Pre-participation

Before playing Wheelchair Rugby, there are a series of checks to be undertaken by the team coach to ensure that a player is Wheelchair Rugby Ready.

A Wheelchair Rugby player will:

• Have the physical attributes and have attained the necessary level of fitness for their level of play
• Have sufficient technical skill and ability for the grade at which they are playing
• Be familiar with the rules of the Game and what constitutes foul play

Player profiling is an established method of assessing players’ readiness to play Wheelchair Rugby. A good profile will help coaches ascertain if a player is Wheelchair Rugby Ready. Profiling should take place before pre-season training starts and when new players join the squad. It should then be repeated at intervals throughout the season.

The profile should gather information on the following areas:

• Personal contact and next of kin details
• Medical history (including details of any medication taken)
• Cardiac questionnaire
• Lifestyle and fitness information
• History of injury
• Record of insurance
• Previous exposure to Wheelchair Rugby

Special attention should be given to:

• All new players
• Specific information about pre-existing injuries
• Any player with a history of concussion
• Older players who may have degenerative conditions