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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Wheelchair basketball, WTF?

104 replies

BelleClapper · 13/07/2021 15:19

DS(9) had sports day today. He’s just come running out of school asking if we can buy a wheelchair because he’s enjoyed playing wheelchair basketball this afternoon.

I’m a bit at a loss. They 100% do not have a wheelchair user in their class. How is this an ok thing? All he’s going on about is how much fun it is and that he wants to get a wheelchair.

Am I missing something? What’s the benefit of this? This just feels like weird disability appropriation for fun. Like LARPing at being disabled.

OP posts:

mummumumumumumumumumum · 13/07/2021 16:08

It is open to everyone. Like a PP said, you are allowed a certain amount of points on the playing area at a time and the various disabilities are given different points. My DP plays for his country and for the Invictus team and despite having 2 wheelchairs cluttering up our house is very capable of stepping out of the wheelchair at the end of a match. They are a very inclusive sport and if you want to have them play then you can find a club in your area.

supersonicsue · 13/07/2021 16:09

My son was in a disabled sports team during his school years. One weekend there was a large tournament involving all the disabled teams from the county. Well aware "disabled" may not be the word now, but it was back then. However, due to sickness my son's team had one player short. The coach asked his twin brother who had gone to watch (and was without limitations), to join the team so the matches could go ahead. Everybody knew and was fine about it, it was either that or withdraw and throw the schedule into chaos.

IamThrough · 13/07/2021 16:10

I'm sure it was just an awareness exercise.

I don't see the problem now that your son thinks wheelchairs are cool?

Able bodied people can play alongside disabled players in many wheelchair sports - like others have said there's a points system.

It is a brutal game though as someone above pointed out. There's a reason it's also called "Murder ball"

Samcro · 13/07/2021 16:10

Come to think about it, why should wheelchair basketball be restricted to those who are physically disabled...?
maybe because its wheelchair basketball.

PennineSpring · 13/07/2021 16:10

YABU. It’s an accessible sport and if your son is that keen I’d be asking for details of the nearest club so he can join.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 13/07/2021 16:11

Sorry, meant to add: at 9 he's a bit young, it's usually a Uni based sport

But there are quite a few clubs and organisations for wheelchair based activities and sports, many very local. You never know, he might be a future Olympian....

LopsidedWombat · 13/07/2021 16:11

I use a wheelchair and in my experience children like to have a go in the chair and find it fun. It is great for kids to have first-hand experiences which teach them to not be afraid at the sight of a wheelchair (something I experienced a lot when I was younger which at the time was actually really upsetting). And like others have said, there will always be a need for able bodied people to fill positions in the wheelchair team sports.

FOTTFSOFTFOASM · 13/07/2021 16:12

Missing the point, but I think there should be more awareness-raising in schools of the fact that some people really, really hate team sports and will be heartily glad never to have to look at or hit another ball as long as they live, once they have left school.

Catsrus · 13/07/2021 16:12

my uncle had cerebral palsy and was in a wheelchair all his life - in those days (1950's - 1960's) there was an indoor one - a big old solid thing he moved around himself - and a lighter, outdoor one, that he was pushed in. When he was at his day centre (in the outdoor one) we used to love getting in the indoor wheelchair and wheeling ourselves around, we used to fight over it, it was great fun. It didn't mean we grew up without an understanding of the limits society placed on him because of his disability. It was just fun. Don't overthink it.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 13/07/2021 16:12

@Samcro

Come to think about it, why should wheelchair basketball be restricted to those who are physically disabled...? maybe because its wheelchair basketball.

Many who take part don't want it to be a 'disabled' sport. They prefer it to be 'accessible', which is why there are many regs setting out the ability levels of the teams.

NailsNeedDoing · 13/07/2021 16:14

It’s great that schools are doing this and that your son has developed a view that wheelchairs aren’t awful, scary things that lead people to boring lives.

Streamingbannersofdawn · 13/07/2021 16:14

I expect that this was a project to promote inclusive sport and show that disabled people can have fun and enjoy sport as well.

