Wheelchair basketball international Mari Amimoto recently visited three elementary schools in Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture, to introduce students to the sport through practical demonstrations and games.
Wheelchair Basketball Demonstrations Across Okazaki Schools
At Keda Elementary School, a smaller facility where the entire student body participated, children tried out specialized sports wheelchairs. Students assisted each other with the unfamiliar equipment maneuvers while participating in introductory drills. At Odono Elementary School, fourth- through sixth-grade students faced different physical adjustments, finding that shooting baskets from a seated position required upper-body strength without the aid of leg spring.
Older students at Yahatanishi Elementary already had prior experience with the sports wheelchairs, allowing instructors to focus the visit primarily on mini-games. During a matchup between school basketball club members and Amimoto, a teacher shouted tactical instructions for the students to press opponents defensively. Amimoto noted that the school visits featured tailored curriculums designed to match the specific grade levels and facilities of each institution.
International Experience and Practical Advice
Amimoto divides her playing career between domestic commitments and competing for overseas clubs. During the school visits, she discussed logistical hurdles such as language barriers and travel funding for international competition. She encouraged students to embrace unfamiliar challenges, telling them to try things first and evaluate the results afterward.
The sport operates under a classification and point system designed to balance team rosters. Players are categorized from 1.0 points for athletes with the highest level of impairment to 4.5 points for those with the least. Teams are restricted to a total of 14 points across the five players on the court at any one time, a roster management structure that Amimoto identified as a primary factor in match outcomes.
Tournament Rules and Upcoming Asia Para Games Schedule
Wheelchair basketball differs from able-bodied basketball in specific mobility and dribbling regulations. Players are permitted to push their chairs a maximum of two times while holding the ball before a third push constitutes a traveling violation. However, the sport has no double-dribble rule, allowing athletes to dribble, place the ball on their knees to push their chairs twice, and resume dribbling continuously.
Competition for the upcoming Asia Para Games in wheelchair basketball is scheduled from October 16 through October 23. Matches will take place at the Aichi International Arena, also known as IG Arena, located directly adjacent to Exit 4 of the Meijo Park Subway Station in Nagoya. Organizers announced that single-day tickets will be sold at venue box offices subject to seat availability, with complete match pairings published on the official tournament website.
