Summary of Rule Changes For 2008 IWBF Official Rule Book - Valid October 2008

This summary is meant to introduce the main changes to the 2008 IWBF Official Rule Book which are valid immediately.

Main Rule Changes:

Art. 3 Equipment

3.1.5 The maximum height from the floor to the top of the cushion, when a cushion is used, or the top of the seat platform, when a cushion is not used must not exceed:

63 cm for players 1.0-3.0
58 cm for players 3.5-4.5.

Measurements must be taken with the front castor(s) in the forward driving position.

3.1.1 The padding of the horizontal bar located at the back of the backrest of the wheelchair must be of a minimum thickness of 1.5 cm (15mm). It must be sufficiently flexible to allow a maximum indentation of a third of its original thickness and may have a minimum indentation factor of fifty percent (50%). This means that when a force is applied suddenly to the padding, the indentation on the padding cannot exceed 50% of its original thickness. The padding is required to prevent injury to the other players.

Note 1: During a game it is possible to have a problem with the wheelchair that causes the wheelchair to no longer be functional or become unsafe. The referee will stop the game at an appropriate time to allow the team to complete the repair. If the repair can not be completed in 50 seconds or less from the time the game was stopped the player must be substituted.

Note 2: It is possible that a player may fall out of the wheelchair without a foul occurring. The referee should pay careful attention to the need to protect the player when determining the appropriate time to stop the play.

4.3.3 Teams must have a minimum of two sets of shirts and:
The first team named in the programme (home team) shall wear white coloured shirts.
The second team named in the programme (visiting team) shall wear darkcoloured shirts.
However, if the two teams agree, they may interchange the colours of the shirts.

Art. 11 Location of a player and an official

11.1 The location of a player is determined by where his wheelchair is touching the floor.

11.2 The location of an official is determined by where he is touching the floor. When the ball touches an official, it is the same as touching the floor at the official's location. While he is in the air from a jump, he retains the same status he had when he last touched the floor.

Art. 24 Dribbling

24.1.1 A dribble starts when a player, having gained control of a live ball on the playing court:

• Pushes on his large wheels and dribbles the ball simultaneously, or
• Makes one or two pushes on his large wheels while the ball is either resting on his lap (not between his knees), or held in his hand, followed by dribbling the ball. This sequence may be repeated as often as the player wishes, or
• Use both of the above sequences alternately, or
• Throws, taps, rolls, dribbles it on the floor or deliberately throws it against the backboard and touches it again before it touches another player.

Art. 28 8 Seconds

28.1 Definitions

28.1.3 The ball goes into a team's frontcourt when:

• It touches the frontcourt,
• It touches a player who has part of his wheelchair or his hand(s) or an official who has part of his body in contact with the frontcourt.
• During a dribble from backcourt to frontcourt, the dribbler has all wheels of the wheelchair and any anti-tip castor(s), which continuously come into contact with the floor and the ball in contact with the frontcourt.
• the dribbler who has all wheels of the wheelchair and any anti-tip castor(s) touching the front court:
  
  • allows the ball to come to rest in one or both hands
  • places the ball on his lap

Art. 30 Ball returned to the backcourt

30.1 Definition

30.1.2 The ball has been illegally returned to the backcourt when a player of the team in control of the live ball is:

• The last to touch the ball in his frontcourt, after which that player or a team-mate is the first to touch the ball in the backcourt.
• The last to touch the ball in his backcourt, after which the ball touches the frontcourt and then is first touched by that player or team-mate in the backcourt.

This restriction applies to all situations in a team's frontcourt, including throwins. However, it does not apply to a player who establishes new team control as a result of intercepting a pass from his opponents near the centre line, while his hands are off the wheels, and cannot stop his momentum before he returns into the backcourt.

Art. 31 Lifting and Raising the Rear Wheels off the Floor

31.1 Definition - Lifting

31.4.1 Lifting is the act of raising the player’s buttock’s so that both cheeks are no longer in contact with the seating platform of the wheelchair or the cushion where a cushion is used on the wheelchair in order to gain an unfair advantage.

A player shall not lift from the wheelchair to shoot, rebound or pass the ball or attempt to block a shot or a pass from an opponent or attempt to secure a pass from a team-mate.

31.1.2 Penalty
A technical foul shall be charged against the player.

31.5 Definition – Raising the rear wheels off the floor

31.5.1 Generally happens when a player, when firmly fastened to the wheelchair by way of strapping, and both hands are removed from the rear wheels raises both rear wheels at the same time and:

• reaches forward for the ball on the floor
• makes contact with another player either from his own team or the opponent’s team
• raises the wheelchair to shoot, rebound, pass the ball or attempt to block a shot or a pass from an opponent or attempt to secure a pass from a team member
• jumps the wheelchair laterally - e.g. to separate from a block
• is contesting a tap-off at the beginning of the first period.

31.2.2 It is legal to raise both the rear wheels off the floor, when the player is holding one or both rear wheels with one or both hands.

