{"id":115064,"date":"2024-04-12T13:17:25","date_gmt":"2024-04-12T17:17:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/?p=115064"},"modified":"2026-03-04T16:55:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T21:55:21","slug":"077-wheelchair-basketball","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/077-wheelchair-basketball\/","title":{"rendered":"Object 77: Wheelchair Basketball at VA"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kb-image115064_eb1eff-1c.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image115064_eb1eff-1c .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:650px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115064_eb1eff-1c.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115064_eb1eff-1c .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image115064_eb1eff-1c figure{max-width:650px;}.kb-image115064_eb1eff-1c .image-is-svg, .kb-image115064_eb1eff-1c .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image115064_eb1eff-1c .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}.kb-image115064_eb1eff-1c img.kb-img, .kb-image115064_eb1eff-1c .kb-img img{border-top:0px solid #000000;border-right:0px solid #000000;border-bottom:0px solid #000000;border-left:0px solid #000000;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-image115064_eb1eff-1c img.kb-img, .kb-image115064_eb1eff-1c .kb-img img{border-top:0px solid #000000;border-right:0px solid #000000;border-bottom:0px solid #000000;border-left:0px solid #000000;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-image115064_eb1eff-1c img.kb-img, .kb-image115064_eb1eff-1c .kb-img img{border-top:0px solid #000000;border-right:0px solid #000000;border-bottom:0px solid #000000;border-left:0px solid #000000;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image115064_eb1eff-1c\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Bob-Rynerson-refs.jpeg\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"665\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Bob-Rynerson-refs.jpeg?w=1000\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Bob-Rynerson-refs.jpeg?w=1000\" alt=\"Paralyzed World War II Veterans playing a practice game of wheelchair basketball refereed by physical education teacher Robert Rynearson in the gym at the Birmingham VA Hospital in Van Nuys, California, c. 1946. Rynearson created the rules for wheelchair basketball and served as coach and manager of the Birmingham team. (Rynearson Family Archive)\" class=\"lazyload kb-img wp-image-115059\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271000%27%20height%3D%27665%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201000%20665%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271000%27%20height%3D%27665%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Bob-Rynerson-refs.jpeg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Bob-Rynerson-refs.jpeg?resize=600,399 600w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Bob-Rynerson-refs.jpeg?resize=768,511 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Bob-Rynerson-refs.jpeg 1000w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Paralyzed World War II Veterans playing a practice game of wheelchair basketball refereed by physical education teacher Robert Rynearson in the gym at the Birmingham VA Hospital in Van Nuys, California, c. 1946.  Rynearson created the rules for wheelchair basketball and served as coach and manager of the Birmingham team. (Rynearson Family Archive)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In World War I, spinal cord injuries resulting in paralysis of the lower body almost always led to an early death. According to one authority, only ten percent of the American soldiers who reached a U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/100-objects\/64-public-health-service\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"114138\">medical facility<\/a> after suffering such an injury on the battlefield lived for longer than a year. Many succumbed to sepsis or infection. Those who were lucky enough to beat the odds faced the prospects of a life that was, in the words of a medical expert writing in 1932, \u201cof little value to the patient and costly to his relatives.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During World War II, however, medical and technological advancements reduced the lethality of traumatic injuries to the spinal cord. The discovery and mass distribution of penicillin and sulfa tablets lowered the risk of infection for soldiers with all types of wounds. In addition, improvements in the capabilities of portable surgical hospitals enabled medical personnel to perform emergency procedures and operations close to the battlefield. Afterwards, military transports could airlift the seriously wounded to stateside hospitals for long-term treatment and recovery. Faster and better medical care are for casualties helped an estimated 2,500 paralyzed U.S. service members survive their injuries and return home from the conflict. After the war, most continued their recuperation and rehabilitation in VA hospitals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While VA offered paraplegic Veterans a healthy dose of physical and <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/exhibits\/occupational-therapy\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"114946\">occupational therapy<\/a> as well as vocational training, patients craved something more. They also wanted to engage in the sports that they had grown up playing. They were limited at first by their <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/curator-corner\/artifact-collection\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"103755\">wheelchairs<\/a>, which were incredibly bulky and commonly weighed over 100 pounds. However, the revolutionary wheelchair design created by engineers Herbert A. Everest and Harry C. Jennings in the late 1930s solved that problem. Their chairs featured lightweight aircraft tubing, rear wheels that were easy to propel, and front casters for pivoting. Weighing in at around 45 pounds, the sleek wheelchairs were ideal for <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/exhibits\/winter-sports-clinic\/\">sports<\/a>, especially basketball. The mobility of paraplegic Veterans drastically increased as they mastered the use of the chair, and they soon began to roll themselves into VA hospital gyms to shoot baskets and play pickup games.