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Basic Rules of Wheelchair Basketball

SIMPLIFIED RULES OF WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL

THE GAME
Each team is striving to throw the ball into the basket of their opponents. The ball is played with the hands only and can be passed, thrown or dribbled in any direction.

THE TEAM
Each team consists of up to twelve players, but only five may be on the court at any one time.

SCORING
A basket scored from the field counts for 2 points, unless attempted from beyond the 3-point line, where it counts for 3 points. A free throw counts for one point.  After a basket has been scored, the ball is thrown in FROM THE END LINE by the opposing team within 5 seconds.

RULES
Dribbling: a dribble is when a player with the ball bounces the ball and pushes the chair simultaneously or, places the ball on his/her lap, takes one or two pushes of the chair, bounces the ball, places the ball back on his/her lap, pushes once or twice, etc.
A player is forbidden to:
• dribble the ball with both hands at the same time;
• allow the ball to rest in one hand while dribbling;
• push the chair more than twice whilst the ball is resting on the lap.
Penalty: possession is given to the opposing team. The ball is thrown into play from the sideline or end line within 5 seconds.

FOULS
1.   Personal Foul:
A personal foul is a foul by a player on an opponent involving contact with his/her person or chair.
Penalty: throw-in from the sideline or end line by the opposition.

2.   Shooting Foul:
A personal foul on an opponent or opponent's chair whilst that opponent was in the act of shooting for basket.
Penalty: 2 free throws (or 3 if outside the 3 point line) awarded to the player fouled if they did not score as they were shooting; if they scored, 1 free throw allowed.

3.    Unsportsmanlike Foul:
This is a personal foul committed by a player who deliberately makes contact with an opponent with the purpose of preventing him/her from playing normally.
Penalty: 2 free throws awarded to the player fouled, unless the player was shooting and scored, whereas only 1 free throw awarded, followed by side-line possession.

4.    5 Fouls by a player:
A player who commits his/her fifth personal foul must leave the game. He/she may be replaced by another player.

FREE THROWS
The shooter takes up a position behind the free throw line (front wheels may be over the line). He/she must take the shot within 5 seconds. Other players (2 attackers, 3 defenders) may take up positions on the key markings around the restricted area. No other player may touch the ball until it touches the ring.

RESTRICTED AREA
A player is forbidden to remain longer than 3 seconds in the opponents restricted area when his/her team has possession of the ball.
Penalty: throw in to opposing team.

5-SECOND RULE
A violation shall be called when a closely guarded player who is holding the ball does not pass, shoot or dribble the ball within 5 seconds.
Penalty: throw-in to opposing team, from the side line at a point adjacent to where the ball is touched by the defender.

BALL RETURNED TO BACK COURT
A player whose team is in control of the ball in the front court may not cause the ball to go into his/her back court
Penalty: throw-in to opposing team, from the side line at a point adjacent to where the ball is touched by the defender.

JUMP BALL
A jump ball starts only the first period.   The referee throws the ball vertically upwards between 2 opponents at the centre circle. The ball shall be tapped (not caught) by one or both of the opponents, only after it reaches its highest point. All other players shall remain outside the circle until the ball has been touched.  All other quarters are started by the team in accordance with the alternating possession rule below.  At the start of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarters, the team next due possession in accordance with the alternating procedure, inbounds the ball from the centre line extended, opposite the scorers table.

ALTERNATING POSSESSION
A jump ball starts only the beginning of the game, as explained in the paragraph above. The team gaining possession from the jump-ball will be deemed to have first possession. The table official has a directional arrow on the table which they will point in direction of play of team not gaining first possession. In the event of a jump-ball situation the referee, after blowing the whistle, will check the directional arrow on the table and award possession in favour of the team indicated. After the ball is in play again, the table official will reverse the direction of the arrow, in readiness for any further jump-ball incident.

OUT OF BOUNDS
The ball is out of bounds when:
• it touches the floor or any person or object situated outside the court or ON the boundary lines;
• it touches a player who is himself outside the court or on the boundary lines;
• it touches the support or the back of the backboard.
• To cause the ball to go out of bounds is a violation and is penalised by awarding the ball to the opponents for a throw-in.