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Play Wheelchair Rugby today!
The wheelchair rugby community is often referred to as the “wheelchair rugby family.” Whether you’re a newly injured athlete looking to get involved for the first time, a former athlete looking to rekindle your career, or a potential coach, support staff, medical staff, referee, classifier or volunteer, there’s a place for you in Canada’s wheelchair rugby community.
Become An Athlete
Wheelchair rugby is the most exciting sport on four wheels and we’re always looking for new participants. Luckily, getting involved is easy. Follow the steps below to see how you can begin your murderball career.
STEP 1: AM I ELIGIBLE?
Wheelchair rugby is a co-ed sport that welcomes athletes of all ages and abilities. Like other wheelchair sports, however, it has a classification system that ensures that it remains a sport for athletes with disabilities that affect both the upper and lower body. Athletes are evaluated by a panel of physiotherapists and doctors and given a point value that corresponds to their functional ability. In wheelchair rugby, the point system moves in 0.5 increments from 0.5 (for most disabled) to 3.5 (for least disabled). A team cannot play more than four athletes totaling 8 points on the floor at any one time.
Learn more about classification.
To find out if you’re eligible, take this quick quiz.
- Are you over the age of 13? (Unfortunately, because of the hard-hitting nature of the sport, wheelchair rugby does not currently have a junior program)
- Do you have a spinal cord injury that affects at least three limbs?
- If not, do you have another condition (cerebral palsy, polio, muscular dystrophy, amputation, etc…) that affects all four limbs?
If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may be eligible for wheelchair rugby.
STEP 2: MAKE CONTACT!
There are three ways to start your wheelchair rugby career:
- Attend a “Have a Go Day:” The Bridging the Gap program offers a series of ‘Have a Go’ days where you can try a variety of wheelchair sports in a fun, supportive environment. Learn more about Bridging the Gap.
- Contact a local club. Check out our Find a Club tool to locate a wheelchair rugby club near you. Programs often have spare rugby chairs and other equipment that they can lend you to ensure that you have a positive sports experience.
- If these two methods are unsuccessful, please contact info@wheelchairrugby.ca and ask to be connected to the appropriate contact person.
