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Adaptive Sports offers adult and youth cross-disability, co-ed wheelchair basketball programs:
All basketball programs are affiliated with the National Wheelchair Basketball Association and are played in accordance with NCAA rules, with a few exceptions that are outlined by the NWBA. Wheelchair basketball retains a 10-foot basketball hoop and standard basketball court. The exceptions are rules that have been modified with consideration of the wheelchair. For example, “traveling” in wheelchair basketball occurs when the athlete touches their wheelchair more than twice after receiving or dribbling the ball.
The NWBA comprises over 200 basketball teams across twenty-two conferences and seven divisions. The NWBA was founded in 1948, and today consists of men's, women's, intercollegiate, and youth teams throughout the United States of America and Canada.
The AbillityLab basketball programs all participate in tournaments and competitions throughout the Midwest and regional tournaments around the country with the ultimate goal of qualification for the National Wheelchair Basketball Championships. Junior basketball players may participate on adult teams and women are welcome to participate on the Hornets team.
All athletes must be registered with the Adapted Sports and Fitness Program to participate.
For more information, please contact Pierre Nealon at pnealon@sralab.org.
Junior Wheelchair Basketball – Chicago Skyhawks
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Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and the Chicago Park District (CPD) offer 8½-foot and 10-foot junior basketball teams.
The Chicago Skyhawks Junior wheelchair basketball teams are a developmental basketball program for youth with physical disabilities. Each child will participate in a designed sports wheelchair to equalize the playing field for each athlete who participates. Kids participate in one of two teams based on their age and ability level.
The junior basketball program will promote growth in fundamental skills of basketball while teaching each athlete the life skills of sportsmanship, hard work, dedication, friendships and acceptance of their abilities. Open to youth ages five years of age through high-school seniors. The Chicago Skyhawks teams will participate in local area tournaments with the goal of reaching the National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament.
- Schedule: Teams meet to practice from September–April on Saturdays from 9 am–noon.
- Location: Rainbow Beach Park (3111 E. 77th St, Chicago 60649)
- Contact: If you are interested in joining the Chicago Skyhawks Junior Basketball program or would like more information, contact Dan Ferriera at pnealon@sralab.org.
Adult Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Hornets DII and Chicago Skyhawks DIII Teams
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The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Hornets are broken up into two divisions within the NWBA championship - Hornets DII and the Skyhawks Division III teams. The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab championship teams are ranked in the top 10 nationally and the Division III program is the developmental feeder program to the championship division. The teams compete in tournaments locally and nationally.
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Hornets DII team meeting details:
- Schedule: The Hornets meet from September–April on Tuesdays 6–9 pm.
- Location: S.J. Gregory Auditorium (5649 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60660
- Contact: If you want to join the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Hornets or would like more information, contact Pierre Nealon at daniel.ferreira@chicagoparkdistrict.com.
Chicago Skyhawks DIII Teams meeting details:
- Schedule: The Chicago Skyhawks DIII Teams meet from September–April on Wednesdays 6–9 pm.
- Location: Jesse White Community Center (410-412 W. Chicago Avenue, Chicago IL 60610)
- Contact: If you want to join the Chicago Skyhawks or would like more information, contact Dan Ferriera at pnealon@sralab.org.