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image115064_cd8e9b-d4.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image115064_cd8e9b-d4 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:450px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115064_cd8e9b-d4.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115064_cd8e9b-d4 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image115064_cd8e9b-d4 figure{max-width:450px;}.kb-image115064_cd8e9b-d4 .image-is-svg, .kb-image115064_cd8e9b-d4 .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image115064_cd8e9b-d4 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}.kb-image115064_cd8e9b-d4 img.kb-img, .kb-image115064_cd8e9b-d4 .kb-img img{border-top:0px solid #000000;border-right:0px solid #000000;border-bottom:0px solid #000000;border-left:0px solid #000000;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-image115064_cd8e9b-d4 img.kb-img, .kb-image115064_cd8e9b-d4 .kb-img img{border-top:0px solid #000000;border-right:0px solid #000000;border-bottom:0px solid #000000;border-left:0px solid #000000;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-image115064_cd8e9b-d4 img.kb-img, .kb-image115064_cd8e9b-d4 .kb-img img{border-top:0px solid #000000;border-right:0px solid #000000;border-bottom:0px solid #000000;border-left:0px solid #000000;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image115064_cd8e9b-d4\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Wheelchair-shot.webp\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Wheelchair-shot.webp?resize=1400,934\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Wheelchair-shot.webp?resize=1400,934\" alt=\"Player from the Halloran VA Hospital in Staten Island, New York, lofts a shot in a game before a crowd of spectators, c. 1948. The letters on his jersey stood for Paralyzed Veterans of America, the advocacy group founded in 1946. (nypost.com)\" class=\"lazyload kb-img wp-image-115062\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%272000%27%20height%3D%271334%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%202000%201334%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%272000%27%20height%3D%271334%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Wheelchair-shot.webp?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Wheelchair-shot.webp?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Wheelchair-shot.webp?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Wheelchair-shot.webp?resize=1400,934 1400w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Wheelchair-shot.webp?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Wheelchair-shot.webp 2000w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Player from the Halloran VA Hospital in Staten Island, New York, lofts a shot in a game before a crowd of spectators, c. 1948. The letters on his jersey stood for Paralyzed Veterans of America, the advocacy group founded in 1946. (nypost.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1946, at the Birmingham VA Hospital in Van Nuys, California, physical education teacher <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwba.org\/news_article\/show\/540652-robert-d-bob-rynearson\" rel=\"noopener\">Robert D. Rynearson<\/a> observed paralyzed Veterans joyfully trading shots on the basketball court. He quickly recognized the value of the sport as a therapeutic activity. The hard flat surface of the court was ideally suited for players maneuvering in wheelchairs, the game could be played year round, and it strengthened the upper body muscles so essential to those who had lost the use of their legs. Rynearson started organizing practices for the players and also drafted a set of ten rules for regulated play. In adapting the sport to the wheelchair bound, Rynearson endeavored to preserve the speed and spirit of the game while ensuring the safety of the players. He determined that incidental contact between the chairs of two players was allowed, but intentional ramming would be considered a foul. Additionally, players were permitted two pushes of the wheelchair when in possession of the ball. He also considered altering the height of the basketball rims and the distance from the free-throw line, but the Veterans convinced him to keep these elements of the game the same.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image115064_167d2a-7c.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image115064_167d2a-7c .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:400px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115064_167d2a-7c.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115064_167d2a-7c .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image115064_167d2a-7c figure{max-width:400px;}.kb-image115064_167d2a-7c .image-is-svg, .kb-image115064_167d2a-7c .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image115064_167d2a-7c .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}.kb-image115064_167d2a-7c img.kb-img, .kb-image115064_167d2a-7c .kb-img img{border-top:0px solid #000000;border-right:0px solid #000000;border-bottom:0px solid #000000;border-left:0px solid #000000;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-image115064_167d2a-7c img.kb-img, .kb-image115064_167d2a-7c .kb-img img{border-top:0px solid #000000;border-right:0px solid #000000;border-bottom:0px solid #000000;border-left:0px solid #000000;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-image115064_167d2a-7c img.kb-img, .kb-image115064_167d2a-7c .kb-img img{border-top:0px solid #000000;border-right:0px solid #000000;border-bottom:0px solid #000000;border-left:0px solid #000000;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image115064_167d2a-7c\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Newsweek.jpeg\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"887\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Newsweek.jpeg?w=887\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Newsweek.jpeg?w=887\" alt=\"Wheelchair basketball star Jack Gerhardt, a paratrooper who was paralyzed in the