USA Wheelchair Rugby About |

Mission

To establish a standard of excellence and continue a tradition of success by developing athletes, staff and teams through education and training, to prepare current and future athletes and staff to serve as exemplary representatives of the United States.

Wheelchair Rugby was invented in 1977 by a group of Canadian quadriplegic athletes who were looking for a sport that would allow players with reduced arm and hand function to participate equally. Originally known as “murderball” because of its intense physical nature, the sport’s name was changed to “quad rugby,” but it is now known internationally as wheelchair rugby. By 1993 wheelchair rugby was officially recognized as a sport for athletes with disabilities and the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation was founded. In 1994, wheelchair rugby was recognized by the International Paralympic Committee as a Paralympic sport allowing the first Wheelchair Rugby World Championships to be held in Switzerland the following year. Wheelchair Rugby then made its Paralympic debut as a demonstration event in Atlanta in 1996. It became a medal sport at the Sydney 2000 Games, where the United States won the gold medal.

USA Wheelchair Rugby currently operates with the Lakeshore National Adapted Sports Organization (LNASO) as its National Governing body and is overseen by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

Classification

In order to safeguard the integrity of fair competition, all Para sports have a system in place which aims to ensure that winning is determined by sporting factors such as skill, fitness, power, endurance, tactical ability and mental focus, the same factors that account for success in sport for able bodied athletes.

This system is called classification.

Through classification, it is determined which athletes are eligible to compete in a sport and how those athletes are then grouped together for competition, in order to minimize the impact of those athletes’ impairments on sport performance.

Wheelchair Rugby Classification Guide

Official Procedures and Documents

As the home of USA Wheelchair Rugby, membership is open to all applicable groups including: amateur athletes, coaches, trainers, managers, administrators or officials. USA Wheelchair Rugby is committed to providing an equal opportunity to amateur athletes, coaches, trainers, managers, administrators, and officials to participate in amateur athletic competition, without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, or national origin and with fair notice and opportunity for a hearing before declaring any such individual ineligible to participate.

Selection Procedures

Athlete Resources

Team USA Athlete Ombuds

Team USA athletes may contact the Office of the Athlete Ombuds for independent and confidential advice on a variety of sport-related matters, including their rights, applicable rules, policies or processes, and questions related to resolving disputes and grievances. The Athlete Ombuds can also help Team USA athletes connect with legal, mental health, and other support resources. All other NGB athletes (i.e., athletes competing at the masters, recreational, or youth level) are welcome to visit the Athlete Ombuds website to review informational resources and should work directly with their NGB to understand additional resources and options available to them.

Contact Information Phone: 719-866-5000

Email: [email protected]

Website: usathlete.org Athlete Ombuds

Confidentiality and Privacy Policy: (A) In general.—The Office of the Athlete Ombuds shall maintain as confidential any information communicated or provided to the Office of the Athlete Ombuds in confidence in any matter involving the exercise of the official duties of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds. (B) Exception.—The Office of the Athlete Ombuds may disclose information described in subparagraph (A) as necessary to resolve or mediate a dispute, with the permission of the parties involved. (C) Judicial and administrative proceedings.—(i) In general.—The ombudsman and the staff of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds shall not be compelled to testify or produce evidence in any judicial or administrative proceeding with respect to any matter involving the exercise of the duties of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds . (ii) Work product.—Any memorandum, work product, notes, or case file of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds—(I) shall be confidential; and(II) shall not be—(aa) subject to discovery, subpoena, or any other means of legal compulsion; or (bb) admissible as evidence in a judicial or administrative proceeding. (D) Applicability.—The confidentiality requirements under this paragraph shall not apply to information relating to—(i) applicable federally mandated reporting requirements; (ii) a felony personally witnessed by a member of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds;(iii) a situation, communicated to the Office of the Athlete Ombuds, in which an individual is at imminent risk of serious harm; or (iv) a congressional subpoena.

Anti-Retaliation Statement No employee, contractor, agent, volunteer, or member of the NGB or USOPC shall take or threaten action against an athlete as a reprisal for disclosing information to or seeking assistance from the Office of the Athlete Ombuds.

U.S. Center for Safe Sport

Lakeshore National Adapted Sports Organization (LNASO) is committed to providing a safe, healthy and fun learning environment for our athletes. All participants are required to have a Background Screening and current U.S. Center for SafeSport training.

