March Madness: Wheelchair Basketball Tournament

As we approach the season basketball fanatics look forward to year after year, we want to spotlight the wheelchair players who are getting in on the action too.  The top intercollegiate division wheelchair teams faced off this weekend in the national championship at the University of Texas at Arlington. Teams from across the U.S. and other countries competed in the tournament, which brought over 400 visitors to the campus. For the first time, the National Wheelchair Basketball Association had a college women’s division as well.

“I think something people find when they come watch the games is that these are some of the finest athletes in the world and that you appreciate how strong they are, how skilled they are, and you start to forget about the chair,” said Brent Hardin, director of the wheelchair program at the University of Alabama and coach of the women’s team.

Besides the fact that fouls are called a little differently, wheelchair basketball is very similar to regular basketball. For instance, between dribbles, passes, and shots, players can only give their wheels two spins to avoid traveling. The wheelchair is considered part of the body and it acts as more of an equalizer because the players don’t have height advantages.

This kind of healthy competition is great for boosting morale and giving the disabled community something unique of their own to cheer about. Van Products is a passionate supporter of wheelchair athletics and is excited to see the growth nationwide.