Development
London Wheelchair Rugby Club Development
Supported by
The Development of Wheelchair Rugby in London and the South of England is the key, in 2007 LWRC appointed Alan Caron as their Development Manager, His role to develop four hub clubs in the areas of South East England (Stoke Mandeville, Bucks) Kent, Essex and South London over the next 4 years. The four clubs would compete in a regional round robin competition and in the GBWR National League.
WHEELCHAIR RUGBY - GENERAL INFORMATION
Introduction
Wheelchair Rugby is a team sport for male and female quadriplegics. It is a unique sport created by athletes with a disability that combines some elements of Basketball, Handball, and Ice Hockey. The object of the game is to carry the ball across the opposing team's goal line. Two wheels must cross the goal line for a goal to count, and the player must have firm control of the ball when he or she crosses the line.
All Wheelchair Rugby players compete in manual wheelchairs. Players must meet the minimum disability criteria of the sport and must be classifiable under the sport classification rules.
History of Wheelchair Rugby
Wheelchair Rugby was invented in 1977 in Winnipeg, Canada, by a group of quadriplegic Athletes who were looking for an alternative to Wheelchair Basketball. They wanted a sport which would allow players with reduced arm and hand function to participate equally. The sport they created, originally called Murderball, is now known as Wheelchair Rugby. Wheelchair Rugby first appeared outside Canada in 1979 at a demonstration at Southwest State University in Minnesota. The first Canadian National Championship was held the same year. The first team in the United States was formed in 1981, and the first international tournament, bringing together teams from the US and Canada, was held in 1982. Throughout the 1980s, other local and national tournaments took place in various countries. The first international tournament was held in 1989 in Toronto, Canada, with teams from Canada, the USA and Great Britain. This was a breakthrough for developing international competition and co-operation. Wheelchair Rugby first appeared at the World Wheelchair Games in 1990 as an exhibition event.
In 1993, with 15 countries actively participating, the sport was recognised as an official International sport for athletes with a disability and the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation (IWRF) was established as a sport section of the International Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Sports Federation (ISMWSF). Seven countries participated in Wheelchair Rugby at the 1993 Stoke Mandeville World Wheelchair Games.
In 1994, Wheelchair Rugby was officially recognised by the International Paralympic Committee as a Paralympic sport. The first Wheelchair Rugby World Championships were held in Notwil, Switzerland, in 1995, with eight teams competing.
In 1996 Wheelchair Rugby was included as a demonstration sport in the Atlanta Paralympic Games. In 2000, Wheelchair Rugby was included for the first time in the Paralympic Games competition programme as a full medal sport at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. It was also featured at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games, and has been included in the competition program for the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.
Wheelchair Rugby is currently actively played in twenty countries and is under development in at least eight more. The IWRF currently includes three zones: Zone 1 (The Americas), with two active countries; Zone 2 (Europe), with fourteen active countries; and Zone 3 (Oceania), with four active countries. The next Wheelchair Rugby World Championships will be held in Christchurch, New Zealand, in September 2006.
Who can play?
To be eligible to play, individuals must have a disability which affects both the arms and the legs. They must also be physically capable of propelling a manual wheelchair with their arms. Athletes with neurological disabilities must have at least three limbs with limited functions; athletes with non-neurological disabilities must have limited function in all four limbs. The majority of Wheelchair Rugby players have spinal cord injuries which have resulted in full or partial paralysis of the legs and partial paralysis of the arms. Other disability groups who are represented include polio, cerebral palsy, some forms of muscular dystrophy, dysmelia, amputations, and other neurological conditions such as Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Men and women are classified equally and compete on the same teams; there are no separate for men’s and women’s competitions.
What equipment is required?
Athletes compete in manual wheelchairs. The rules of the sport include detailed specifications for the wheelchairs to ensure safety and fairness; in international competition, all wheelchairs must meet these requirements.
To begin to play, any manual wheelchair may be used, although the game is easier when played in a lightweight sports-type wheelchair. Many players begin using wheelchairs adapted from wheelchair basketball.
The game is played with a white ball identical in size and shape to a regulation volleyball. In addition to the ball, four cones, pylons, or other similar markers are required to mark the ends of the goal lines. A game clock is also required; any clock used for basketball, handball, or other similar sports will be sufficient.