The Minor Athlete Abuse and Prevention Policy (MAAPP) is a proactive prevention and training policy. The Center developed the MAAPP to assist National Governing Bodies, such as LNASO, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and other individuals to whom these policies apply in meeting their obligations under federal law.

The U.S. Center for SafeSport (The Center) is an independent nonprofit headquartered in Denver, Colorado. The Center provides a safe, professional and confidential place for individuals to report sexual misconduct within the U.S. Olympic Movements. The Center also provides resources on abuse prevention and policies.

If you suspect child abuse is occurring, which includes emotional, physical, or sexual abuse of a minor (under the age of 18) you must report to law enforcement immediately. Additionally, if any of the individuals are involved in the Olympic & Paralympic Movement, a report must also be filed with the U.S. Center for SafeSport. Keep in mind filing a report with the U.S. Center for SafeSport does not satisfy the requirement of reporting to local law enforcement.

LNASO Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP)

Reporting

If you see questionable behavior, say something! Report all sexual misconduct and child abuse to law enforcement and file a report with the U.S. Center for SafeSport at uscenterforsafesport.org/report-a-concern. Violations such as non-sexual child abuse, emotional and physical misconduct, including stalking, bullying behaviors, hazing, and harassment; criminal charges or dispositions not involving child abuse or sexual misconduct and minor athlete abuse and prevention policy violations should be reported to LNASO at [email protected].

Report a Concern

U.S. Center for SAFESPORT LNASO

The U.S. Center for SafeSport has exclusive jurisdiction over allegations of sexual misconduct and discretionary jurisdiction over allegations of physical and emotional misconduct and MAAPP violations.

U.S. Center for SafeSport Reporting Line: 833-5US-SAFE

There are no associated costs or fees to report. You may report anonymously by leaving your name off of the reporting form.

How to Report a Concern

LNASO Governance and Financial Documents

LNASO Board of Directors

Lakeshore National Adapted Sports Organization (LNASO) Bylaws – Updated September 2025

Lakeshore National Adapted Sports Organization (LNASO) Bylaws – Updated March 2025

Lakeshore National Adapted Sports Organization (LNASO) Bylaws (2022)

History

July 1990

World Stoke Mandeville Games – Ailesbury, England

Results: This is the first international competition ever held for the sport of Wheelchair Rugby. Team USA goes 4-0 to win the Gold Medal over Canada in the Championship.

July 1993

World Stoke Mandeville Games – Ailesbury, England

Results: Team USA goes 7-0 to win the Gold Medal over Great Britain.

July 1994

World Stoke Mandeville Games – Ailesbury, England

Results: Team USA goes 7-0 to win the Gold Medal over Great Britain.

October 1995

1st IWRF Wheelchair Rugby World Championships – Notwil, Switzerland

Results: Team USA goes 9-0 to win the Gold Medal over Canada. USA earns the number one seed for the 1996 Paralympics in Atlanta, Georgia.

June 1996

International Wheelchair Rugby Tournament – Toronto Canada

Results: Team USA team splits to two squads, the Americans and Nationals. The Americans defeated the Nationals in the Championship game to capture the Gold Medal.

August 1996

Paralympic Games – Atlanta, Georgia

Results: Wheelchair Rugby makes its Paralympic debut. Team USA goes undefeated, 7-0 to win the Gold Medal over Canada. USA Rugby was the only US “Team Sport” to capture Gold during the 1996 Paralympics.

June 1998

2nd IWRF Wheelchair Rugby World Championships – Toronto Canada

Results: Team USA goes undefeated, 7-0 to win the Gold Medal over New Zealand. USA earns the number one seed for the 2000 Paralympics held in Sydney, Australia.

October 1999

World Wheelchair Games – Christchurch, New Zealand

Results: Team USA takes a group of athletes with no previous World Championship or Paralympic experience to New Zealand to help develop future National teams. Despite facing the world’s best teams, USA’s team of rookies went 6-1 and captured the Gold Medal.

October 2000

Paralympic Games – Sydney, Australia

Results: Team USA goes undefeated, 5-0 to win the Gold Medal over Australia. More than 10,000 fans watched the Gold Medal game live, in addition to an estimated 8 million Australian TV viewers. Wheelchair Rugby was the most anticipated and exciting sport at the 2000 games.

