Wheelchair Basketball

Basketball played in specialised wheelchairs — same 10 ft hoop, same court, adapted travelling rule.

👥5 per team🌤indoor

What is Wheelchair Basketball?

Wheelchair basketball was invented by American WWII veterans in 1945. Five-a-side teams play on a standard basketball court to the standard 10 ft hoop; the sport uses a modified travelling rule — a player may push their wheelchair no more than twice between dribbles. Team composition uses a player-classification points system. Paralympic since Rome 1960.

Quick facts

Category

Ball Sports

Type

Team sport

Players

5 per team

Where played

indoor

Country of origin

🇺🇸 United States

Estimated origin

1945, veterans' hospitals in California and Massachusetts

Olympic

No

Popularity

major

Sources & provenance

Last verified 2026-08-24.verified