Classification
How Does The Athlete Classification System Work?
- It is a functional evaluation (not medical) that considers skill and ability
- Specific skills are performed and athletes are assessed
- Pushing, dribbling, passing, shooting, rebounding, reaction to contact
- Lower point athletes > limitations in their functional skills
- High point athletes < fewer limitations
- 8 Classifications: 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5
Combined points for 5 athletes on court at any one time in international competition cannot exceed 14 points. In the WNWBL the combined points for the 5 athletes on court at any one time cannot exceed 15 points (with a limit of two 4.5 players on the court at any one time, and with teams allowed to play 16 points in WNWBL if they have one or more juniors and/or rookies on the floor).
International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) Rules that apply to assessing athletes:
A player must have a minimal disability to be eligible to play and the criteria includes:
Unable to run, pivot or jump at a speed and with the control, safety stability and endurance of an able-bodied player or has a permanent physical disability in the lower limb/s which can be verified by medical and paramedical investigations (X Ray / CT / MRI)
1 Point Player:
Little or no controlled trunk movement. Balance forward and sideways direction restricted. If unbalanced rely on their arms to return upright.
- Sarah Vinci
- Jocelyn Neumueller (1.0)
- Mary Friday (1.5)
- Anthea Castelli
- Stephanie van Leeuwen
- Ashlea Pellow
- Jessica Pellow (1.5)
- Katherine Reed
- Ella Sabljak
- Gemma Buchholz
- Melissa Collins-Ferrett
- Clare Nott
- Tahlia Hagart
- Hannah Dodd
2 Point Player:
Partially controlled trunk movement forward but no controlled sideways movement. Has upper trunk rotation but poor lower trunk rotation.
- Natalie Alexander (2.5)
- Patricia Luff (2.5)
- Zeena Suavaga (2.5)
- Maryanne Latu (2.5)
- Kylie Gauci
- Louise Sauvage
- Jessica Horvath
- Melanie Hall (2.5)
- Dianne Cowen (2.5)
- Georgia Inglis (2.5)
- Anika Coppin Foley (2.5)
3 Point Player:
Good trunk movement forward to the floor and up again without arm support. Good trunk rotation but no controlled sideways movement.
- Sarah Stewart
- Katie Hill
- Leanne Del Toso (3.5)
- Lynne Panayiotis
- Shelley Chaplin (3.5)
- Bree Mellberg
- Jasmine Clarke
4 Point Player:
Normal trunk movement, but usually due to limitations in one lower limb. They have difficulty with controlled sideways movement to one side.
- Amber Merritt (4.5)
- Chihiro Kitada (4.5)
- Jonelle Morley (4.5)
- Anneka Bodt
- Tracey Carruthers (4.5)
- Annabelle Lindsay (4.5)
- Kim Hughes
- Liesl Tesch
- Jessica Cronje
- Georgia Munro-Cook (4.5)
- Bridie Kean
- Cobie Crispin
- Jamie Villalon (4.5)
- Teisha Shadwell (4.5)
- Kylie Prestwick (4.5)
- Georgia Bishop-Cash
- Kaia Scholl
- Ashley Wardman (4.5)
- Alison Mosely (4.5)
- Lily Poulter (4.5)
- Deanna Smith (4.5)
- Amy Ralph
- Kathleen O'Kelly-Kennedy
- Taylah Parry
Why “half points’? Classifiers may decide, should athletes exhibit characteristics of two classes, a half point is warranted, creating 1.5 , 2.5, 3.5.
Able-Bodied 4.5 player (WNWBL)
In the WNWBL, able-bodied women play as 4.5 point players.