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NWBA Leadership Approves Military Pilot Program

By NWBA Team, 08/10/21, 12:15PM CDT

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At the most recent NWBA Board of Directors Meeting, the Board voted unanimously to approve a pilot program for a Military Division. The NWBA roots are steeped in supporting the men and women of the military in their efforts to rehabilitate through sport.

The recent book “Wheels Of Courage” chronicled the advent of the sport, starting in Veteran’s administration hospitals beginning 1946. Dr. Nugent, NWBA Founder, would play a role in that setting in Galesburg, Illinois and shortly thereafter founded the NWBA in 1949 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The NWBA is excited to announce this pilot program, which is aimed at expanding participation and eligibility for this population that was the impetus for wheelchair basketball since its inception.

Key features of this initiative are:

- A focused division for teams comprised solely of active and former service men and women

- Leveraging the classification system used by Warrior Games, as they have historically governed their competition with inclusion of TBI and PTSD

- Inclusion of participants with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other eligible conditions as found in the Warrior Games Minimum Disability Category

Lee Montgomery and Hannah Walker will play the role of Division Leadership, as Commissioner and Chair, respectively. We are grateful for their ongoing commitment to grow this segment of NWBA Membership and for their willingness to bring their experience working with Warrior Games in various capacities in the past. They will work with NWBA President, Tim Fox, to continue to build out the composition of this committee, as well as outline more detailed goals to measure the success of this pilot.

The NWBA and Military Division leadership will manage an outreach process with the various military organizations that currently conduct wheelchair basketball programming and competitions. This will help the NWBA identify, attract, and develop more participants with a military background who might benefit from this initiative. We are excited to collaborate with these organizations to provide more access to wheelchair basketball for these heroes, as well as showcasing their talents through NWBA programming.

Complete details on this pilot program including process for developing & registering a team, participating in events, playing rules and more with be shared by the committee when determined.

For anyone interested in learning more, please feel free to reach out directly to Hannah Walker at: hannah.walker@houstontx.gov