fighting at Normandy in 1944. He landed on the cover of Newsweek magazine in 1948 after his standout shooting led Halloran to victory in an exhibition game played at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Newsweek Magazine)\" class=\"lazyload kb-img wp-image-115061\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27887%27%20height%3D%271280%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20887%201280%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27887%27%20height%3D%271280%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Newsweek.jpeg?resize=208,300 208w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Newsweek.jpeg?resize=416,600 416w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Newsweek.jpeg?resize=768,1108 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Newsweek.jpeg 887w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 887px) 100vw, 887px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Wheelchair basketball star and future hall of famer Jack Gerhardt, a paratrooper who was paralyzed in the fighting at Normandy in 1944. He landed on the cover of Newsweek magazine in 1948 after his standout shooting led Halloran to victory in an exhibition game played at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Newsweek Magazine)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rynearson held the <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/featured-stories\/wheelchair-basketball\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"103982\">first<\/a> official wheelchair basketball contest on November 25, 1946, at the Birmingham VA Hospital. His team of paralyzed Veterans faced off against a group of non-disabled doctors in wheelchairs, beating them 16-6. The hospital\u2019s in-house newsletter described the game as \u201can action-packed, fast-moving and exciting contest.\u201d\u00a0Soon after, other groups of Veterans formed wheelchair basketball teams at VA hospitals around the country. Teams like the Rolling Devils and the Gizz Kids garnered national attention, playing before packed crowds and easily dispatching non-disabled college and professional teams who borrowed wheelchairs for the games. National news coverage grew with the increasing popularity of the game, and their exploits were featured in publications ranging from <em>The New York Times<\/em> to <em>Daily Worker. <\/em>One standout player, Jack Gerhardt, a paratrooper wounded at Normandy in 1944, appeared on the cover of the March 22, 1948, issue of <em>Newsweek.<\/em> The cutline below his photo read: \u201cParaplegics: The Conquest of Unconquerable Odds.\u201d His jersey bore the letters PVA, which stood for Paralyzed Veterans of America, the group founded in 1946 to combat stereotypes and advocate for people with disabilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Players on the Birmingham VA team did their part to fight for disability rights. In 1948, under the name Flying Wheels, they embarked on a barnstorming tour that included stops at eight major cities, where they played in big arenas before packed crowds against other teams of paraplegic Veterans and non-disabled players. After going against the squad from the VA hospital in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/richmond-health-care\/locations\/richmond-va-medical-center\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Richmond, Virginia<\/a>, the Flying Wheels traveled to the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. They wheeled through the Capitol\u2019s halls to lobby Congress for legislation that would allow paralyzed Veterans to buy homes accessible for wheelchairs. The Flying Wheels were successful: the <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/100-objects\/066-frank-lloyd-wright-house\/\">Specially Adapted Housing Act<\/a> became law on June 19, 1948.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image115064_e8f74d-e2.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image115064_e8f74d-e2 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:650px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115064_e8f74d-e2.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115064_e8f74d-e2 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image115064_e8f74d-e2 figure{max-width:650px;}.kb-image115064_e8f74d-e2 .image-is-svg, .kb-image115064_e8f74d-e2 .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image115064_e8f74d-e2 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}.kb-image115064_e8f74d-e2 img.kb-img, .kb-image115064_e8f74d-e2 .kb-img img{border-top:0px solid #000000;border-right:0px solid #000000;border-bottom:0px solid #000000;border-left:0px solid #000000;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-image115064_e8f74d-e2 img.kb-img, .kb-image115064_e8f74d-e2 .kb-img img{border-top:0px solid #000000;border-right:0px solid #000000;border-bottom:0px solid #000000;border-left:0px solid #000000;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-image115064_e8f74d-e2 img.kb-img, .kb-image115064_e8f74d-e2 .kb-img img{border-top:0px solid #000000;border-right:0px solid #000000;border-bottom:0px solid #000000;border-left:0px solid #000000;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image115064_e8f74d-e2\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Flying-Chairs.jpeg\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"729\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Flying-Chairs.jpeg?w=1000\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Flying-Chairs.jpeg?w=1000\" alt=\"The Birmingham Flying Wheels on the steps of the Capitol in 1948. The team stopped off at the Capitol during their barnstorming tour to lobby Congress for benefits that would help paralyzed Veterans purchase wheelchair-accessible housing. (Rynearson Family Archive)\" class=\"lazyload kb-img wp-image-115060\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271000%27%20height%3D%27729%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201000%20729%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271000%27%20height%3D%27729%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Flying-Chairs.jpeg?resize=300,219 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Flying-Chairs.jpeg?resize=600,437 