Wheelchair basketball at Nottingham Trent: "The only inclusive sport in the university"

WCBB  GB  NTU                                                                                            L'UNION DU SPORT EXCLUSIVE

Friday, 9th of December 2016

Squeaky wheels, communication, speed. When those three components come together in the Lee Westwood Sports Centre, this only means one thing: it's wheelchair basketball time at Clifton Campus. Twice a week, disabled and able-bodied students from the University of Nottingham Trent gather for a moment of fun and sharing. We spoke to Robert Bayliss (social coach), Adedayo Dada (president) and Myles Richardson (treasurer), questioning them about the essence of wheelchair basketball, about the rivalry with the University of Nottingham and why everyone should give this sport a go.

NOTTINGHAM, CLIFTON CAMPUS (England), 9th December 2016. - Two pieces of Trent's Wheelchair Basketball Team puzzle: Myles Richardson (left) and Robert Bayliss (right).    (Photo Jono Abbott/ L'Union du Sport)  

L'UNION DU SPORT  Dayo, Myles, Rob. Nice to have you here for a little chat about wheelchair basketball today. To all of those who don't know wheelchair basketball and Nottingham Trent's Wheelchair Basketball Team yet, what can you tell about the sport itself and about the team?

Rob: Wheelchair basketball is a sport that was made in 1946, to help develop and aid the army people who came back after the war because they had lost or broken their legs. They wanted to get back at it again and that's why the sport was made. For NTU (Nottingham Trent University; Editor's note), the team was created here five years ago. Ever since, we've been solidly developing, getting funding and wheelchairs from BWB (British Wheelchair Basketball; Editor's note), the main organisation for wheelchair basketball in this country. Then, two years ago, we won the University Championships out of sixteen teams and last year, we won the plate cup for 9th position in the whole country.

Dayo: In terms of the team, because we have such a small sports club in the university, we always get an influx of new players each year bringing a new dynamic to the squad. However, as the team changes each year, I like that the atmosphere has stayed the same: friendly, supportive and welcoming. No matter what ability or skill you have within the sport, there will always be someone to support and help you as much as we can. 

"Wheelchair basketball, one of the only sports in which abled and disabled people play together." Would you agree to that quote?

Rob: Absolutely. Particularly at NTU, we pride ourselves to being the only inclusive sport in the university. No matter your background, your disability, or if you are able-bodied: you can play and we won't judge you when you are playing. Everyone has an equal opportunity.

Dayo: As Rob said, we are the only all-inclusive sport available at the university and we pride ourselves in the fact that each person that joins the club always brings something different to make us stronger as a whole. However, there are other sports that both can play such as Inclusive Zone Basketball (IZB), which we offer for local schools and colleges and also run the East Midlands Regional Tournament for IZB. Inclusive Zone Basketball is a sport which combines both running and wheelchair basketball in a 4 versus 4 game: you have 2 running players and 2 wheelchair players. The court gets separated into 3 zones, with the middle zone where the wheelchair users play. It is a really fun and intense game as it enables all the players to participate as the ball must go through each zone before a team can score.

Stronger together: NTU's 2016-2017 Wheelchair Basketball Team.    (Photo unknown/ NTU)

Do you guys think that abled players have an advantage over disabled players when it comes to playing or isn't there any difference because each side sits in a wheelchair?

Myles: I don't think there is. For an able-bodied person, to be in a wheelchair whereas trying to play basketball at the same time is such a strange feeling. It sort of balance itself out. The sport is hard to play, there is a lot to think about. So, if you've already got players in a wheelchair, it makes it slightly easier because they know exactly where they're moving. Also, because it is a well played disability sport, when they start playing, they understand the game more than an able-bodied person. It is quite a level playing field.

Dayo: I wouldn't say able-bodied players have an advantage over disabled players. It's more about getting used to play a sport, especially if it's new. Each person will have some difficulty playing the sport as each disabled person have their own individual strengths and weaknesses, which goes the same for able-bodied players. The only difference I have seen is knowing the limitations of what each player can and cannot do. For me, as an able-bodied player with experience in playing basketball, I found it hard playing in the chair and adjusting my power to shoot. The disabled players usually have an advantage in manoeuvring the chair, but it depends on their classification.

Unlike basketball, contact is allowed in this sport. At which point is a contact between two players considered as a foul?

Rob: It is when the bumper, which is in front of the chair, hits someone who is moving. Not at a hard force, just a little tap. That is considered a foul.

Dayo: In wheelchair basketball, a foul for contact between two players is when two chairs hit each other, either on the footplate of the chair, right at the bottom or if one player charges into another player's right or left wheel. If it's a tiny tap, referees wouldn't always call it. It depends on how strict they are and the level of the competition or game you’re playing. For example, a local school league won’t call a tap, but a national league would. But if it's a massive charge and you can hear the sound really loudly, the referees will call it. Another time when it could be a foul is if someone rolls the chair backwards into the front of another chair. That's a backing foul. Nevertheless, there are also the same rules as running basketball. When someone hits the body of another player whilst they’re shooting, it equals a shooting foul just as in running basketball. 

