Adaptive Sports

Adaptive sports and recreational activities come in an extremely wide variety ranging from intense team sports such as wheelchair rugby and sled hockey to skill sports like boccia as well as individual sports like wheelchair tennis. There are sports of every type, played in every season and environment, and adapted to people with any type of disability. We believe there is an adaptive activity out there for you and a place for you to give it a shot. Check out some of our favorite adaptive sports below (with a focus on ones that we’ve seen and photographed personally), search for an organization to participate with on our other resource pages below, and contact us if you need a hand!

Adaptive Sports Resources

Hockey

Sled Hockey

Sled Hockey (AKA Sledge Hockey or Para Ice Hockey) is a 5-on-5 sport with gameplay that nearly mirrors that of its able-bodied counterpart, ice hockey. Athletes sit in a seat (known as a bucket) that slides on the ice on two parallel skates and propel themselves with the ends of two shortened hockey sticks.
Check out our Sled Hockey photo galleries
Link to all registered teams in the US

Volt Hockey

Volt Hockey is a form of hockey played in specialized powerchairs which use a hard plastic piece at the front of a guard to hit a whiffle ball around the court and into a net.
The sport was initially established in Scandinavia but is growing in North America spearheaded by US Volt Hockey Association.

Paraclimbing

Rock Climbing is a sport with an incredibly strong community and the adaptive form, known as paraclimbing, is no different. Programs around the country and world cater to people with physical, mental, and neurological disabilities to help them climb both artificial rock walls indoors and the real thing outdoors.

Power Soccer

Power Soccer (AKA Powerchair Football) is a 4-on-4 form of soccer played on a basketball court by anyone that makes use of a power wheelchair. Players pass and shoot a larger-than-usual ball with a metal guard around the chair, aiming to move past defenders and the goalie. It is a fast-paced sport by any standards and is expanding rapidly around the country and around the world. Power Soccer is the sport that and introduced us to adaptive sports and got Athletes Roll started!
Check out our Power Soccer photo galleries.
Links to all registered teams in the US

Wheelchair Basketball

Wheelchair Basketball is one of the most well known adaptive sports out there. It is played on a standard basketball court with minor rule changes from the able-bodied sport.
There are well established leagues in the US, run by the National Wheelchair Basketball Association, from youth championships to college tournaments to adult leagues, as well as professional leagues developing overseas.

Wheelchair Lacrosse

Wheelchair Lacrosse is an adaptive version of lacrosse played in an indoor hockey rink. It is a contact sport with wheelchairs designed to be able to withstand collisions.
Learn more at Wheelchair Lacrosse USA

Wheelchair Rugby

Wheelchair Rugby (AKA Quad Rugby, Murderball) is a fast-paced collision sport played in specially designed wheelchairs. The sport was initially created for athletes with spinal cord injuries and players are rated based on the level of function they have. It is a combination of rugby and team handball played by teams of 5 on a basketball court. One point is scored by wheeling across the goal line. Players can collide into each other to impede their progress and try to steal the ball.
- More info: Official USA Wheelchair Rugby Website

Wheelchair Tennis

Wheelchair tennis is a Summer Paralympic sport which is very similar to its able bodied counterpart. The biggest rule difference is that the ball can bounce twice on each side of the court before the player hits it back.
Wheelchair Tennis has become increasingly recognized on the international stage with a world tour sponsored by UNIQLO.