TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Athletes are given a medical exam and classified to ensure fair competition among those with similar degrees of disability.

Quadriplegics are classifies into three classes (IA, IB, IC) and paraplegics into four (II, III, IV, V).  Amputees are classified based on the level of amputation.  Disabilities such as stroke and multiple sclerosis are classified based on the level of impairment.

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AIR GUNS

Limited to 240 shooters.  

Air gun competition will consist of four categories for each gender (Paraplegic, Paraplegic with Assistance, Quadriplegic, and Quadriplegic with Assistance). To determine your appropriate classification, use the general classification you are given and match it with the following: Quadriplegics (IA-IC) and Paraplegics (II-V). If it is necessary for you to use a support stand to hold the rifle, then you must enter the appropriate assisted division. Prone Firing Position: Both elbows resting on shooting table. The chest and/or abdomen may also rest on the table. The angle of the forward supporting arm shall not be less than 30 degrees in relation to the table surface. The shooter’s feet must be on the wheelchair footrests when competing. Note: If you are registering for the air gun event for the first time you are required to establish a shooting time with the air gun registration booth at the Expo.

EQUIPMENT:
Be sure your equipment (gun, shooting table, spotting scope, jacket, etc.), meets the requirements of the National Wheel-chair Shooting Federation shooting rules. Unacceptable equipment includes certain types of shooting jackets, scopes attached to the rifle, and sights with magnifying lenses incorporated.

1. The air gun must be a .177 caliber only.  

2. No air guns producing muzzle velocities above 750 fps will be allowed, nor will any multiple-pump gun that increases power with each pump (sport-style rifles).

All competitors must bring their own wheelchair.

If you do not have your own shooting table, banquet style tables will be provided.

NOTE:  EQUIPMENT WILL BE PROVIDED FOR NOVICE SHOOTERS ONLY.  A LIMITED number of air guns will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. You must present a credit card or driver's license to procure equipment.

MEDALS:
Awarded by category, division, and gender.

FOR COMPLETE RULES, CONTACT:
National Wheelchair Shooting Federation
c/o Wheelchair Sports, USA (WSUSA)
3595 Fountain Blvd., Suite L-1
Colorado Springs, CO 80910
(719) 574-1150

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ARCHERY

Limited to 90 archers.  

Competition will be conducted in both Recurve Bow and Compound Bow rounds. Competitive rounds consist of:  

Recurve Bow: Male and female 6 ends at 50 meters, 122 cm (48 inch) face; and 6 ends at 30 meters, 122 cm face. Two categories: Quadriplegic with recurve bow; Paraplegic with recurve bow.  

Compound Bow: Male and female 6 ends at 50 meters, 122 cm (48 inch) face; and 6 ends at 30 meters, 122 cm face. Two categories: Quadriplegic with compound bow; Paraplegic with compound bow. 

EQUIPMENT:
All equipment must conform to WSUSA Archery rules. All competitors must bring their own wheelchair.  

Note: Participants must select EITHER compound bow OR recurve bow rounds—NOT BOTH.  

Equipment will be provided for novice archers only. A limited number of recurve bows and arrows will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. You must present a credit card or driver's license to procure equipment.

MEDALS:
Awarded by category, division, and gender.

FOR COMPLETE RULES, CONTACT:
Wheelchair Sports, USA (WSUSA)
3595 E. Fountain Blvd., Suite L-1
Colorado Springs, CO 80910
(719) 574-1150

BASKETBALL

Limited to 96 players.

Rules are determined by the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) and are essentially the same rules as the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The wheel-chair is considered part of the player’s body in ruling physical contact fouls. Three levels of player classification are used to achieve team balance. At the NVWG, basketball is played using a “draw” system to choose players in each classification to form teams. Classes I, II, and III will be drawn to form eight teams. The tournament will be a single elimination with a third and fourth game playoff and a first and second round playoff. NWBA rules concerning points and play will be followed with the exception of the 35-second shot clock, which will not be used.

