Mission
To establish a standard of excellence and continue a tradition of success by developing athletes, staff and teams through education and training, to prepare current and future athletes and staff to serve as exemplary representatives of the United States.
Wheelchair Rugby was invented in 1977 by a group of Canadian quadriplegic athletes who were looking for a sport that would allow players with reduced arm and hand function to participate equally. Originally known as “murderball” because of its intense physical nature, the sport’s name was changed to “quad rugby,” but it is now known internationally as wheelchair rugby. By 1993 wheelchair rugby was officially recognized as a sport for athletes with disabilities and the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation was founded. In 1994, wheelchair rugby was recognized by the International Paralympic Committee as a Paralympic sport allowing the first Wheelchair Rugby World Championships to be held in Switzerland the following year. Wheelchair Rugby then made its Paralympic debut as a demonstration event in Atlanta in 1996. It became a medal sport at the Sydney 2000 Games, where the United States won the gold medal.
USA Wheelchair Rugby currently operates with Lakeshore Foundation as its National Governing body and is overseen by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
Official Procedures and Documents
As the home of USA Wheelchair Rugby, membership is open to all applicable groups including: amateur athletes, coaches, trainers, managers, administrators or officials. USA Wheelchair Rugby is committed to providing an equal opportunity to amateur athletes, coaches, trainers, managers, administrators, and officials to participate in amateur athletic competition, without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, or national origin and with fair notice and opportunity for a hearing before declaring any such individual ineligible to participate.
Board of Directors Leadership
- Greg Johnston (Chairman)
- Graham Sisson (Vice Chairman)
- Jay Brandrup (Treasurer)
- Frank H. Long, Jr. (Secretary)
Full Board of Directors roster with member terms
Lee Fredette has submitted a declaration of candidacy to serve on the Athlete Advisory Council (AAC) during the 2021-2024 term.
- 2024 USAWR Skills Assessment
- 2024 Paralympic Games Athlete Selection Procedures
- 2024 Paralympic Games Athlete Selection Procedures Approval Letter
- LNASO Response and Resolution Policy 2023
- How to Report a Concern – Aug 2023
- Lakeshore National Adapted Sports Organization (LNASO) Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies – Updated
- 2023 Parapan American Games Staff Selection Procedures
- 2023 Parapan American Games Staff Selection Procedures Approval Letter
- Lakeshore National Adapted Sports Organization (LNASO) Board Meeting Minutes (December 2022)
- Lakeshore National Adapted Sports Organization (LNASO) Bylaws (2022)
- Lakeshore National Adapted Sports Organization (LNASO) Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies
- 2023 USAWR Skill Assessment
- 2023 Parapan American Games Athlete Selection Procedures
- 2023 Parapan American Games Athlete Selection Procedures Approval Letter
- 2022 USA Wheelchair Rugby Administration Code of Conduct
- 2022 USA Wheelchair Rugby Athlete Code of Conduct
- Conflict of Interest Policy for the Lakeshore Foundation National Adapted Sport Organization (LNASO)
- Criminal Background Check Policy for the Lakeshore Foundation National Adapted Sport Organization
- Lakeshore National Adapted Sport Organization (LNASO) Complaint Procedures for National or U.S. Paralympic Teams
- Whistleblower Policy
- Gifts and Entertainment Policy
- 2022 Direct Athlete Support USA Wheelchair Rugby
- Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies
- How to Report a Concern
- 2021-2024 Quad USOPC AAC Election Procedures for Lakeshore Foundation (USA Wheelchair Rugby)
