What is classification?
Wheelchair basketball has a classification system that is essential for ensuring fair, competitive, and inclusive play. The system evaluates each athlete’s functional abilities and assigns them a sporting classification that reflects how their impairment effects their performance in the sport.
A team on court must stay within a determined number of points depending on the competition, preventing a team from fielding only minimally impaired players. Players are classified on a scale from 1.0 to 4.5 points. The higher level of impairment you have, the lower classification points you will receive.
The classification system is used across our sport in all leagues and competitions, with the conditions varying depending on the level and nature of competition.
Coaches must field a team on court whose collective classification points are at or lower than the maximum classification points allowed for that specific level of competition. As an example, the Premier Division in the National League has a ceiling of 14.5 points, with the exception of when junior and / or female players are on court, who respectively add 0.5 to the total to a limit of 17.0 points. The full rules of competition can be found here.
How does someone get classified?
The eligibility process to play in BWB domestic leagues can take up to six weeks to receive a decision.
Step 1: An athlete / parent or guardian can use our GameDay form to start the eligibility process
Step 2: After following the link, the completion of eligibility form and the £15 payment made, the athlete will then receive a link from BWB to start an online eligibility application.
Step 3: An athlete / parent or guardian completes the online application and then saves and submits it along with the relevant supporting documents needed to support their application.
Step 4: The club classifier attached to your club will then be required to submit an observation report of yourself to give you a proposed sport classification. The proposed sport classification will be used if deemed eligible. Where a club hasn’t got a club classifier or a classifier to observe them, an athlete will be given a sports classification of 4.5 if deemed eligible and will use this sport classification until observed by a classifier.
Step 5: The application at this stage will then be assigned to two BWB Eligibility panel members to review the application. The following will then happen:
- Further information required
This will be where both panel members feel that more medical information is needed to decide an outcome. The panel will communicate what information is required and then this will be communicated with the athlete via email. - Impairment meets eligibility criteria
This is where the panel have reviewed the information submitted and determined that it meets the minimum criteria for eligibility. - Impairment does not meet eligibility criteria
The panel after reviewing the information feel that the athlete has not met the minimal criteria and thus deemed them not eligible to have a sports classification other than a 5.0.
In order to play internationally, including IWBF Europe’s EuroCup competition, must go through the IWBF Eligibility and Classification process in order to play at this level. Athletes are able to use their IWBF classification within our domestic leagues.
What is the role of a classifier?
A wheelchair basketball classifier plays a crucial role in ensuring fair and equitable competition by evaluating athletes’ physical abilities and assigning them to an appropriate sport class.
Classifiers evaluate how an athlete’s physical impairment affects their basketball-specific movements, such as:
- Trunk control (stability and balance)
- Limb movement and strength
- Ability to handle the ball
- Mobility and stability in the wheelchair
If you are interested in becoming a classifier please get in touch at [email protected]
Get involved
Wheelchair basketball is the biggest Paralympic team sport in the UK. It is a fast-paced and fast-growing sport that allows disabled and non-disabled people to compete together in its domestic leagues and competition.
British Wheelchair Basketball is the national governing body for wheelchair basketball in the United Kingdom. We are a registered charity and representative body of wheelchair basketball in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
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