Wheelchair basketball is currently hailed as the fastest growing sport for athletes with a disability. The game was initiated in the late 1940’s when basketball players returned from World War II to the U.S.A unable to play able-bodied basketball adapted the rules to enable it to be played in wheelchairs. In 1955, the first international competition of Wheelchair Basketball was played at Stoke Mandeville. The game quickly grew throughout Europe, Asia and Australia thus encouraging the establishment of the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation in 1993, a fully independent world governing body. It is now played in over 80 countries with over 100,00 players at all levels over the globe. As current Paralympic and World Champions, Australia is at the fore front of wheelchair basketball’s development.

The National Wheelchair Basketball League (NWBL) is Australia’s national championship league with six teams from five states competing for the title. The country’s top players, both male and female, compete over eight rounds played in most of the major Australian cities culminating in a finals play off. Now in its 25th season the league has seen some great names on our courts and go on to play for Australia and other International Leagues.

All NWBL games are played on standard sized basketball courts with standard height baskets. The general rules are structured to reflect the able bodies format of the fame but with amendments to allow for the use of wheelchairs. For more information on the rules see “Official Rules”

All players are classified from 1.0 to 4.5 dependant on their functional ability; the higher the classification points the greater functional ability. With a maximum of 14 points allowed on the court at any one time this system encourages fair play and enables wider participation. For further information on classification see “Classification”

The NWBL is a Sports Section of Wheelchair Sports Australia Ltd. It is currently conducted by the NWBL Executive Committee with assistance from Wheelchair Sports Australia (WSA) and Basketball Australia (BA).