All players on each team must be played a minimum of 10 minutes. Team size will be limited to 12 players (8 teams). Team assignments are final.

EQUIPMENT:
Balls will be Provided.  All competitors must bring their own wheelchair.  Wheelchair footrests must have roll bar or be padded to protect the floor.  Rear push handles and push bars must be padded. All chairs must have a leg strap.

MEDALS:
First, second and third place teams will be awarded medals.

FOR COMPLETE RULES, CONTACT:
National Wheelchair Basketball Association
c/o Charlotte Institute of Rehabilitation
1100 Blythe Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28203
(704) 355-1064

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BOWLING

American Wheelchair Bowling Association rules will be followed. Winners will be deter-mined by counting total pins attained in three complete games. Averages and handicaps will not be taken into account.

Handleball and stick bowling will be allowed for quadriplegic bowlers only, and ramp bowling will be allowed for quadriplegic bowlers who use electric wheelchairs including those with MS, TBL, or similiar disabling conditions. (Ramp bowlers will be divided into two categories: hand control and head/mouth control.) All non-quadriplegic bowlers must use a conventional bowling ball.

EQUIPMENT:
All competitors must bring their own wheelchair, including foot rest, brakes, and foot straps.

FOR NOVICE BOWLERS ONLY—

A LIMITED number of ramps, handle-balls, and push sticks will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

MEDALS:
Handleball: Class IA, IB, IC; division, gender

Stick: Class IA, IB, IC; division, gender

Manual: Class, division, gender

Ramp: Open Class (quadriplegics using motorized wheelchairs only), division, gender

Note: Athletes wishing to compete in ramp bowling will be decided on a case-by-case basis (MS, TBI, etc.).

FOR COMPLETE RULES, CONTACT:
American Wheelchair Bowling Association
6264 North Andrews Avenue
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309
(305) 491-2886

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FIELD

For classes IB-V, field events include the javelin, shot-put, and discus. Class IA throws the discus and club. These events are performed from the wheelchair in a stationary, stabilized position. Raising off the chair or throwing chair is a disqualifying position.
The sequence of events and the number of throws will be announced in the coaches meeting in the day of registration.

EQUIPMENT:
All equipment will be provided. No personal throwing implements will be permitted. Competitors may use their personal regulation throwing chair, if desired.The official women’s international javelin is used. The javelin is a minimum length of 220 centimeters (7’ 5/8”) and weighs 600 g (1 lb, 5 1 /4 oz).The discus must weigh no less than one kilogram (2 lb, 3 1/4 oz).  Class IB men and women use the two kilo shot (4 lb, 6 oz).  Class IC men and IC-V women use the three kilo (6 lb, 10 oz), and class II-V men use the four kilo shot (6 lb, 13 oz).

MEDALS:
Awarded by class, division, and gender.

FOR COMPLETE RULES, CONTACT:
Wheelchair Sports, USA (WSUSA)
3595 E. Fountain Blvd., Suite L-1
Colorado Springs, CO 80910
(719) 574-1150

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GOLF

Limited to 45 participants. USGA modified rules of golf will be followed for the Best Ball Scramble event.In this event, each player hits his or her tee shot, and then the team selects the best shot. The players whose shot was not selected will pick up their balls and place them within one club length of the selected best shot. The same rule applies for a ball close to the green. All shots must be played from the fringe. The selected ball may be rolled within a club length of where it came to rest. There are no mulligans (free shots). A person can move a ball laterally or back without gaining an advantage to accommodate safe positioning of the golfer to hit the ball. Participants will be provided the following: Instruction clinic; practice on the driving range and putting green; specialized equipment, including single rider golf carts; specialized clubs, balls, and gloves; and to play a round of golf on a nine-hole executive course.

GOLF is an EXHIBITION EVENT.

It does not count as one of the two minimum or five maximum events allowed per athelete. No official medals will be awarded.