- USOPC Athletes’ Advisory Council Bylaws
- 2022 USAWR Anti-Doping Notification
- 2022 Training Squad Selection Procedures Amended May 2022
- 2022 Training Squad Selection Procedures
- 2020 PPAG_RUG_ATH Selection Procedures_AMENDED 6.30
- 2020 PPAG_RUG_ATH Selection Procedures USOPC Approval Letter AMENDED
- 2020 PPAG_RUG_ATH Selection Procedures
- 2020 PPAG RUG_ATH Selection Procedures_AMENDED_3_10
- 2020 PPAG_RUG_ATH Selection Procedures_AMENDED
- 2020 PPAG_RUG_ATH Selection Procedures_USOPC Approval Letter
- 2020 PPAG_RUG_ATH Selection Proceudres_AMENDED_USOPC Approval Letter
- 2020 PPAG RUG Complaint Procedure AMENDED
- 2020 Petition Procedures
- 2020 PPAG_RUG_Staff Selection Procedures (Amended 5.4.20)
- 2020 PPAG_RUG_Staff Selection Procedures_USOPC Approval Letter
- 2020 PPAG_RUG Staff Code of Conduct
- Updated Safe Sport Policy (December 2020)
- 2019 Athlete Selection Changes Letter_PPAG
- 2019 Athlete Selection Procedures
- 2019 Athlete Selection Procedures Approval
- 2019 Petition Procedures
- 2019 PPAG_RUG_Staff Selection Procedures_USOC Approval Letter
- 2019 Combined Staff Selection Procedures
- USOC AAC Election Procedures
- AAC Bylaws
- NGB/HPMO Athlete Safety Policy
- Responsible Sport Orgnization (RSO) Background Check Policy
- Safe Sport Policy
- Safe Sport Code_Effective 04-01-20
- Safe Sport Code Noteworthy Revisions 04-01-20
- Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP)
- Diversity & Inclusion Plan
- Lakeshore Foundation’s Bylaws
- 2021 Lakeshore Foundation Audited Financials
- 2020 Lakeshore Foundation Audited Financials
- 2019 Lakeshore Foundation Audited Financials
- 2018 Lakeshore Foundation Audited Financials
- 2017 Lakeshore Foundation Audited Financials
- 2016 Lakeshore Foundation Audited Financials
- 2020 Lakeshore Foundation 990
- 2019 Lakeshore Foundation 990
- 2018 Lakeshore Foundation 990
History
July 1990
World Stoke Mandeville Games – Ailesbury, England
Results: This is the first international competition ever held for the sport of Wheelchair Rugby. Team USA goes 4-0 to win the Gold Medal over Canada in the Championship.
July 1993
World Stoke Mandeville Games – Ailesbury, England
Results: Team USA goes 7-0 to win the Gold Medal over Great Britain.
July 1994
World Stoke Mandeville Games – Ailesbury, England
Results: Team USA goes 7-0 to win the Gold Medal over Great Britain.
October 1995
1st IWRF Wheelchair Rugby World Championships – Notwil, Switzerland
Results: Team USA goes 9-0 to win the Gold Medal over Canada. USA earns the number one seed for the 1996 Paralympics in Atlanta, Georgia.
June 1996
International Wheelchair Rugby Tournament – Toronto Canada
Results: Team USA team splits to two squads, the Americans and Nationals. The Americans defeated the Nationals in the Championship game to capture the Gold Medal.
August 1996
Paralympic Games – Atlanta, Georgia
Results: Wheelchair Rugby makes its Paralympic debut. Team USA goes undefeated, 7-0 to win the Gold Medal over Canada. USA Rugby was the only US “Team Sport” to capture Gold during the 1996 Paralympics.
June 1998
2nd IWRF Wheelchair Rugby World Championships – Toronto Canada
Results: Team USA goes undefeated, 7-0 to win the Gold Medal over New Zealand. USA earns the number one seed for the 2000 Paralympics held in Sydney, Australia.
October 1999
World Wheelchair Games – Christchurch, New Zealand
Results: Team USA takes a group of athletes with no previous World Championship or Paralympic experience to New Zealand to help develop future National teams. Despite facing the world’s best teams, USA’s team of rookies went 6-1 and captured the Gold Medal.
October 2000
Paralympic Games – Sydney, Australia
Results: Team USA goes undefeated, 5-0 to win the Gold Medal over Australia. More than 10,000 fans watched the Gold Medal game live, in addition to an estimated 8 million Australian TV viewers. Wheelchair Rugby was the most anticipated and exciting sport at the 2000 games.
