Stay ActiveA-Z of activities - B
Badminton
Approximately 2 million people in England play badminton on a regular basis. It can be played by almost anyone whatever his or her skill level or age. The Badminton Association of England has a programme for players with a disability.
- Badminton Association of England
- www.baofe.co.uk
- Scottish Badminton Union
- www.badmintonscotland.org.uk
- Welsh Badminton Union
- www.welshbadminton.net
- Badminton Union of Ireland
- www.badmintonireland.com
Basketball
A Canadian, who wanted to provide indoor activity for trainee YMCA leaders, invented basketball in the USA in 1891. It was introduced in the UK a year later. In 1924 basketball was introduced as a demonstration sport at the Paris Olympic Games.
The wheelchair version of the sport was developed in the USA, by basketball players injured during World War II. A touring American team brought the game to Britain in 1955 and there is now an extensive league structure for both men’s and women’s teams. The rules are broadly the same as for the running version of the game. Players are graded on a scale between 1 and 4.5 depending on disability. The combined grades of the five players on the court can not exceed 14.
- English Basketball Association
- www.englandbasketball.com
- Basketball Scotland
- www.basketball-scotland.com
- Basketball Wales
- www.basketballwales.com
- Basketball Northern Ireland
- www.basketballni.com
- British Wheelchair Basketball Association
- www.gbwba.org.uk
Boccia
Boccia is a bowling game that can be played one-on-one, in pairs, or with teams of three. In competition it is played on a specially marked court, though unofficial courts can be set up on virtually any hard surface. The aim of the game is for players/teams to throw/bowl balls so that they get them as close as possible to a target ball. Players unable to throw the balls are allowed to use chutes and ramps. Although originally developed by people with cerebral palsy, people with a range of conditions now play boccia. It is also a Paralympic sport.
- CP Sport
- www.cpsport.org
- International Boccia Commission
- www.bocciainternational.com
Bowls
Picture courtesy of Bowls England
Bowls can be played both indoors and out. Although there are clubs and competitions for disabled players, the governing bodies for the disabled and non-disabled game work to adapt rules to the needs of players with disabilities to allow them to compete in general clubs. Wheelchairs can be adapted to allow them onto greens without damaging the turf.
- English Bowls Association
- www.bowlsengland.com
- Scottish Bowling Association
- www.scottish-bowling.co.uk
- British Wheelchair Bowls Association
- www.bwba.org.uk