What facilities are required?
Wheelchair Rugby is played indoors on a regulation sized basketball court. Hardwood is the preferred playing surface, although other surfaces are acceptable. The playing surface must be accessible to people in wheelchairs. Any facility which can be used for wheelchair basketball will be sufficient for wheelchair rugby.
London Wheelchair Rugby Club Development Unit
London Wheelchair Rugby Club Development Unit has been set up to work with councils, schools, colleges and universities in London and the South East of England to promote the sport of Wheelchair Rugby via Education of disability sport, road shows at sports events and demo’s
If you are interested in booking the Development Unit for demos or educational visits please contact Alan Caron for more information on bookings and prices on 07879861011 or email lwrcdevmanager@aol.com
Becoming a player in Wheelchair Rugby
Wheelchair Rugby is a sport for Tetraplegics or someone with an upper limb disability it is open to all aged groups 16 + and sex, if you can push a wheelchair then you can play.
Every one has a role to play on court this ensured using a classification system based on arm, hands and truck muscle function and strength. Classes range from 0.5 to 3.5 in 0.5 increments, and a team of four must total 8 points or less during play. With such a classification system in operation, the coach or captain can play a variety of different combinations on court. If two 3.5 point players are selected then two 0.5 players must also be played for all four players classes to total 8. Alternatively four 2 point players may be used to balance speed and agility across the team. In the event high and low point team members must work together as a team.
Higher point players generally do most ball handling; lower point players generally do mostly blocking and look to receive on offensive plays. Different opponents require differing combinations on court.
Special list wheelchair rugby chairs are used and tailor built for the specific players and their particular role on court, there are two basic types: an offensive and a defensive chair.
London Wheelchair Rugby Club Development Unit has a number of chairs that interested players may use to establish whether or not they are interested in the sport of “WHEELCHAIR RUGBY”
Andrew’s Story – Wheelchair Rugby
On the 26th April 1997 I broke my neck in a scrum playing for Charlton Park Rugby Club. At the time I was 17 and in my first season of senior rugby. I was always a keen sportsman, regularly participating in swimming, football and cricket as well as rugby throughout my younger years.
Obviously my accident was a life-changing event and the moment I was finally told that “barring a miracle, I would never walk again” will always be the lowest point of my life. That’s the best part about breaking your neck! That although your body may never fully recover, you, and your life most definitely will.
I spent five months rehabilitating at the Spinal Injuries Unit at Stanmore RNOH (easily the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do) during which time I discovered that you could play rugby in a wheelchair. I took part in a taster session whilst still in hospital and was delighted to find that the game shared many of rugby’s physical characteristics and equally importantly, a strong team ethic. I vowed to find the sport as soon as I left hospital.
It was a cold afternoon in January 1998 when I arrived at Battersea Youth Centre for the first time. “London Broncos” as they were then known was my first club. At the time we were the second best team in the country and I found myself training with several members of the GB squad. One session a week grew into two; then throw in a weights session here and there for good measure……and I was on my way.
I was first invited to train with Great Britain in mid 1999 (I still have the letter!) and it was then that I started to realise how far I could go with Wheelchair Rugby. I had always been good at sport but never exceptional so this opportunity was both exciting and daunting. I trained hard, adding fitness sessions to my regime but still, somewhat inevitably failed to make the Sydney Paralympic team. As a friend and I watched the highlights of the opening ceremony and the rugby coverage on TV, seeing friends of ours compete on the highest stage, I made a promise to myself. Next time I would be there!
My first breakthrough came in 2001 when I was selected for the European Championships which were unfortunately cancelled. However, I continued to be part of the top twelve until my first major, the World Championships in Gothenburg in 2002. Since then I have represented GB at every major tournament including the Athens Paralympics and since 2005 I have captained the Great Britain team.
Wheelchair Rugby has taken me all over the world. I’ve played in Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada and Singapore as well as numerous European destinations. I also spent a season playing with the San Diego team in the U.S. I have won two European Championships with GB and three European Club Cups with London. My ambition is to represent GB at London 2012 and win a Gold medal.
Andy Barrow
