Players on the Court

Also known as: Team size, Classification points

Five on five, three on three, and the 14-point rule.

The rule

Each team has five players on the court. Substitutes can come in when the ball is dead and the referee waves them on. Wheelchair basketball adds a points system so teams with players of all impairment levels can compete.

The penalty

Playing with too many players, or over 14.0 points in wheelchair basketball, is a technical foul.

The reason

In wheelchair basketball, every player gets a classification from 1.0 (most impairment) to 4.5 (least). Capping the five on court at 14.0 means teams can’t simply field the five least-impaired players, so everyone has a role.

Around the leagues

• 5 on 5: NBA, WNBA, FIBA, NCAA M, NCAA W
• 5 on 5, max 14.0 points: Wheelchair. Players are classified 1.0 to 4.5. The five on court can’t total more than 14.0.
• 3 on 3, 1 sub: 3x3. Subs swap behind the end line during dead balls. No coach is allowed at the court.

Related: Lifting