Wheelchair Basketball Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Wheelchair Basketball - Essay Example The fact that these soldiers were recently paralyzed led to a lot of frustration and no outlet for them to channel their energy. As they began rehabilitation and searched for a physical outlet to relieve stress they decided what better than sports? (Schweiker: 1954) The soldiers began with sports such as ping-pong, catch and pool, then it went to bowling, volleyball and swimming, then to the more energy requiring sports such as water polo, touch-football, softball and basketball. Although several other sports have now been added, it was basketball that overshadowed the others in a few years time in overall popularity. In 1946, other historical documents reveal that the California Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America played the very first match of organized wheelchair basketball, two weeks prior to the New England Chapter. According to these facts, it thereafter spread across the nation to the VA hospitals in Chicago, Memphis, Boston, Richmond and New York. Not before long, the sp ort had spread across the border to the UK and to Canada as well. (Schweiker: 1954) By time 1948 rolled around, there were six teams in total in the United States. All were members of the PVA and all functioned from Veteran hospitals. This was the same year that the Birmingham, California team obtained a sponsored tour to travel by plane, and play other paraplegic teams across the nation. The immediate result of the first sponsored tour of the Birmingham Flying Wheels was the development of the first wheelchair basketball team outside of VA hospitals in Kansas City. The first ‘civilian’ hometown team was known as the Kansas City Wheelchair Bulldozers (later known as the City Rolling Pioneers). (Schweiker: 1954) In 1955, the Touring U.S. Pan Am Jets team was the first to bring wheelchair basketball to England, when they participated in the first international competition at Stoke Mandeville. (GBWA.org: 2011) Now, there are several teams throughout the United Stated, UK, and rest of the world. The first World Championships for Men, the G old Cup, took place in Bruges, Belgium in 1975, but has long since continued on thereafter. In the UK, The Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association governs wheelchair basketball. The GBWA is a registered charity and forms the representative body of wheelchair basketball in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. Teams in the GBWA league consist of the RGK TCAT Rhinos, Sheffield Steelers, Teamside Owls, GLL Capital City Raiders, Essex Outlaws, Knights and Aces. However there are several more teams at different divisional levels. GBWA.org: 2011) Aside from the GBWA there is also the Welsh Wheelchair Basketball Association WWBA. The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) governs the sport itself. The height of the basket and the size of the court are the same as in the running version of the game (10 feet from the floor and 28mx 15m, respectively). The duration of for all international games is 40 minutes. In terms of eligibility, athletes using wheelchairs play wheelchair basketball, and whose disabilities might include lower limb amputations, paraplegia, polio and cerebral palsy. In general terms, any individual who cannot participate in stand-up running basketball as the direct result of an injury, disabling condition, etc. is eligible to play wheelchair basketball. It is important to note that not all participants in wheelchair basketball use a wheelchair for daily living. (Paralympics.org: 2011). Other important classifications to notice are the points rating system. Athletes in wheelchairs are classified by their physical

Criteria of American Rebels John Reed, Joseph Freeman, and Louis Research Paper

Criteria of American Rebels John Reed, Joseph Freeman, and Louis Fischer Used in the History Evaluation - Research Paper Example The developing stories of World War I, the Mexican Revolution, and the Bolshevik Revolution show the various stages through which the world has evolved before accomplishing its status. Apparently, the universe has been through series of social, economic and political transformations for the longest time since the introduction of the industrial revolution followed by series of inventions and discoveries that have shaped the world to what it is today (John Reed’s Selected Writings 76-158). Many people recognize the contributions of John Reed in the analysis of the Mexican Revolution as well as the happenings of World War I that have influenced international relationships between countries across the globe. Despite the raging debate over the contributions of World War and the infamous Mexican Revolution to the current status, it is important to recognize the views and opinions of the John Reed that have also illuminated understanding of many learners across the globe (John Reedâ €™s Selected Writings 76-158). In particular, Reed focused on the positive and negative aspects of the Mexican Revolution of 1911. He used unique criteria to create a clear and more comprehensible understanding of the Revolution, which has influenced the social, economic, and political dynamics of current Mexico as well as the neighborhood (Reed 63-78). The Americans (USA) did not understand the 1911 Mexico Revolution. However, the revolution found a soft landing in short stories, silent films, and American novels. The novels have particularly displayed a comprehensive analysis of the stages through which the country went through before attaining political, social and economic independence. Today, the United States and Mexico share fundamental similarities, which have immensely helped the process of shaping up an understanding of the relations between the two countries. Stereotypes about Mexico dominated American films during the 20thcentury (Reed 63-78). The first criteria that John Reed used were to examine and analyze whether or not the people of Mexico engaged in the fierce fight for the sake of it or because they wanted things they could not afford through the alternative option.