4 replies to this topic

[cathie]

So I started playing basketball a few months ago, but I'm the only quad on my team and we have comps in 2 months. All the other guys on the team are low level paras or AB. I'm having trouble with balance and some ball skills. I have limited hand function and poor sitting balance and struggle if I fall in any direction because the chair is set up for low level paras or AB players. Where do you guys put straps on? I've put the backrest up higher, but can't adjust the dump of the chair. I have trouble dribbling the ball. I also have trouble pushing with 26" wheels which can't be changed out on this chair. Hoping to get a more suitable chair sent up. oh and shooting can be a bit of an issue cos I don't have enough power unless I'm pretty close. Any tips? Basketball is the only sport available to me unless I travel 2 hours so I'm trying to make this work. I'm not going too bad with it but I do struggle with these things.

[fenty]

cathie, on 12 September 2010 - 09:08 AM, said:

So I started playing basketball a few months ago, but I'm the only quad on my team and we have comps in 2 months. All the other guys on the team are low level paras or AB. I'm having trouble with balance and some ball skills. I have limited hand function and poor sitting balance and struggle if I fall in any direction because the chair is set up for low level paras or AB players. Where do you guys put straps on? I've put the backrest up higher, but can't adjust the dump of the chair. I have trouble dribbling the ball. I also have trouble pushing with 26" wheels which can't be changed out on this chair. Hoping to get a more suitable chair sent up. oh and shooting can be a bit of an issue cos I don't have enough power unless I'm pretty close. Any tips? Basketball is the only sport available to me unless I travel 2 hours so I'm trying to make this work. I'm not going too bad with it but I do struggle with these things.

Hi Cathie, I play for the Belfast knights and I'm a T4 para, high enough, but obviously not in the same situation as you. We have a C5 quad playing for us, and in both our cases it takes a reassessment of what we think we need to acheive in the game. I started off thinking that shooting must be what I needed to be good at, getting the ball in the hoop is the aim of the game after all. However, the coach got me to realise that the best contribution I could make was to make sure that the good shooters on our team were free or in good positions to get their shots in. So therefore I now go looking for picks on the opposition and in attack, try to get my chair in a position where the shooters can piggy back off me and into the key.

As for chair skills and balance, get a nice wide neoprene waist belt and a velcro strap across your thighs. 26 inch wheels and a high pointer chair are not going to be easy for you to balance in and push but until you get another chair play around with the seat base, you should be able to loosen the straps to lower the back of the seat base a wee bit giving you a bit more bucket.

After this, practice at home if you can. Practice practice practice. I played rugby to a high standard before my accident but B'ball is still a complex game for me to master. It's a very technical sport but as you get better theres a great sense of achievement that comes when you see your contribution to the team increasing.

Stick at it, you'll get there.

[cathie]

Hi Fenty,
I was quite surprised tonight when the new loaner chair arrived. It seems the guy that runs the program at state level listened to the guys and me when he was told I was a quad.

This chair has a decent amount of bucket in the seat, smaller seat width and still got 26" wheels I think but it made a huge difference during practice. I was able to propel more effectively, shoot, pass and dribble better. I was definitely much more stable in this chair than the other one. Just gotta knock up a waist and thigh belt and tinker with it a bit and all will be good. (it will be "my chair" for a while cos no one else fits in it and they can't use low pointer chairs)

I can practice after school hours to my heart's content across the road with the boys at home if the weather's good and I will be playing at a tournament in November I think the guys said. Who knew the chair could make such a difference!

[jenny407]

cathie,

Of course, no advice from me - just telling you this sounds great. I'm impressed by your energy. Go for it, girl! Good luck with the new chair.

[cathie]

Thanks Jenny, it is a really good source for socialising for me and has also been a great source of local information regarding what's out the SCI wise