January 2002
World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge – Warm Springs, Georgia
Results: Team USA splits to two squads, the Stars and the Stripes. Both teams go 5-0 and face each other to battle for Gold in the Championship game. In the end the Stripes captured the win by a single point in what became a triple overtime victory.
May 2002
3rd IWRF Wheelchair Rugby World Championships – Gothenburg, Sweden
Results: Team USA suffers its first loss in a championship game by one point to Canada and finish in second place with the Silver medal. The United States earns a spot for the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, Greece where they hope to regain the world title.
June 2003
US Paralympics North America Cup – Birmingham, Alabama
Results: As part of US Paralympics America Series, Team USA played Canada and won the rugby competition 29-25. While this game did not affect world rankings, it did help demonstrate the United States commitment to being the best in the world.
October 2003
World Wheelchair Games – Christchurch, New Zealand
Results: Team USA brings a mixed group of veteran and rookie athletes to New Zealand to sharpen playing skills in international competition. While Team USA played well and won the Bronze Medal, more importantly, they were able to gain valuable playing experience as they look towards Athens in 2004.
June 2004
US Paralympics North America Cup – Birmingham, Alabama
Results: The 2004 North America Cup was expanded this year to provide a world class competition opportunity as teams prepare for Athens. Paralympic teams from Canada, Germany, Great Britain and the United States each competed in Wheelchair Rugby, as did their respective teams in men and women’s Wheelchair Basketball. Every win earned team points and in the end it was the United States who won the overall competition. USA Paralympic Rugby swept it’s opponents, 5-0.
Canada Cup – Vancouver, British Columbia
Results: The inaugural Canada Cup featured 5 of the 8 countries who will compete in Wheelchair Rugby during the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, Greece. The Canada Cup results were used to determine the final seedings for Athens, and the United States earned top honors. USA Paralympic Rugby was undefeated (7-0) after three days of play and enters the 2004 Paralympics as the #1 seed.
September 2004
Paralympic Games – Athens, Greece
Results: Team USA goes 5 and 1 to win the Bronze Medal. The Gold Medal was won by New Zealand, who defeated Canada in a come from behind victory in the final minutes of play.
September 2005
World Wheelchair Games – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Results: Team USA brings two developmental teams (Stars and Stripes) to Brazil to provide international experience for their athletes. Following 3 days of competition, USA Stripes won the Gold medal with the USA Stars team bringing home the Silver.
June 2006
North America Cup – Birmingham, Alabama
Results: Team USA faced the four top ranked countries in the world and went 5 and 0 to win the North America Cup for the third consecutive time.
June 2006
Canada Cup – Vancouver, British Columbia
Results: The Canada Cup featured 8 of the top ranked countries in the world. Team USA went 5 and 0 for the weekend, and defeated top ranked New Zealand in triple overtime to win the Gold Medal.
September 2006
4th IWRF Wheelchair Rugby World Championships
Results: Team USA goes 7 and 0, defeating host country New Zealand in the final match for Gold. This win qualifies Team USA for the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China and returns their world ranking to the top team in the world.
2008
Paralympic Games- Beijing, China
Results: Team USA takes home Gold!
2009
1st Americas Championship- Buenos Aires, Argentina
Results: United States wins 1st Place
2010
5th World Championship- Vancouver, Canada
Results: United States finishes first
2011
2nd Americas Championship- Bogota, Colombia
Results: United States wins 1st Place
2012
Paralympic Games- London, UK
Results: Team USA finishes third, securing the bronze medal
2013
3rd Americas Championship- Birmingham, AL, USA
Results: United States wins 1st Place
2014
6th World Championship- Odense, Denmark
Results: United States finishes 3rd place
2015
Parapan American Games- Toronto, Canada
Results: Team USA finishes 2nd, securing the silver medal
2016
Paralympic Games- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Results: Team USA finishes 2nd, securing the silver medal
2017
4th Americas Championship- Asuncion, Paraguay
2018
7th World Championship- Sydney, Australia
Results: United States finishes 3rd place
2019
Parapan American Games- Lima, Peru
Results: Team USA secures the Gold medal and qualifies for Tokyo 2020
2021
Paralympic Games – Tokyo, Japan
Results: Team USA finishes second