FOR COMPLETE RULES, CONTACT:
U.S. Golf Association
1631 Mesa Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
(719) 471-4810 ext 15

National Amputee Golf Association
11 Walnut Hill Road
Amherst, NH 03031
(800) 633-6242
www.nagolf.com

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Handcycling is a timed event run on an asymmetrical course. It is designed to measure both speed and endurance. The race will measure approximately 10K and will have a 75 minute time limit imposed. There will be three categories: IA-C,II-III, IV-V. There will be no divisions:all competitors will compete at the same time.

EQUIPMENT: No equipment is provided; allCompetitors must provide their own handcycle as well as helmet. Helmets are mandatory. You will not be alowed to compete without one.

MEDALS:

This competition will be a medal event and will count as one of the five allowable events. Medals will be awarded by category and gender.

FOR COMPLETE RULES, CONTACT:
United States Handcycling Federation
P.O. Box 3538
Evergreen, CO 80437
(303) 679-2770 ext. 3

MOTORIZED RALLY

The motorized wheelchair rally is designed for people using motorized wheelchairs.

Each participant will receive a map, a set of instructions, and a check card at the starting point of the rally. The instructions and the map will help guide participants through the course. The course will contain a total of 10 checkpoints, with the start and finish each counted as one checkpoint. One poker card will be given out to each participant at five of the checkpoints. Other items will be given to each participant at the other checkpoints. Any participant arriving at the finish line without each of the items given at the checkpoints will be automatically disqualified. During the course of the rally, 10 questions will be asked. Some of these questions will be trivia and others will be observation questions. The participant’s answers to these questions will be recorded as per the instructions and handed in at the finish line. Each participant will have one escort to help him or her through the course. The escort will be assigned; personal escorts will not be allowed.

Each participant will receive one point for each correct answer and a maximum of 10 points for the poker hand, i.e., Royal Flush = 10 points, Straight Flush = 9 points, etc. There will be no wild cards, and all Royal Flush hands will equal 10 points, all Four of a Kind = 8 points, etc. Ties will be broken by a card draw.

This event will be an open classification because all participants must use a motorized wheelchair, with divisions for hand controls and head/mouth controls. 

This is not a timed event.

EQUIPMENT

NO equipment is provided; all competitors must bring their own wheelchair.

MEDALS

Awarded by division and gender.

FOR COMPLETE RULES, CONTACT:
Tom Brown
National Director, National Veterans Wheelchair Games
VA South Texas Health Care System
7400 Merton Minter Blvd.
San Antonio, Texas 78284
(210) 617-5125

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NINE BALL

Competition will be best two out of three games.
Nine ball is played with nine object (numbered balls and a cue ball. On each shot, the cue ball must first contact the lowest numbered ball on the table, but the balls need not be pocketed in order. After a miss, the incoming player must shoot from the position left by the previous player.

Determining the break: The breaker must strike the one-ball first and either pocket a ball or drive at least four numbered balls to the rail. If the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table, or if the requirements of the opening break are not met, it is a foul and the incoming player has cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. No object ball is not respotted.

Fouls: A player who commits a foul must relinquish his or her turn at the table and no balls pocketed on the foul shot, except the nine-ball, are spotted. The incoming player is awarded cue ball in hand. If a player commits several fouls in one shot, they are counted as only one foul. Three consecutive fouls result in loss of the game. (A warning must be given between the second and third fouls.)

End of game: The game ends at the end of a legal shot that pockets the nine-ball or when a player forfeits the game as a result of a foul.

EQUIPMENT

Pool cue sticks will be provided or participants may use their own.

MEDALS

Awarded by class, division, and gender.

FOR COMPLETE RULES, CONTACT:
National Wheelchair Poolplayers Association
9651 Halekulani Drive
Garden Grove, CA 92841-4911
(714) 734-0023

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POWER CHAIR 220

The power chair 220 race is a medal event. It will be run as a final on a hard surface track with a minimum of six lanes. The front casters constitute the starting and finishing points.

The event will be run immediately after IA, IB, IC track.

There will be two categories: hand control and head/mouth control. Within the two categories, competition is combined with all divisions and genders competing at once.