Someone's clearly organised it I doubt they have that many wheelchairs in the sports cupboard.

I think this is much better than having a talk about it...children learn so much better by experience.

The bonus is that according to posters on this thread he could join a club and play if he wants to. That's great.

Catsrus · 13/07/2021 16:14

cross post @LopsidedWombat - yes, I still remember how much fun it was to use the chair - and it's 50+yrs ago since I did it!

teenmumandsowhat · 13/07/2021 16:16

I was an able bodied player of wheelchair basketball in my teenage years. My yr8 teacher was the coach of the local team and thought it would be a good way for me to make friends/ improve social skills etc. Ironically these days i have a disability that means I wouldn’t be allowed to play!

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 13/07/2021 16:16

It also opens up a sport to people who perhaps don't use a wheelchair but do have other mobility issues meaning they would struggle at traditional clubs.

Even at a professional level not all wheelchair basketball players will necessarily need to use a wheelchair most of the time.

I don’t really see the issue. Seems like the perfect opportunity for children with and without mobility issues to play sport together and normalises wheelchair sports.

moynomore · 13/07/2021 16:16

But he’s just taken from it that wheelchairs are fun and he wants one.

But, what would you prefer he take from it? That being in a wheelchair is a horrible affliction worthy of pity?

GCrebel · 13/07/2021 16:17

Wheelchair basket ball is one of the scariest things I have ever watched. It's proper, gladiatorial fight to the finish stuff amongst men (usually) with no fear.

I can actually see how small children would like it, in a no holds barred sort of way. Obviously it doesn't stand up to more grown up analysis of the reasons for this, but I think it good that they have had a chance to see it.

Tombero · 13/07/2021 16:20

I think this is something you can try at Winchester science museum. I think it’s a good way to raise awareness.

AntiSocialDistancer · 13/07/2021 16:20

My friend plays adult wheelchair basketball and they're happy for able bodied people to play. Helps you to be able to have enough people on each side for a game etc.

It's incredible exercise, my husband played a match with our friend. Energetic, brain switched on, he was very out of breath and worked his upper body tremendously.

Maybe ask about for a children's wheelchair basketball session - they would probably be delighted to see him and may well have a spare chair he could use.

AntiSocialDistancer · 13/07/2021 16:21

@moynomore

But he’s just taken from it that wheelchairs are fun and he wants one.

But, what would you prefer he take from it? That being in a wheelchair is a horrible affliction worthy of pity?

^^ exactly.

FlyingBattie · 13/07/2021 16:21

Sounds like the perfect opportunity to have a chat with him in general about how people with mobility problems can do a lot of things if they are made accessible to them and how nice it is to think about how we can do that

Rockitrosie · 13/07/2021 16:23

My dc’s used to have a little wheelchair they pushed one another around in at playgroup - I thought it was a great idea - made them get used to seeing people with disabilities and they gained an understanding of why certain people need to use one.

I’m sure the school don’t expect you to buy your ds a wheelchair!

MargaretThursday · 13/07/2021 16:25

DD is missing her arm and has done wheelchair basketball a few times at limb events. She absolutely loves it-it's fairly vicious though!

There is a group that you can hire wheelchairs for an event so people can play wheelchair basketball and it's not about "wheelchairs are fun" it's about "here is a sport that is inclusive and fun".

cheerfulpanda · 13/07/2021 16:25

Able-bodied people can play wheelchair basketball.

One of my friends was in a team and always had really good fun. At that grassroots level they worked on points as pp have said - I think they could have up to 3/4 able bodied people in a team?

If he really enjoyed it, maybe there’s an opportunity for him to try it more regularly as a sport? Good for fitness and teamwork.

SionnachRua · 13/07/2021 16:27

It's a great idea.

I teach my class sitting volleyball every year, they have great fun with it and it's a great way to fit in awareness of the Paralympics and accessible sports, too many people think disabled people can't do anything. If I could get my hands on some wheelchairs we'd be playing wheelchair basketball too!

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