BYU – Idaho approved gym shirts. However, the only requirement beyond that is that clothing meet BYU - Idaho Honor Code. Mesh Jerseys will be provided.

Teams must have a captain and the captain must attend the captains meeting on the Wednesday before the first game.

Team names, team players names and the name of the captain must be submitted be noon on the Wednesday prior to the first game.

Rules

The rules for BYU - Idaho Wheelchair Basketball (WCB) come from the National Wheelchair Basketball Association.

Rules specific to BYU - Idaho WCB are as follows:
1. Players cannot use legs for any reason. The legs must remain on the wheelchair at all times. If a player has possession of the ball and his or her feet leave the foot rests on the chair, possession of the ball goes to the opponent. The player is marked with a foul. Referees have the option of refereeing in chairs or on foot.

2. Definitions

a. Play consists of a player dribbling the ball once for every two pushes of the wheelchair.

b. Taking more than 2 pushes in succession constitutes a traveling violation and the ball is awarded to the other team out of bounds.

c. A pivot takes place when a player who is holding the ball turns the chair to the left or the right in a given direction without specific direction.

3. Live and Dead Balls:

a. An official shall toss the ball upward between the “jumpers” in a plane at right angles to the side lines, to a height greater than either of them can reach and so that it will drop between them

b. If the ball touches the floor or lands on either jumper without being tapped by at least one of the jumpers, the official shall toss the ball again.

c. If the ball is on the ground and is “mobbed” by many people and a clear winner is not evident, the ball is awarded to the defensive team out of bounds. This is considered a dead ball.

4. Violations and penalties:

a. Tilting Chair: A team loses possession when a player leans forward in the chair to the extent that the chair tilts and the footrest or the person’s feet touch the floor while gaining, maintaining, shooting, or retrieving the ball. The ball is then awarded to a nearby opponent at the out of bounds spot nearest the violation.

b. Player falling out of the chair directly into the line of play: The officials shall call time immediately. Ball is awarded out of bounds to the team in possession at nearest point of infraction, unless in violation of rule 6a.

c. If a player in control of the ball throws the ball against the chair of an opponent and the ball goes out of bounds, possession goes to the opponent’s team.

d. No more than two defenders can go after an offensive player in possession of the ball.

e. Players can not use chairs as battering rams: Players can swerve in front of other players, but must give them enough room to for the opponent to stop or swerve.

f. Additionally, Players cannot push their teammates chairs around. Each person is responsible on each team for their own wheelchair and are not to be touching anyone else’s. This is considered a foul.

g. A player with seven (7) fouls is removed from the game for the rest of that game, but can play in future games with no penalty.

5. A player shall not have contact with an opponent or an opponent’s chair: The wheelchair is considered a part of the player. A player’s chair cannot be pushed or directed using the handrails on the back of a chair.

6. Teams

a. Teams can consist of up to 8 players. Teams must have at least two (2) boys and two (2) girls per team.

b. At least one (1) boy and one (1) girl must be on the court for a team for that team to be considered able to play.

c. Teams cannot have more than three (3) boys or three (3) girls on the court at one time.

d. Teams are limited to four (4) players on the court at one time.

7. Double Dribble: There is no double-dribble violation in wheelchair basketball so a player may take two pushes, dribble, and then take two pushes as often as he wishes.

8. Four Seconds: A player may remain for no more than four (4) seconds in the opponent’s key. This is one second longer than High School basketball because wheelchairs do no move laterally.

9. Fouls: Any chair-to-chair contact, which in the judgment of the official places someone at an advantage/disadvantage, will be called a foul.

10. Physical Advantage Foul (PAF): Players must stay firmly seated in their chairs at all times. If a player lifts off of his seat to gain an advantage or uses a functional leg to control his chair, a physical advantage foul is called. Similar to a technical foul, when a player commits a PAF, the opposing team is awarded two free throws and possession of the ball. Three PAFs in one game results in an ejection.

11. On an in-bounds play, the offensive player is not allowed to go into the key until the official hands the ball to the in-bounding player.

Comment on the rules:

-When eight (8) players in wheelchairs are moving rapidly in a limited area, some contact is certain to occur. Referee with that in consideration.

Play of Game: WCB at BYU – Idaho is played in two (2) 20-minute periods with a 3-minute break in-between periods. Substitutions can be made at the time of baskets or at time of out of bounds. Each team is given two (two) time out per period.

Referees

Referees are requested to volunteer for games. Three referees are preferred for each game. One (1) referee will run the scoreboard. One or two referees will officiate the game.

Referees are asked to show up five (5) minutes prior to a game. Referees are asked to dress appropriately for refereeing while still being within BYU – Idaho standards.

Ice cream is offered as a reimbursement for referee’s time.

Waivers

Each player is required to sign a BYU-Idaho "Release of Liability" waiver form to play Wheelchair Basketball. This waiver form protects the school if you get hurt during the game play.

Waiver forms are to be filled out at the beginning of EACH game. Failure to do so will disqualify a player. More than three disqualified players disqualifies the team.

What To Bring

Adaptive Services provides the wheelchairs, first aid kits and the playing equipment (jerseys, balls, referees.)

Teams should consider bringing the following: bottle water, gloves, medical tape and a towel.

Who Can Play

Participants are welcome if they fall into one of the following catagories:

Student - on track
Student - off track and married to an on track student
Professor
Staff of BYU -Idaho
Alumni - Former Students with Disabilities