Officials

The University of Illinois is proud to announce the release of the first ever DVD series on wheelchair basketball. This DVD series provides over three hours of instruction on three DVDs and features Canadian Men's National Team Head Coach, Mike Frogley. The first DVD focuses on individual skills (pushing, stopping, shooting, etc.), the second focuses on small group skills (picking, sealing, passing, etc.), and the third focuses on team skills (half court offensive and defensive reads, transition, etc.). The concise teaching and special effects in this resource clearly explain the fundamental skills of wheelchair basketball that every player, coach, educator, and administrator must have.

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Officials Rules Exam (IWBF/FIBA)
The following open book exam is to be written annually by anyone wishing to be an active official in the BCWBS and WBC. The 2019-20 WBC Annual Officials Exam is available now through the Canada Basketball Game Plan portal. In order to be considered for post-season assignments, officials must complete and pass the 2019-20 exam by February 2, 2020.

Classification System for Wheelchair Basketball
Participants with various levels of physical ability, including able-bodied participants, compete in wheelchair basketball. Therefore, in order to ensure fair competitive opportunities for all athletes a classification system has evolved that recognizes the functional abilities of athletes and categorizes or assigns a classification to them. This system ensures that players with limited or absent lower limb or trunk movement will have an opportunity to play and that the strategies and skills of competing teams, not the amount of physical movement of their players, will be the factors determining success in competition.

Classifiers observe the player's functions during wheelchair basketball competition and assign the player a classification based on their observations. Athletes are numerically classified from 1.0 to 4.5 points. When a player does not fit clearly into the descriptions of either one class or the next class, they are assigned a half-point, creating classifications of 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5. Additionally, class 4.5 was added to provide a distinctive class for players with minimal disabilities or for those that are able-bodied. The classification point value of the five players competing on the court is totaled, and may not exceed a certain number depending on the league or level of play.

Becoming A Classifier
Classifiers may be experienced players, coaches, sports scientists, physiotherapists and physicians. They must attend a series of seminars and training sessions during basketball competitions to be certified to classify players locally for wheelchair basketball competition. After nomination from a zone or country, an experienced classifier is accepted to begin the international certification process. Following successful completion of the training and examination process, certified classifiers can serve on the classification team at regional qualifying tournaments, World Championship and Paralympic Games competitions. If you are interested in becoming a classifier in BC, please contact BCWBS.

Below please find attached links to BC Wheelchair Basketball Society's policies and codes of conduct related to wheelchair basketball officials.