What Is Parasport?
A parasport is a sport that has been adapted for a person having a handicap. It is a parallel sport for athletes who are physically capable, using equipment and modified rules that make a given sport accessible and fun for all. There are some sports that unfortunately, cannot be adapted to become a parasport.
There are many different ways of getting involved in a parasport: as a player, as a coach, as a volunteer or as a community supporter who will make the availability of this sport stand out in your community. There are also opportunities for athletes to provide support as a guide to visually impaired participants. Your involvement need not be limited to a single activity, as you can always get involved in as many ways as you wish. When you do get involved, remember that the activity you select is your personal choice, regardless of the role you choose and that there will be a vast array of activities to choose from. There will be opportunities that are focused on leisure and opportunities that are geared towards goals you want to reach personally.
Availability of any parasport is often nonexistent in a community, and your involvement could be critical in getting a parasport established in your community.
Para Pickleball is now being played in different parts of the country. Players in wheelchairs can and are playing in singles or doubles as in regular pickleball or, in teams made up of a wheelchair player partnered with a standing player. A few modifications have been made for the wheelchair athlete. A double bounce is allowed for the wheelchair athlete, and the front wheels of his chair can cross the non-volley line.
These athletes are a joy to watch…they are fast, they are accurate, they are competitive and mostly…they are thrilled and proud to have a new sport in which they can excel and have fun. Pickleball Canada is committed to the development of the sport in Canada for all demographics throughout the country. Help make this a truly National pastime.
Para/Wheelchair Pickleball Rules
The following is a quick reference guide for Wheelchair players, as well as referees, identifying rules unique to Wheelchair play from the 2025 Global Pickleball Federation Rulebook.
Section 1 – The Game – Unique Features
- Players using wheelchairs may allow the ball to bounce twice before returning the ball. The second bounce can be anywhere on the playing surface.
Section 2 – Court And Equipment
- 2.A.4 – The recommended playing surface area for Wheelchair play is 44 feet (13.41 m) wide and 74 feet (22,55 m) long. The size for Wheelchair play in a stadium court is 50 ft (15.24 m) wide by 80 feet (24.38 m) long.
Section 3 – Definitions
- 3.A.47 – Players using Wheelchairs – Any person, with or without a disability, who plays the game in a wheelchair. The wheelchair is considered part of the player’s body. This can be a player with a disability or anyone that wants to play in a wheelchair.
Section 4 – The Serve, Service Sequence, And Scoring Rules
- 4.A.4.d – The moment the ball is served: Both rear wheels must be on the playing surface behind the baseline and may not touch the court on or inside the baseline or outside the imaginary extensions of the sideline or centerline.
Section 7 – Fault Rules
- 7.E – Failure of a player using a wheelchair to return a ball before it bounces three times on the receiving player’s side of the net.
Section 9 – Non-Volley-Zone Rules
- 9.A – All volleys must be initiated outside of the non-volley zone. For players using wheelchairs, the front (smaller) wheels may touch the non-volley zone during a volley.
- 9.B – It is a fault if the volleying player or anything that has contact with the volleying player while in the act of volleying, touches the non-volley zone. For players using wheelchairs, the front (smaller) wheels may touch the non-volley zone.
- 9.C – During the act of volleying, it is a fault if the volleying player’s momentum causes the player to contact anything that is touching the non-volley zone, including the player’s partner. For players using wheelchairs, the front (smaller) wheels may touch the non-volley zone.
- 9.D – If the rear wheels of a wheelchair have touched the non-volley zone for any reason, the player using a wheelchair cannot volley a return until both rear wheels have made contact with the playing surface outside the non-volley zone.
Section 12 – Sanctioned Tournament Policies
- 12.A.4 – Players using wheelchairs may play in Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles or Mixed Doubles with either standup partners or wheelchair doubles.
How to Get Started
Pickleball Canada recommends the following tips to develop para pickleball in your area.
- The most important aspect to be successful in developing para pickleball in your area is to have a devoted person who has a passion to develop para pickleball.
- That person should contact a para sport organization in your area/province to find out where the various para sports are played. Go to those facilities to find potential candidates to play para pickleball.
- PC also recommends that a para pickleball presentation be made to para sports organizations with potential candidates present. Afterwards, arrange a pickleball demonstration and include players that are in a wheelchair.
- Even if you only convince one person in a wheelchair to play para pickleball in your area, consider that to be a success! More wheelchair players are apt to follow.
- One way to encourage wheelchair pickleball is through what is called the Hybrid game. Not all players on the court have to be in a wheelchair. Rather, the wheelchair player plays with a person that is standing up. They can play against either another hybrid team or against 2 stand-up players. In the Hybrid games, the wheelchair rules only apply to the players in the wheelchairs.
- By playing the Hybrid game you are more apt to have longer rallies which is encouraging and motivating to the wheelchair players. Soon the wheelchair players can integrate with pickleball clubs in your area. The wheelchair players should go through the same learning methods as new stand-up players and they will progress very similarly and fast like the new stand-up players.
- One example of success was the transformation of a not so active wheelchair volleyball team into 6 active wheelchair para pickleball players!
For more information on Para Pickleball, please contact info@pickleballcanada.org.