When it comes to dribbling: what are the different ways to dribble the ball in a wheelchair?

Myles: The rule is that, to not travel, you have to do two pushes then one bounce. You can bounce a ball anywhere as long as you don't push or touch the wheels more than two times before you bounce it. You can bounce it with two hands, one hand, throw it up in the air and let it come back down. You can be as creative as you want, as long as it does touch the floor.

Dayo: As Myles said, the ball must be dribbled after two touches of the wheels, including tapping the chair. However, with you throwing the ball into the air and letting it come back down, some referees will call you out on it if you touch the wheels before the ball actually bounce onto the floor. And in terms of being creative: you can be creative, it just depends on who is around you because, even if you lose control of the ball by accident and it goes out of court, the ball goes to the other player. 

The word that I've heard the most while I've played with you in this team is "communication". How vital is it to be loud on the court?

Rob: As Myles told us, there are many things going on and there are, obviously, players coming at you. You always need to be on a person. If you are on someone, you need to say and shout who you're on, so the person in front of you knows. Then, if two attackers switch, you and your partner need to know the switch and say which player you are marking. I can't tell you how important that is in this sport.

Myles: It is a fast-paced sport. It might not seem like people would move that fast in the chairs but to get them moving, it's quite hard. The more you talk, the less you have to stop and start, the easier it is.

Dayo: Lack of communication causes breakdown within the team, regardless of what role each person plays. For wheelchair basketball, it helps a lot on defence as it lets your team know who you're marking, where the ball is around the court and if a shot has been made. 

Nottingham Trent isn't the only university in town that has a wheelchair basketball team; the University of Nottingham has one too. Is there any rivalry between both unis?

Rob: Massive... (Myles laughs) For me, it's a controversial subject. Even though I am from Trent and I play for Trent, I played for Uni of (University of Nottingham; Editor's note) at last year's University Championships because they didn't have enough players. I like them but I want to beat them, a lot, when I play for Trent.

Dayo: There is a rivalry between the two unis. All throughout the year, during friendly games and competitions such as Varsity (an annual event in which sports teams from NTU and Uni of compete against each other in several disciplines; Editor's note) at the end of the season. However, we keep the rivalry only on court. The rivalry is more prominent in other sports as we have a close relationship with University of Nottingham Wheelchair Basketball Club. Before they got their club started, they would come to our session and train with us. We also helped them with coaching in their first University Championships, which they became 11th in the country, and we still continue this relationships as we go to each other’s training sessions till this day.  

Good! Dayo with the bucket against Uni of.    (Photo Lance Gao/ UoN)

The first-team coach, "T", has just left the team because he's got a new job. What did he bring to the club?

Rob: He brought us a sense of unity. He knew how to get people together and to get the best out of them, which is vital in any sport. Furthermore, his expertise in basketball itself is just second to none. He knew basketball like the back of his hand. The fact he's gone probably will have sentimental effect to our club but we'll push on anyway without him.

Myles: He understands the game very well from playing able-bodied basketball. He sees things that loads of people don't see, which is always handy and he can think on the spot as well. When you are playing a match, he tells you what you are doing wrong and what you got to do to improve it.

Dayo: Tafadzwa (Tee) was able to bring his many years of basketball knowledge to the club as the first-team coach. He knew how to work with the abilities of each player and turn a weakness into a strength. He also played on the team two years ago when we won the Championships and left a huge impression on everyone, so we were very sad to see him go.

Rob, you've passed your BWB Coaching Level 1. Could you tell us more about it and how come did you decide to pass it?

Rob: This is the equivalent to the FA Level 1. For any coaching qualification, it's the first step. As an aspiring coach myself, I thought this was vital because I have my football and tennis Level 1. So, I wanted to broaden my horizons up and get that. I'm kind of diverse in coaching.

In his element: coach Bayliss.    (Photo Danielle Louise Ayo/ NTU)

Dayo, what about you?

Dayo: I completed my Level 2 qualification last summer and it was a big step up from the Level 1. It really helped me develop my skills as a coach in terms of being able to run sessions for any ability. It also improved my creativity in making full drills for the players. Compared to Level 1, it involved a lot more consideration of the varying abilities you would encounter as a coach.

Myles, would you like to pass this too?

Myles: I would do, it's a great coaching course. You can go to it and whilst being trained to be a coach, you can learn more about the game and develop your own skills. Like Rob said, it's just trying to further your understanding of the game, so you can help other people.

Dayo, you play for both Trent's Women Basketball and Wheelchair Basketball Team. First of all, when and why did you decide to join the Wheelchair Basketball Team?

Dayo: I joined wheelchair basketball about three or four years ago now when one of my friends, who was already on the team, invited me to just come and try it out. First, I wasn't sure if the sport was for me but after that one session, I just never left and went every week. Later on, I joined the first-team and years on now, I'm part of the committee and coaching the first-team. It’s an experience I’ll never forget after I graduate. 