600w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Flying-Chairs.jpeg?resize=768,560 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/077-Flying-Chairs.jpeg 1000w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>The Birmingham Flying Wheels on the steps of the Capitol in 1948. The team stopped off at the Capitol during their barnstorming tour to lobby Congress for benefits that would help paralyzed Veterans purchase wheelchair-accessible housing. (Rynearson Family Archive)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In late 1948, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwba.org\/history\" rel=\"noopener\">National Wheelchair Basketball Association<\/a> was established to oversee games and arrange an annual tournament. Over time, polio survivors, amputees, and other men, women, and adolescents with disabilities also took up the game and formed teams. The sport launched by paralyzed Veterans at VA hospitals after World War II is now played the world over, enabling disabled athletes everywhere to enjoy the thrill and pleasure of competition on the court.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the nation. However, for paraplegic Veterans after World War II it was impossible with the current equipment and wheelchairs at the time. While VA offered these Veterans a healthy dose of physical and occupational therapy as well as vocational training, patients craved something more. They wanted to return to the sports, like basketball, that they had grown up playing. Their wheelchairs, which were incredibly bulky and commonly weighed over 100 pounds limited play. <\/p>\n<p>However, the revolutionary wheelchair design created in the late 1930s solved that problem. Their chairs featured lightweight aircraft tubing, rear wheels that were easy to propel, and front casters for pivoting. Weighing in at around 45 pounds, the sleek wheelchairs were ideal for sports, especially basketball with its smooth and flat playing surface. The mobility of paraplegic Veterans drastically increased as they mastered the use of the chair, and they soon began to roll themselves into VA hospital gyms to shoot baskets and play pickup games.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":117388,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[89,28,91,24,94,32,8],"class_list":["post-115064","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-100-objects","tag-veteran-service-organization","tag-veterans-administration","tag-veterans-benefits","tag-veterans-bureau","tag-veterans-health-administration","tag-world-war-i","tag-world-war-ii"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/077-wheelchair-basketball\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Object 77: Wheelchair Basketball at VA","url":"http:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/077-wheelchair-basketball\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/077-wheelchair-basketball\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2026-03-04-135357.webp?w=300","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2026-03-04-135357.webp"},"articleSection":"History of VA in 100 Objects","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Department of Veterans Affairs (smw)"}],"creator":["Department of Veterans Affairs (smw)"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"VA History","logo":""},"keywords":["veteran service organization","veterans administration","veterans benefits","veterans bureau","veterans health administration","world war i","world war ii"],"dateCreated":"2024-04-12T17:17:25Z","datePublished":"2024-04-12T17:17:25Z","dateModified":"2026-03-04T21:55:21Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"Object 77: Wheelchair Basketball at VA\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/history\\\/077-wheelchair-basketball\\\/\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/history\\\/077-wheelchair-basketball\\\/\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/history\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/10\\\/2024\\\/04\\\/Screenshot-2026-03-04-135357.webp?w=300\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/history\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/10\\\/2024\\\/04\\\/Screenshot-2026-03-04-135357.webp\"},\"articleSection\":\"History of VA in 100 Objects\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Department of Veterans Affairs (smw)\"}],\"creator\":[\"Department of Veterans Affairs (smw)\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"VA History\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[\"veteran service organization\",\"veterans administration\",\"veterans benefits\",\"veterans bureau\",\"veterans health administration\",\"world war i\",\"world war ii\"],\"dateCreated\":\"2024-04-12T17:17:25Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-04-12T17:17:25Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-04T21:55:21Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/department.va.gov\/p.js"},"meta_box":{"external_links":"1","endorsement":"1","subheading":"","featured_image_alt_text":"Paralyzed World War II Veterans playing a practice game of wheelchair basket refereed by physical education teacher Robert Rynearson in the gym at the Birmingham VA Hospital in Van Nuys, California, c. 1946. Rynearson created the rules for wheelchair basketball and served as coach and manager of the Birmingham team. (Rynearson Family Archive)","byline":"Emme Richards, Virtual Student Federal Service Intern, VA History Office","author_title":"Virtual Student Federal Service Intern, VA History Office","external_source":"","external_source_url":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115064","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=115064"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115064\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":115074,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115064\/revisions\/115074"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/117388"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=115064"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=115064"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=115064"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}