Boccia

Strategically similar to lawn bowling, Boccia is played indoors on a flat, smooth surface. The objective is to throw, kick, or use an assistive device to propel leather balls (six per competitor) as close as possible to a white target ball (called the “jack”) on a long, narrow field of play. A match has four ends. At the end of the game players receive 1 point for each ball closer to the “jack” than their opponent’s.

 For more information: Ben Marston, Parasport Coordinator, Sport Nova Scotia
bmarston@sportnovascotia.ca, (902) 425-5450 ext. 375.

CanoeKayak

CanoeKayak PaddleALL is a new project of CanoeKayak Canada, introduced in 2006-07. It is a program aimed at promoting individuals with disabilities to participate in the sport of CanoeKayak. Many successful PaddleALL programs are already in place across Canada. The positive impact of these programs at individual clubs propelled CanoeKayak Canada in 2007 to begin a national initiative to support national standards in promotion, recruitment, coaching and competition. The program is a direct outgrowth of CKC’s strategy to give our member Clubs the resources to meet the paddling needs of their local communities all across Canada.

For more information: Cassie Edgar, Atlantic Division, CanoeKayak Canada
programcoordinator@adckc.ca, (902) 466-9925.

Cross Country Skiing

Paralympic athletes cross-country ski on tracks ranging from 2.5km to 20km, depending on the event. They use an interval start system, as well as the Nordic Percentage System, to equalize across categories. Paralympic cross-country skiing also has a relay event where each skier completes one leg of the race. Relay teams may be made up of individuals in different classification categories.

 For more information: Tamara Stephen, Cross Country Ski Nova Scotia
ccsns@sportnovascotia.ca, (902) 425-5450 ext. 316.

Equestrian

Equestrian is a multi-disability sport. It is a unique competition in that men and women compete on the same terms and both horse and rider are declared medal winners. All riders are grouped according to their functional profiles and they are judged on their ability to control and manoeuvre the horses. Riders unable to give signals to the horse with their legs are required to develop creative ways to communicate with the horse such as utilising a dressage whip or other aid.

For more information: Heather Myrer, Nova Scotia Equestrian Federation
nsef@sportnovascotia.ca, (902) 425-5450 ext. 333.

Goalball

Paralympic goalball is exclusive to athletes with visual impairments. Goalball is an intensely unique spectator sport given the venue atmosphere and extreme concentration and silence required by the athletes.

Goalball is a team sport for both men and women. Each team is comprised of six players with no more than three players per team (1 centre and 2 wingers) permitted on the court at any one time. The objective of the games is to roll the ball into the opponent's goal while the opposing players try to block the ball with their bodies. Goals are scored by rolling a ball (called a goalball) toward the opposing team’s goal. Goals span the width of the court at each end. The team with the most goals wins.

 For more information: Ben Marston, Parasport Coordinator, Sport Nova Scotia
bmarston@sportnovascotia.ca, (902) 425-5450 ext. 375.

Rowing

The basic techniques of adaptive rowing are the same as rowing for the able-bodied. ‘Adaptive’ simply refers to the adaptation of equipment to the user to practice the sport.

Adaptive rowing includes rowing or sculling for male and female athletes with a disability who meet the criteria set out in the adaptive rowing classification regulations.

For more information: Janessa Green, Row Nova Scotia
jgreen@sportnovascotia.ca, (902) 425-5450 ext. 357.

Sailing

In Paralympic Sailing, athletes compete in one of three non-gender specific events: single-person keelboat (2.4mR), two-person keelboat, and, three-person keelboat (Sonar).

Races consist of nine separate runs. Final placings are determined by the accumulation of points scored in each race. The winning team is the one that scores the lowest total points. In Paralympic sailing, sailors race under the fleet racing format, meaning all yachts race the course at the same time.

For more information: Frank Denis, Nova Scotia Yachting Association
nsya@sportnovascotia.ca, (902) 425-5450 ext. 312.

Sledge Hockey

Sledge hockey is the Paralympic version of ice hockey. It is fast-paced, highly physical, and played by athletes with a physical disability in the lower part of the body. Sledge hockey is an extremely exciting game for players and spectators and is currently played in 15 countries. To date, Canada, Norway, the USA, and Sweden have dominated international competitions, although strength is growing among other national teams.

