Academics, Athletics, and the Diverse Community

Bryon Martin, Ph.D.Assistant Professor of Recreation

Chicago State University

HISTORY• “Insufficient documentation exists of the 60-plus years in the

history of wheelchair basketball,” (Labanowich and Thiboutot)• Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) and National Wheelchair

Basketball Association (NWBA)• 1940’s California, Massachusettes, England, (Guttmann netball)• Lower the Goals? Women?• Athletes vs. Patients• Research has been devoted to wheelchair basketball participants

and coaches• There is a dearth focused on the wheelchair basketball referee

Program Social Change Components

• Combat Inner City Gang Violence• Develop Interpersonal Skills • Experiential Learning• Model for Best Practice Strategy for Servant

Leadership (Greenleaf)• Community Entity Synergy Strategy teamed

with Chicago Park District, Special Recreation Districts and the NWBA

Program Avenues

• Examples of current programs offering officiating training in Higher Education setting:

• Sport Coaching and Officiating Minor, (Middle Tennessee State University

• Community Education Training/Certification, (University of Southern Indiana)

PARTICIPANTS

3 Male StudentsStudents played University-level or High

School basketballCurrently enrolled in the Recreation or

Physical Education Program at Chicago StateInstitutional Review Board ApprovalParticipant Permission

Training

• Mechanics and Rules Training, (NWBA, NCAA)• Web-based Rules Exam Moodle• Live-Game Shadowing• Half-time Group Discussions and Reflection• Live-Game with worked with Experienced

Partner• Utilized NCAA basketball evaluation form• One video observation session

FINDINGS• Themes were extracted from participant “crew interviews.”

Examples include:• “You have to keep your sympathy card in your wallet.”• “It’s not about the money.”• “I like being involved with my community.”• “I do it for the camaraderie.”• “Officiating keeps me fit.”• “I blew my whistle and called time when a wheelchair and player

toppled over as a fast-break continued for the other team. When I stopped play, the offensive team was upset, everyone knew the toppled player was not hurt…no need to stop play.”

SUCCESS STORIES

• One Student secured a physical education teaching position with the Chicago Public Schools.

• One student is currently working with an after-school program and has completed an interview as an Inclusion Aid with the Chicago Park District.

• One student has chosen to be a leader-siblings chose the gang lifestyle.

IMPLICATIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH

• Partner with the NWBA to update referee data, evaluation criteria, training and recruitment components, advocacy

• Inclusion of Timers and Scorekeepers in Program

• Women and Officials with disabilities participation

• Sources of stress and coping strategies

• “Through the smoke and glare of Madison Square garden, the basketball court…Ten husky men in slender metal wheelchairs were lined up for the referee’s whistle…The audience of 15,567 roared.” Labanowich & Thiboutot, 2011