Welcome to the official website of the Reading Rockets Wheelchair Basketball Club, where sport, community, and determination come together.
Classification Explained — Wheelchair Basketball
The classification system in wheelchair basketball is designed to group players into categories based on their physical capacity to perform fundamental basketball movements. To be classified, as below, the player must have a lower limb impairment.
Each player has a classification number and on court the combined points, in the British National League, can be between 14.5 and 17 (a female player on court increases the limit).
| 1.0 | Minimal or no trunk movement in any plane; relies heavily on arms for stability; limited ability to push, pivot, or shoot without compensating with upper extremities. |
| 1.5 | Slight upper trunk rotation; partial forward trunk control; no controlled sideways movement; still heavily reliant on arms for stability. |
| 2.0 | Active upper trunk rotation, partial forward trunk control; no sideways trunk control; able to dribble or pass with some stability. |
| 2.5 | Moderate trunk control with some sideways movement; can perform certain basketball skills more effectively than 2.0 class. |
| 3.0 | Complete forward and vertical trunk control; limited sideways trunk rotation; good functional capacity for most basketball actions. |
| 3.5 | Better trunk movement, including some sideways control; can push faster and perform more dynamic plays. |
| 4.0 | Normal trunk forward/vertical control and partial sideways control; usually some lower limb disability affecting balance; significant advantage in mobility and rebounding. |
| 4.5 | Full trunk movement in all directions; able to reach sideways with minimal limitations; often minor lower limb impairments. |
See also Basic Rules for a full breakdown of the game.