| Quad Rugby is a sport with roots going back to wheelchair basketball and ice hockey. It was developed by three Canadians from Winnipeg, Manitoba as a quadriplegic equivalent to wheelchair basketball. The sport was originally called Murderball due to the aggressive nature of the game, and a movie of the same name was even filmed about the sport. Quad Rugby is the fastest growing wheelchair sport in the world today.
Quad Rugby was introduced in the United States in 1981 by Brad Mikkelsen. With the aid of the University of North Dakota's Disabled Student Service's, Mikkelsen formed the first team, the Wallbangers, and changed the game's name from Murderball to Quad Rugby.
According to the US Quad Rugby Association, Quad Rugby is a simple game with complex strategies for playing both offense and defense. It is played with a volleyball on a basketball-size court with goal lines marked by cones and a lined-off “key” area. The object of the game is to score a goal (1 point) by crossing the goal line with possession of the ball while the opposing team is defending that goal. The team with the most points when time runs out wins.
Quad Rugby is a full contact sport, but no personal contact is allowed. Slapping, hitting, punching, gouging out eyes, biting off ears, etc. is not allowed and penalties are enforced, usually requiring time in the penalty box.
Quad Rugby players may have various disabilities that preclude their play in able-bodied sport competition. All Quad Rugby players must have a combination of upper and lower extremity impairment to be considered as eligible to participate. Most quad rugby players have sustained cervical level spinal injuries and have some type of quadriplegia as a result.
Players are given a classification number from one of seven classifications ranging from 0.5 - 3.5. The 0.5 player has the greatest impairment and is comparable to a C5 quadriplegic. Of those eligible to participate, the 3.5 player has the least impairment and is similar to a C7-8 incomplete quadriplegic. Both male and females are encouraged to play, and because of the classification process, gender advantages don't exist.
Several leading medical companies, including UroMed, Coloplast, Hollister, Astra Tech and Eagle Sportschairs, often sponsor Quad Rugby events in the United States to help defray the cost of participation for players and coaches. For sponsorship information, please contact each company individually.
For more information on Quad Rugby, please contact the US Quad Rugby Association.
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