Does the fact that you play in a wheelchair improve your skills in abled basketball or vice versa?

Dayo: It does improve my skills for abled basketball. Wheelchair [basketball] requires a lot more power to do your shots. I've been able to transfer all that power part of game from not using my feet to normal basketball. Now, I can aim to make three point shots I couldn't before. In terms of coaching, I've been able to bring all the drills and plays that I sometimes do for women's basketball to wheelchair [basketball]. All the first-team players try to be more intense, they're improving their passing, their communication and they are not depending on one person to shoot all the time. It does have its strengths and weaknesses. 

You are the only female player who made it onto this year's first-team squad. How is it to play in a team overcrowded with men ?

Dayo: It's weird, it’s definitely weird... This is the first year that I've been the only girl. The last few years, it was either two or three girls. I kind of like playing against men, they're way more aggressive when they play. You kind of get used to it. They just treat you like a team member and they don't see gender as a limitation to what your skill is. If they see you're doing something better than they are, they'll ask you for help and vice versa. If they feel they can help you out in any way they'll do the same thing too. And once you get to know them a bit more, they are less awkward with you when they're trying to defend you. At first, they'll be not so intense because they don't want to touch you anywhere inappropriately. But after a few sessions, they're getting to know you and they are just like “ah, it doesn't matter. We're playing a game!”. (chuckles)

NOTTINGHAM, STUDENTS' UNION BUILDING (England), 23rd January 2017. -  Fearless: Adedayo Dada, this season's only feminine player for the first-team.    (Photo NTSU staff member/ L'Union du Sport)

As Rob said, wheelchair basketball is an inclusive sport, where abled and disabled people play together. What do you think about netball, which is an exclusive women's sport?

Dayo: (laughs) It is hard to describe... I think it is mostly because of the way how the sport is portrayed or displayed in the country. You only ever see a woman playing netball on a poster, you never see a man playing netball on a poster. Usually, if a guy's coming to try it out, everybody just looks at him weirdly. If someone wanted to gain more awareness about a sport, they shouldn't just focus it on one gender. Netball, originally, was meant to be the female version of basketball. But if they can do that, why can't there be a male only version? I mean, you can still have a women's league, but also a men's league. If not, you can limit yourself to the amount of talent that is out there and if someone might not be good at one sport, but they might be good at your sport, but they can't play your sport because it's just one gender: then what do you expect them to do? We have that problem with ice hockey, where many women are interested in doing ice hockey in this uni but we only have one ice hockey team and it's all men... I'd say, we just have to change over time, but it depends on how a society wants to develop.

Why don't we just go mixed?

Dayo: In my opinion, each sport should have started up mixed. Then, from there, if, competitive wise, they want to make a men only version, it shouldn't limit each other to still train together. There are a few sports in the uni that do have that sort of thing like dodgeball. They all train together, mixed, but compete separately. That's a positive way of training. The women get used to harder throws from the men and the men get used to the quickness of the women, being able to dodge around their balls all the time. It helps develop skills that you wouldn't be able to develop against your own gender.

In Strasbourg and in France in general, wheelchair basketball didn't really establish itself in universities yet. Which advice could you give to French universities to change this?

Rob: I'm not too sure what the organisation or the group is behind French wheelchair basketball but I would say: try to get in contact with them, ask for a funding, for their advice and they should help. BWB gives us £2,000 a year and they've given us twelve chairs as well, which were much cash in itself.

Myles: Just try and build a case. It's a great sport where anybody can get involved in it and it helps strengthen the community. Build a case together, take it somewhat high up and it will happen.

Dayo: Same with Rob, I’m not completely sure on how the wheelchair basketball community is run in Europe. But you could contact a local team and start from there. Going to their session until you build enough of a base to form a club, fundraise enough money to buy your own chairs and be sufficient on your own, etc. But it takes years to develop, dependent on how involved the uni wants to be. 

Final question. Why should Nottingham Trent's future exchange students from Strasbourg join the team?

Rob: Because, going on from Michael: he brings a lot of character, commitment and he's a pretty decent player. These exchange students probably have those qualities themselves. The game is so fun, even though it's quick-paced. There are many friends you can make, nights out. Literally everything you would want for a competitive team or a social one.

Dayo: They would be able to try a sport that they possibly have only had the chance of seeing during the Paralympics. We welcome everyone and anyone and we would also like to learn about your culture. 

Myles, you have the last word.

Myles: I completely agree with Rob. Everyone should give it a go. I did and I stuck with it. It's a really fun sport. I just tried it once, never tried it before and just carried it on.

Rob: Bob's your uncle.

Cheers for your time guys!

Myles: No worries, thank you Michael!

Rob: Thank you very much!

Dayo: Thank you for interviewing us Michael, I know we will all miss you. 

MICHAEL GHERARDI

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