Athletes and tough guys come in all shapes and sizes. But a group of special Quad Rugby athletes hold their national championship tournament in Louisville this weekend. The Frazier Rehab Institute and Metro Parks are hosting the 2012 USQRA Division I & Division II National Championship Tournament on April 27 - 29, 2012 at the Kentucky International Convention Center.
Wheelchair rugby is known as quad rugby in the United States. It is a team sport for athletes with a disability and is practiced in over twenty countries around the world and is a Paralympic sport.
Developed in Canada in 1977, the sport's original name was murderball. The United States name of quad rugby is based on the fact that all wheelchair rugby players need to have disabilities that include at least some loss of function in at least three limbs - most are medically classified as quadriplegic.
Quad rugby is played indoors on a hardwood court. The rules include elements of wheelchair basketball, ice hockey, handball and rugby union. It is a contact sport and physical contact between wheelchairs is an integral part of the game. It has little in common with Rugby football except for the name
The game is played by two teams of up to twelve players. Only four players from each team may be on the court at any time. It is a mixed gender sport, and both male and female athletes play on the same teams. Quad rugby is played indoors on a hardwood court of the same measurements as a regulation basketball court.
Quad Rugby isn't called "murderball" for nothing. It's rough. Fouls are penalized by either a one-minute penalty, for defensive fouls and technical fouls, or a loss of possession, for offensive fouls. In some cases, a penalty goal may be awarded in lieu of a penalty. Common fouls include spinning (striking an opponent's wheelchair behind the main axle, causing it to spin horizontally or vertically), illegal use of hands or reaching in (striking an opponent with the arms or hands), and holding (holding or obstructing an opponent by grasping with the hands or arms, or falling onto them).
A documentary called "Murderball" illustrates the fast-moving, competitive game. Click here to see video of the game being played.
If you or someone you know would be interested in joining a Louisville-based quad rugby team, contact jill.farmer@jhsmh.org or teri.kiper@jhsmh.org.
2012 USQRA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT
Kentucky International Convention Center
Friday, April 27 through Sunday, April 29th
Exhibit Hall 2C
Friday & Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sunday 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
This event is free and open to the general public.
For information, click here.