EQUIPMENT

NO equipment is provided; all competitors must bring their own wheelchair and helmet. Helmets are mandatory. You will not be allowed to compete without one.

MEDALS

Awarded by class, division, and gender.

FOR COMPLETE RULES, CONTACT:
Tom Brown
National Director, National Veterans Wheelchair Games
VA South Texas Health Care System
7400 Merton Minter Blvd.
San Antonio, Texas 78284
(210) 617-5125

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QUAD RUGBY

Limited to 40 competitors. Quad rugby is a unique, competitive sport for quadriplegics. It is played on a basketball court by four-member teams using a volley-ball. The objective is to carry the ball across the opponent’s goal line.

At the NVWG, teams are determined by a “draw” system.

Players are classified according to the USQRA classification system as 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, or 3.5. Each class has a point value, and teams are balanced by limiting the number of points allowed on the court. Teams will be limited to 10 players (4 teams).

The tournament will be round robin play, with first, second, and third place playoff.

EQUIPMENT

All competitors must bring their own wheelchair.

MEDALS

Awarded to first, second, and third place teams.

FOR COMPLETE RULES, CONTACT:
U.S. Quad Rugby Association
1667 Auburn Road
Swedesboro, NJ 08085
(856) 241-2440

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SLALOM

Slalom competition is a test of agility, strength, skill, and speed. The course should run no longer than 100 meters.

The event is held on a gymnasium floor or other smooth surface and is defined by cones around which the athlete must maneuver the chair both forward and backward. In addition, obstacles are added that may include different size ramps, platforms, slopes, hurdles, textured surfaces, low-head clearance, and bridges. Missing any of the gates results in disqualification, and each cone struck adds one second to the actual time.

MOTORIZED SLALOM

Motorized slalom will follow the same rules as above. Athletes will be divided into three categories: hand, head (chin) and mouth controls.

EQUIPMENT

All competitors must bring their own wheelchair. Helmets are mandatory.

MEDALS

Awarded by class, division, and gender.

Medals for motorized slalom are awarded by category: hand control, head (chin) control, and mouth control.

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SOFTBALL

Limited to 90 competitors.

Softball is played on an asphalt surface. Teams are made up by a draw system to choose players in each classification to form teams. Team size will be limited to 15 players (6 teams).

EQUIPMENT

All competitors must bring their own wheelchair. No motorized wheelchairs or scooters will be allowed. Other equipment will be provided.

MEDALS

Awarded to first, second, and third place teams.

SWIMMING

The strokes used in competition are breaststroke, backstroke, freestyle, and butterfly.

Classes IA, IB, and IC swim 25 yards (or meters depending on the pool); Classes II and III swim 50 yards; and Classes IV, V, and VI swim 100 yards.

The individual medley for Class IA consists of 25 yards each of the back, breast, and freestyle strokes. The individual medley for Classes IB, IC, II, and III consists of 25 yards each of the butterfly, back, breast, and freestyle, in that order. Classes IV, V, and VI swim 50 yards each of the butterfly, back, breast, and freestyle in that order. All swimming events start in the water.

No body suits allowed.

MEDALS

Awarded by class, division, and gender.

FOR COMPLETE RULES, CONTACT:
Wheelchair Sports, USA (WSUSA)
1668 320th Way
Earlham, IA 50072
(515) 833-2450

TABLE TENNIS

Table tennis is open to all competitors. Class IA, IB, and IC are permitted to secure the paddle to their hand by tape or a brace. All competition is governed by United States Table Tennis Association rules with modifications as necessary to accommodate wheelchair movement. A single elimination system is used, which results in the loser of each match being eliminated from the competition and the winner advancing to the next round of play. Competition will be best two out of three.

EQUIPMENT 

Balls and a LIMITED number of paddles will be provided.

MEDALS

Awarded by class, division and gender.