 For more information: Darren Cossar, Hockey Nova Scotia
dcoossar@hockeynovascotia.ca, (902) 454-9400.

Swimming

Swimming is one of the longest standing sports for athletes with a disability. World records of visually impaired swimmers closely match those of their able-bodied peers. Next to athletics, swimming attracts the largest number of competitors for any sport at the Paralympics. Swimming has been part of the Paralympics since the first games in Rome in 1960. Today, men and women with physical disabilities or blindness/visual impairment compete in swimming events in more than 80 countries worldwide.

For more information: Bette El-Hawary, Swim Nova Scotia
swimming@sportnovascotia.ca, (902) 425-5450 ext. 314.

Table Tennis

Table tennis appeared at the first games in Rome in 1960, making it one of the original Paralympic sports. However, standing players classified as amputees and les autres have only been included since the 1976 Toronto Games, and athletes with cerebral palsy only since 1980. The objective of table tennis is to hit the ball over a net and into the opponent's table area so that he/she is unable to hit a successful return. Men and women compete individually (one against one), in doubles, and in team events.

For more information: John MacPherson, Nova Scotia Table Tennis Association
johnsmacpherson@hotmail.com, (902) 434-6881.

Wheelchair Basketball

Not surprisingly, wheelchair basketball is one of the most popular spectator sports at the Paralympics. It is a fast-paced team game that attracts competitive athletes with physical disabilities that prevent them from running, jumping, and pivoting. Not all athletes who play wheelchair basketball require the use of a wheelchair for daily life.

Open to male and female athletes, wheelchair basketball requires two teams to play. Each team has twelve players with just five on court during playtime. The objective of each team is to score more points than the opposing team. Points are given for scoring goals by shooting the basketball into the opposing team’s basket. A goal scores from one to three points . Teams actively try to prevent the opposing team from making goals. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.

For more information: Liam Blanchard, Basketball Nova Scotia
blanchard@basketball.ns.ca, (902) 425-5450 ext. 348.

Wheelchair Curling

The objective of wheelchair curling is to get the 19.1 kilogram stone as close to the centre ring as possible. Two co-ed teams play at a time, each having four members. A game consists of eight ends. During an end, teams alternate turns with each player “throwing,” in fact sliding, two rocks toward the rings. In wheelchair curling there is no sweeping, which means each throw has to be even more precise. The player’s wheelchair must be stationary during the throw and the stones can be thrown by hand or given an initial push with a cue.

For more information: Jeremiah Anderson, Nova Scotia Curling Association
nsca@sportnovascotia.ca, (902) 425-5450 ext. 345.

Wheelchair Rugby

Wheelchair rugby is a very fast-paced, competitive game, and an exciting spectator sport. The objective is to score more goals than the opposing team. Goals are scored by players crossing the opponent’s goal line while in possession of the ball. Players carry, dribble, or pass the ball while moving toward the opponents’ goal area. The ball must be dribbled or passed at least once every ten seconds. A goal is scored when a player in control of the ball touches their opponent’s goal line with two wheels. Contact between wheelchairs is permitted and can be integral to the game. Players frequently collide as they try to stop opponents and take control of the ball. Some forms of more dangerous contact are not permitted and can result in penalties.

For more information: Marty Williams, Rugby Nova Scotia
rugby@sportnovascotia.ca, (902) 425-5450 ext. 341.

Wheelchair Tennis

Tennis is a sport played between two players (singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles). Each player uses a strung racquet to hit the tennis ball (a hollow rubber ball covered with felt) over a net into the opponent's court. Wheelchair tennis is played on a standard tennis court and has only one exception to able-bodied tennis rules: the ball is allowed to bounce two times as long as the first bounce is within court boundaries. Players must return the ball before its third bounce. In this sport, the wheelchair is considered part of the body; therefore, all rules that apply to a player's body also apply to the wheelchairs.

For more information: Roger Keating, Tennis Nova Scotia
tennisns@sportnovascotia.ca, (902) 425-5450 ext. 318.