January 2002

World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge – Warm Springs, Georgia

Results: Team USA splits to two squads, the Stars and the Stripes. Both teams go 5-0 and face each other to battle for Gold in the Championship game. In the end the Stripes captured the win by a single point in what became a triple overtime victory.

May 2002

3rd IWRF Wheelchair Rugby World Championships – Gothenburg, Sweden

Results: Team USA suffers its first loss in a championship game by one point to Canada and finish in second place with the Silver medal. The United States earns a spot for the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, Greece where they hope to regain the world title.

June 2003

US Paralympics North America Cup – Birmingham, Alabama

Results: As part of US Paralympics America Series, Team USA played Canada and won the rugby competition 29-25. While this game did not affect world rankings, it did help demonstrate the United States commitment to being the best in the world.

October 2003

World Wheelchair Games – Christchurch, New Zealand

Results: Team USA brings a mixed group of veteran and rookie athletes to New Zealand to sharpen playing skills in international competition. While Team USA played well and won the Bronze Medal, more importantly, they were able to gain valuable playing experience as they look towards Athens in 2004.

June 2004

US Paralympics North America Cup – Birmingham, Alabama

Results: The 2004 North America Cup was expanded this year to provide a world class competition opportunity as teams prepare for Athens. Paralympic teams from Canada, Germany, Great Britain and the United States each competed in Wheelchair Rugby, as did their respective teams in men and women’s Wheelchair Basketball. Every win earned team points and in the end it was the United States who won the overall competition. USA Paralympic Rugby swept it’s opponents, 5-0.

Canada Cup – Vancouver, British Columbia

Results: The inaugural Canada Cup featured 5 of the 8 countries who will compete in Wheelchair Rugby during the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, Greece. The Canada Cup results were used to determine the final seedings for Athens, and the United States earned top honors. USA Paralympic Rugby was undefeated (7-0) after three days of play and enters the 2004 Paralympics as the #1 seed.

September 2004

Paralympic Games – Athens, Greece

Results: Team USA goes 5 and 1 to win the Bronze Medal. The Gold Medal was won by New Zealand, who defeated Canada in a come from behind victory in the final minutes of play.

September 2005

World Wheelchair Games – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Results: Team USA brings two developmental teams (Stars and Stripes) to Brazil to provide international experience for their athletes. Following 3 days of competition, USA Stripes won the Gold medal with the USA Stars team bringing home the Silver.

June 2006

North America Cup – Birmingham, Alabama

Results: Team USA faced the four top ranked countries in the world and went 5 and 0 to win the North America Cup for the third consecutive time.

June 2006

Canada Cup – Vancouver, British Columbia

Results: The Canada Cup featured 8 of the top ranked countries in the world. Team USA went 5 and 0 for the weekend, and defeated top ranked New Zealand in triple overtime to win the Gold Medal.

September 2006

4th IWRF Wheelchair Rugby World Championships

Results: Team USA goes 7 and 0, defeating host country New Zealand in the final match for Gold. This win qualifies Team USA for the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China and returns their world ranking to the top team in the world.

2008

Paralympic Games- Beijing, China

Results: Team USA takes home Gold!

2009

1^st Americas Championship- Buenos Aires, Argentina

Results: United States wins 1^st Place

2010

5^th World Championship- Vancouver, Canada

Results: United States finishes first

2011

2nd Americas Championship- Bogota, Colombia

Results: United States wins 1st Place

2012

Paralympic Games- London, UK

Results: Team USA finishes third, securing the bronze medal

2013

3rd Americas Championship- Birmingham, AL, USA

Results: United States wins 1st Place

2014

6th World Championship- Odense, Denmark

Results: United States finishes 3rd place

2015

Parapan American Games- Toronto, Canada

Results: Team USA finishes 2nd, securing the silver medal

2016

Paralympic Games- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Results: Team USA finishes 2nd, securing the silver medal

2017

4th Americas Championship- Asuncion, Paraguay

2018

7th World Championship- Sydney, Australia

Results: United States finishes 3rd place

2019

Parapan American Games- Lima, Peru

Results: Team USA secures the Gold medal and qualifies for Tokyo 2020

2021

Paralympic Games – Tokyo, Japan

Results: Team USA finishes second