Boccia
As a sport, Boccia was originally predominantly played by athletes with cerebral palsy, but has now expanded to include athletes with other disabilities that affect motor skills. All athletes are required to be seated when releasing the ball, and most play from a wheelchair. Athletes can throw, kick or even use a ramp (and a ramp assistant that you get to boss around) to get the ball where you want it to go. Boccia is widely played as an educational and recreational game, particularly in schools. At Paralympic level, Boccia is one of only two sports which do not have an Olympic counterpart with Goalball being the other.
Derived from the Italian word meaning to bowl, Boccia is among the oldest family of sports. Ancient Egypt carvings date the sport back to 5200BC.
There are a number of events happening for athletes to participate in and spectate right here in Tasmania.
For more information email: boccia@paraquadtas.org.au
Frame Running
Anyone can run! Frame Running (formerly RaceRunning) is an innovative sport for people with a physical disability who have impaired balance, who are not able to functionally run, regardless of age.
A Frame Runner trike is a custom built three-wheeled frame where the runner is fully supported by a saddle and leans against a chest support, propelling themselves forward by the feet (one or both), while using the hands and/or arms to steer.
To find out more or to get involved, please contact: Kevin Faulkner – Physical Disability Sports
Email: pdst@paraquadtas.org.au
Phone: 6272 7513
AFL Wheelchair
AFL Wheelchair has been developed to provide all Australian Football enthusiasts with or without a disability with an Aussie rules experience that has strong parallels with the traditional game. Based on AFL rules and played on a basketball court, this wheelchair sport is open to anyone to play! Importantly, AFL Wheelchair is easy to play, and provides an environment whereby participation, enjoyment and safety are a priority. AFL Wheelchair has many applications in the community, particularly in rehabilitation, school and social environments. Fundamentally, AFL Wheelchair enables people of all ages and disability levels to participate in male, female or mixed competitions that fit around their busy lives and provide a social and fitness outlet. AFL Wheelchair is a totally inclusive sport.
Please contact the Sports Development Coordinator to get involved: pdst@paraquadtas.org.au
To find out more, please see: www.sports.org.au/wcaussierules
Wheelchair Basketball
Wheelchair Basketball was one of the foundation sports on the Paralympic Program in Rome in 1960. Today, it is one of the most popular sports for athletes with a disability. It is now played in over 80 countries with over 100,00 players at all levels over the globe. As current Paralympic and World Champions, Australia is at the fore front of wheelchair basketball’s development.
Wheelchair basketball is currently hailed as the fastest growing sport for athletes with a disability. The game was initiated in the late 1940’s when basketball players returned from World War II to the U.S.A unable to play able-bodied basketball adapted the rules to enable it to be played in wheelchairs. In 1955, the first international competition of Wheelchair Basketball was played at Stoke Mandeville. The game quickly grew throughout Europe, Asia and Australia thus encouraging the establishment of the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation in 1993.
To find out more about this great sport, please see: www.sports.org.au/wcbasketball
Wheelchair Rugby
Wheelchair rugby was first contested at the Paralympic Games as a demonstration sport in Atlanta in 1996. It became an official medal-awarding sport at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games and has since become one of the world’s most exciting and popular Para-sports.
Wheelchair rugby is an intense, contact team sport played by males and females in eight-minute quarters. To be eligible to compete, athletes must have a significant impairment that affects their arms and legs.
To find out more or to get involved, please contact: Kevin Faulkner – Physical Disability Sports
Email: pdst@paraquadtas.org.au
Phone: 6272 7513