FOR RULES, CONTACT:
American Wheelchair Table Tennis Association
23 Parker Street
Port Charles, NY 10573
(914) 937-3932

TRACK

Track events are governed by The Athletics Congress of the USA rules. Events are run as finals on a hard-surface track with a minimum of six lanes. The front caster(s) constitute the starting and finishing points. The individual may modify the chair while staying within Wheelchair Sports, USA standards.

For distance of greater than 400 meters, racing chairs are mandatory. A 20-minute time limit will be imposed on the 3000 meter race.

EQUIPMENT
NO equipment is provided; all competitors must bring their own wheelchair and helmet. Helmets are mandatory, you will not be allowed to compete without one.

MEDALS
Awarded by class, division and gender.

FOR RULES, CONTACT:
Wheelchair Sports, USA (WSUSA)
1668 320th Way
Earlham, IA 50072
(515) 833-2450

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TRAP SHOOTING

Again this year, wheelchair athletes will have the opportunity to participate in this growing recreational and competitive sport at the Metro Gun Club shooting facility. The sport of trapshooting is all about fun! In this sport, the competitor uses a shotgun to shoot at clay targets (called "pigeons" or "birds") which are thrown by a machine 16 to 27 yards away from the shooter at speeds up to 45 mph. The trap also moves back and forth, within 22.5 degrees of the center point of the trap. This is done so that the shooter has no idea where the bird will come out of the trap house.

This special event is for exhibition only, no medals awarded.

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WEIGHTLIFTING

Weightlifting competitors are classified strictly by body weight. The bench press is the only form of weightlifting performed. Competitors start with the bar held one inch from the chest and are required to drive the weights up in one continuous motion to a fully extended position.

Athletes will compete in three classes within each weight category.

The Class “Quadriplegic” will consist of athletes classified as Class IA, IB, and IC.

The Class “High Para” will consist of athletes classified as Class II and III.

The Class “Low Para/Amputee” will consist of athletes classified as Class IV and V.

OFFICIAL WEIGHTS BY CATEGORIES ARE:

Weightlifters must weigh in prior to competition to be eligible to lift.

Quadriplegic weightlifters do not need to weigh in.

EQUIPMENT
Quadriplegic weightlifters compete using a Universal system instead of free weights and compete by class.

MEDALS 
Awarded by weight categories I–X, Class (Quadriplegic, High Para, Low Para/Amputee), division and gender.

FOR COMPLETE RULES, CONTACT:
Wheelchair Sports, USA (WSUSA)
1668 320th Way
Earlham, IA 50072
(515) 833-2450

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PROTEST PROCEDURES

If a competitor or coach wishes to protest a specific action related to the National Veterans Wheelchair Games (e.g., classification or event results), these specific procedures MUST be followed:

1. The athlete or coach must pick up a protest form in the data management area or from event officials or venue coordinators.

2. He/she must fill out the protest form completely relating all supporting evidence (pictures, muscle test, etc.).

3. The form must be returned to the data management area to be given to the protest committee.

4. The protest committee will decide if the allegations have merit and refer them to the subject expert.

5. Upon consultation with the subject expert, the athlete or coach will be notified of the protest committee’s decision.

6. The protest committee’s decision will be final.

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WEIGHTLIFTING

POWER CHAIR RELAY

The distance for the power chair relay will be 800 meters. First and second legs will be 200 meters run in assigned lanes. The final leg of 400 meters will be run out of lane(each competitor can go to lane one to finish). There will be three competitors on each team, and they can decide who runs in which leg of the race. There will be two divisions;mouth/chin/head and hand. Each heat will have a 10-minute time limit.

EQUIPMENT

Each competitor must bring his/her own wheelchair. No scooters allowed-only four-wheeled chairs accepted.

Power Chair Relay is an EXHIBITION EVENT.

It does not count as one of the two minimum or five maximum events allowed per athelete. No official medals will be awarded.

FOR COMPLETE RULES, CONTACT:
Thomas R. Brown
National Director, National Veterans Wheelchair Games
VA South Texas Health Care System
7400 Merton Minter Blvd.
San Antonio, Texas 78284
(210) 617-5125