Ball - Standard foam football (Nerf ball, Poof ball, etc.).
Number of Players - 5 to 14. Varies on field size and player turnout. Can be played with only five players. (2 on 2 with a steady quarterback). When using odd number of players and steady quarterback, the quarterback has 7 seconds to release the ball before the play is dead. Can be played with up to 7 players per side. Over 7 can play but confusion and traffic jams can occur.
Equipment - Players can participate in manual chairs, motorized chairs, or scooters. Most contact occurs chair-to-chair so injuries are rare. Protective equipment is optional but could include: bike helmet, gloves, seat belt, stretch cords, eyewear, boots to protect toes, etc).
a) Gymnasium - Boundary for a basketball court works well. Distance for a first down is from the foul line to half court or any equivalent distance as identified by other markings on the gym floor.
b) Parking lot - Field size varies on usable space available and number of players. Mark off desired boundaries with cones if available. Distance for first down is 2 parking spaces.
Beginning Play - Snapping the ball is not necessary. The quarterback lines up behind the line of scrimmage and begins play by saying "hike".
Rushing - Any number of players may rush the quarterback on any play. The game can be played with a delayed rush or an instant rush. The delayed rush requires defensive players to count-off 3 seconds before rushing. One blitz is allowed per series of downs. The instant rush allows players to rush the quarterback at will.
Kick-offs & Punts - A "kick'' is simulated by throwing the ball down field. Balls rolling out-of-bounds before the end zone are put into play at the spot. Balls that enter the end- zone can be "downed" and brought out to the twenty (foul line or 2 parking spaces), or can be put into play (including those that bounce off the back wall of the gym).
Scoring - A touchdown equals 6 points. Field goals are attempted from the foul line or 1.5 parking places. A passing play to the end zone equals 1 point. A running play equals 2 points.
Physical Contact - The degree of physical contact you want to experience will be determined by how hard you block/tackle others. Technically, this is touch football, although some players by mutual consent like to play more aggressively. Contact behind the rear axle is considered clipping.
Choosing Teams - To evenly distribute players it is recommended a coin is flipped. Team A get first pick. Team B gets the next 2 picks. If the score is lopsided at half-time, trades can be made to keep the game competitive.
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Player Classifications
Wheelchair football in a nutshell