31.2.3 It is either a technical foul or a personal foul or a violation anytime a player who has the ball, or is attempting to play the ball, raises both rear wheels off the floor, while both hands are removed from the rear wheels.

31.3 Penalty

31.3.1 A technical foul shall be charged against the player, who raises both rear wheels off the floor while both hands are removed from the rear wheels, when he:

• attempts to shoot, rebound, pass the ball or attempts to block a shot or a pass from an opponent or attempts to secure a pass from a team-mate.
• is contesting a tap-off at the beginning of the first period
• jumps the wheelchair laterally, (e. g.) to separate from a block

31.3.2 A personal foul shall be charged against the player, who raises both rear wheels off the floor, while both hands are removed from the rear wheels, when he has come into contact with an opponent and in the judgement of the official this contact is a disadvantage for the opponent.

In this case the raising of the rear wheels off the floor which follows the contact is generally a result of the contact and is considered to be secondary and should be ignored.

31.3.3 A violation shall be charged against the player, when the rear wheels are raised off the floor because of the player leaning forward to retrieve a ball from the floor, while both hands are removed from the rear wheels, with or without contact with another player.

31.4 Definition – Tilting
Tilting is an action initiated by a player who, with one or two hands removed from the wheels, lifts one rear wheel with one front castor off the floor while, shooting, defending, receiving or trying to intercept a pass, rebounding or taking part in the tap-off. Tilting is legal.

Art. 36 Unsportsmanlike foul

36.1 Definition

36.1.1 An unsportsmanlike foul is a player contact foul which, in the judgement of the official, is not a legitimate attempt to directly play the ball within the spirit and intent of the rules.

36.1.2 Unsportsmanlike fouls must be interpreted consistently throughout the game.

36.1.3 The official must judge only the action.

36.1.4 To judge whether a foul is unsportsmanlike, the officials should apply the following principles:

• If a player is making no effort to play the ball and contact occurs, it is an unsportsmanlike foul.
• If a player, in an effort to play the ball, causes excessive contact (hard foul), then the contact shall be judged to be unsportsmanlike.
• If a defensive player causes contact with an opponent from behind or laterally in an attempt to stop a fast break and there is no opponent between the offensive player and the opponent’s basket, then the contact shall be judged to be unsportsmanlike.
• If a player commits a foul while making a legitimate effort to play the ball (normal play), it is not an unsportsmanlike foul.

36.2 Penalty

36.2.1 An unsportsmanlike foul shall be charged against the offender.

36.2.2 Free throw(s) shall be awarded to the player who was fouled, followed by:

• A throw-in at the centre line extended, opposite the scorer’s table.
• A tap-off in the centre circle to begin the first period.

The number of free throws shall be as follows:

• If the foul is committed on a player not in the act of shooting: two (2) free throws will be awarded.
• If the foul is committed on a player in the act of shooting: the goal, if made, shall count and, in addition, one (1) free throw will be awarded.
• If the foul is committed on a player in the act of shooting who fails to score: two (2) or three (3) free throws will be awarded.

36.2.3 A player shall be disqualified when he is charged with two (2) unsportsmanlike fouls.

36.2.4 If a player is disqualified under Art. 36.2.3, that unsportsmanlike foul shall be the only foul to be penalized and no additional penalty for the disqualification shall be administered.

Article 37 Disqualifying Foul

37.1 Definition

37.1.3 All equipment covered under Article 3.1 shall be subject to a chair check prior to the start of the tournament, generally during the Classification Practise of each team. Equipment shall be verified to be correct by a Game Commissioner and shall be signed off as agreed to by the team manager or coach. 

To alter a wheelchair not in accordance with the rules, after the chair check has been administered, is considered to be flagrantly unsportsmanlike behaviour. Referees may conduct directed chair checks during a game. Any equipment found to be altered during a directed check made by the referees during a game shall be removed from the game. The player is responsible for his equipment and any modification shall be considered a deliberate act to gain an unfair advantage. The player will be assessed a disqualifying foul.

Art. 38 Technical Foul

38.3 Definition

38.3.1 A technical foul is a player non-contact foul of a behavioural nature including, but not limited to:

• Disregarding warnings by officials.
• Disrespectfully touching the officials, the commissioner if present, the classifier, the table officials or the team bench personnel.
• Disrespectfully communicating with the officials, the commissioner if present, the classifier, the table officials or the opponents.
• Using language or gestures likely to offend or incite the spectators.
• Baiting an opponent or obstructing his vision by waving his hands near his eyes.
• Excessive swinging of elbows.
• Delaying the game by deliberately touching the ball after it passes through the basket or by preventing a throw-in from being taken promptly.
• Falling down to fake a foul.
• Leaving the court for any unauthorized reason.
• Raising out of the wheelchair to gain an unfair advantage.
• Raising both rear wheels off the floor to gain an unfair advantage.
• Taking his feet off the foot rests to gain an unfair advantage.
• Using any part of the lower limb(s) to gain an unfair advantage or to steer the wheelchair.

END OF SUMMARY OF 2008 IWBF RULE CHANGES