Wheelchair Basketball at PGS

by Rachel Fry

The usual brightly coloured chairs and tables of the Middle School Common Room had been put to the side. In the centre of the common room were 14 wheelchairs, ready to be used by Year 7 Barton tutor group to play the first ever game of wheelchair basketball to take place on PGS ground.

The tutor group had decided to use the money they received for earning the most recognitions in the Autumn term, to play wheelchair basketball. In the tutor group, we are lucky enough to have Hannah Watts who has been playing wheelchair basketball for one and a half years. She plays with the Hampshire Hornets, who came sixth in the UK in the regional finals 2017. They very kindly allowed us to borrow their chairs for this event.

The tutor group arrived excitedly into the Middle School Common Room, and everyone was eager to get into a chair and start playing. However, we needed some instruction before getting into the fun; thankfully Mr Watts was on hand to tell the group how the chairs worked and what the rules of the game were. Once the explanations were over, they were ready to go out to the Quad and play. They all knew it would be a new way of playing sport, but it was surprising as to how difficult it was to switch your hands between driving the wheelchair, and being ready to catch the ball. The pupils quickly managed to adapt to this change (it took the teachers a bit longer). It quickly became apparent that this was a game of tactics rather than speed.

Mr Priory came out to have a look at the event and was quickly persuaded to have a go. He received some quick instructions by the tutor group as to what to do and joined in. He got to grips with the wheelchair fairly quickly, and soon became a valuable member of the team - even assisting with a goal. Hannah Watts reports that he has some potential as a player. Mr Hawkswell quickly picked up what to do when it was his turn to play; he showed no fear in the chair. He thinks he may have found a new sport to get involved in when he decides to stop running. As for Ms Fry, she eventually learnt to go in a straight line, but sadly not in the same direction as the ball.

Wheelchair basketball was an amazing experience for the whole tutor group as it was fun and challenging (like school should be!) The pupil’s comments on the experience included:

It was more difficult than I thought

It was hard to control the wheelchair

It was hard to chase the ball

It was hard not to use your feet

I was surprised that the chairs did not have brakes

It was fun to go fast

It was a nice experience

It was not about being the fastest but about tactics

The tutor group are very happy to donate the rest of their recognition money to Hampshire Hornets, as a thank you for allowing them to use their chairs. They would also like to say a massive thank you to Mr Watts for refereeing the game and for bringing all the wheelchairs over. As a member of the tutor group said: Wheelchair Basketball is “An unexplored sport. That’s what other people would say, people who have never experienced it.

“One spin

One Catch

One throw

Can change the game.”

Playing Wheelchair basketball was a game changer for Year 7 Barton.