Besides the United Spinal Association Junior Nets, participating junior teams will be the Long Island Lightning and Katie’s Komets from Pennsylvania. A special exhibition contest between the adult United Spinal Association Nets Division 3 team and the Junior Nets will be played.

Funding for this event was provided in part by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.

The Junior Nets wheelchair basketball team is currently ranked ninth in the nation. Its players include Joseph Bruno of Paramus, Chelsea Crytzer of Parsippany, Tim Irizarry of Linden, Dylan Levine of Paramus, Ryan Lodato of Brick, Bryson McLeod of Wood-Ridge, Mariya Redden of Jersey City, Emily Seelenfreund of West Orange, and Kaitlyn Willard of Havertown, PA. All Junior Nets players are under 17 years of age. Two Junior Nets team members are world-class athletes in their age group in other sports. Dylan Levine excels in wheelchair tennis, and Bryson McLeod is accomplished in wheelchair track events.

Wheelchair basketball is played on a standard basketball court but players may only push their wheelchair twice before dribbling or passing the ball. The height of the basket is the same as in college or professional basketball. Wheelchairs specially designed for speed and maneuverability are used in this highly-competitive sport.

United Spinal Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Americans with spinal cord injuries or disorders. For over 60 years, we have fought for veteran’s rights and for the rights of all individuals with disabilities. We played a significant role in writing the Americans with Disabilities Act, and made important contributions to the Fair Housing Amendments Act and the Air Carrier Access Act. Our initiatives in research and education, government policy and legislation, civil rights and advocacy, accessibility and architectural design, and competitive athletics ensure that veterans and all Americans with spinal cord injury and disease live healthier, more independent and productive lives as active members of their communities. For more information, please visit www.unitedspinal.org or call 800-404-2898.

The wheelchair basketball teams of the Eastern Wheelchair Basketball Conference will provide instruction and participate in an All-Star game. Instruction will focus on wheelchair movement, dribbling, passing, and shooting. Wheelchairs that are designed for wheelchair basketball will be available to individuals with disabilities who would like to participate in the clinic. Teams will include: United Spinal Nets, United Spinal Jr. Nets, Bulova Renegades, Nassau Kings and United Spinal Liberty.

United Spinal Association’s President, Paul Tobin, noted, “It’s always an absolute pleasure to host the wheelchair basketball clinics. The clinics provide a means of leisurely fun, through sports, for people with disabilities–people of all ages can learn and enjoy this adaptive sport. We are also delighted to have Albert King at our clinic.”

Considered the oldest competitive wheelchair team sport, wheelchair basketball continues to be one of the most popular. Interested children, or their parents or guardians, must register by contacting John Hamre via e-mail at jthamre@gmail.com or by phone at 917-519-2622.

Bill Hannigan, United Spinal Association’s director of Sports and Recreation, stated “this is the seventh straight year that we have partnered with the Department of Education’s Office of Adapted Physical Education to provide instruction to kids about the rules and the skills of wheelchair softball. Both the local and visiting team players enjoy the clinic as much as the youngsters do, but there’s nothing quite like the big smile on a student’s face when he or she smashes a line drive to the outfield. That smile says ‘I can do this!’”

The wheelchair softball clinic for youngsters is held each year as part of the Major League Wheelchair Softball Tournament, sponsored by the United Spinal Association and the New York Mets Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise. It is distinct from other wheelchair softball tournaments in that only teams that are supported by an MLB franchise are invited. A total of 12 wheelchair softball games will be played between 8 AM and 4 PM on both Friday, September 21st and Saturday, September 22nd. Interested members of the public may attend.

Wheelchair softball is a challenging sport that allows most wheelchair users to participate. The game is played on a hard surface with painted-on bases. Use of a 16 inch diameter softball makes the game easier to play. Beyond these minor variations, most other rules of baseball apply.