Do you know about XIII wheelchair rugby? Discover the specific things regarding wheelchair rugby that differ from more traditional rugby and find out about the rules and necessary equipment to play.
XIII wheelchair rugby: an inclusive sport par excellence
XIII wheelchair rugby is a recent sport practice created in France in 1999. It is an alternative way to play XIII rugby which promotes values seen in rugby all while putting the emphasis on inclusivity.
Indeed, people from different age groups and backgrounds can play XIII wheelchair rugby whether they are able-bodied or not.
XIII wheelchair rugby: what to use?
Sport wheelchair
In championships, every player plays on a wheelchair adapted to them. For a more leisurely practice however, other sport wheelchairs can be used.
For example, the Freemovin’ is a multisport wheelchair which has the advantage to be 6 times cheaper than a standard wheelchair. Indeed, it is made from a solid plastic material, similar to what is used to make canoes. Even with its low price, it has all the mandatory safety elements for the practice of adapted sport. On that note, it is certified by the CERAH, the autonomy and disability resource centre.
Sportswear
Each of the player’s jersey comes with a Velcro band on each sleeve. They are used to tape a laminated tag. This tag is used to replace traditional XIII rugby physical tackles. Instead of tackling the opponent, defenders try to take tags off the ball holder to stop him.
When a tag is taken off, it is the equivalent to a tackle and the game is stopped.
XIII wheelchair rugby: what are the rules?
XIII wheelchair rugby is played on a 40 by 20 m handball pitch that has 2.5 m goal line. Two teams compete for 80 minutes (2 periods of 40 minutes).
Main rules of XIII wheelchair rugby
Kick off takes place at the centre of the field. The ball is on a tee and is punched.
To maintain fairness and integrity in the game, the game is always played according to the rules.
Thus, no one is allowed to take the ball if a player already holds it. Moreover, forward passes are forbidden.
Each of the teams is allowed to do 5 play-the-ball after each tackle. If they try to do a sixth one, the ball goes to the opposing team.
When the ball goes out, the team not responsible for it gets a line-out. The player stands 4 meters away from the edge of the pitch opposite to the ball. After a try, a throw-in is done at the centre of the field by the team who just conceded a try. When there is a foul or a forward pass, the team not responsible for it does the throw-in where the foul took place.
Counting the points in XIII wheelchair rugby
The team that has the most points at the end of the game wins. Let’s see how point scoring works.
In order to score a try, the player has to put the ball on or beyond the goal line. This awards 4 points to the player’s team. They can also then try a conversion by hitting the ball with the fist to throw it in-between the poles above the crossbar. A penalty is worth 2 points.
Finally, you must know that the player can also try a drop at any time. They generally do it when the ball bounces off the ground. They score an additional point doing so.
XIII wheelchair rugby is a dynamic and passionate sport. The rules are distinct from quad rugby. The use of tags to replace tackling and the specific throw-ins make this sport unique. Aside from the action on the pitch, XIII wheelchair rugby also advocates inclusion, fair-play, and team spirit. If you need a sport wheelchair, why not renting one or several Freemoovin’? Go here to find out about what we sell!
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