Dribbling and point-and-rolls follow different criteria. The NAWBL is clear about rules regarding this. Unlike running basketball, there is no double dribble rule. The player might get a traveling violation if more than two pushes are taken while possessing the ball without dribbling. While possessing the ball, a player is not supposed to touch the hardwood with their feet. This gets counted as a foul. Wheeling the chair and bouncing the ball simultaneously is given a free pass. However, if the ball is picked up and placed on the player’s lap, they are only allowed to push twice before they are obligated to shoot, pass, or dribble.

“The wheelchair is considered part of the player’s body in relation to establishing responsibility for contact on the court in the case of charging, blocking, going out of bounds, and other violations,” the NAWBL states in its rulebook. Moreover, during an in-bounds play, the offensive player is not allowed to enter the key until the ball has been handed to the in-bounds player by the referee. Players on the offensive are not permitted to stay in the key area for more than 3 seconds. They have to ensure that their wheels are always on the go.

What about the other technical fouls that are markedly different from the ones assessed in stand-up basketball? If a player ends up lifting their legs to gain an advantage, a technical foul is given. To avoid any confrontation with the judging panel, it is best if the hooper remains firmly seated in the chair and does not use his/her lower limbs to steer the chair or gain an unfair advantage. In case any player loses balance and falls out of his/her chair, the referee may bring the play to a temporary halt if in his/her opinion the player is at risk of getting hurt, otherwise the action carries on.

This amazing hoop game of scores and fouls, attacks, and counter-attacks with the resounding echo of wheels grating against the hardwood leaves you with the same nail-biting thrill and adrenaline rush as that of stand-up basketball. This Paralympic season brace yourself for some unforgettable on-court action!