Start Date
19-6-2025 9:00 AM
End Date
19-6-2025 10:30 AM
Abstract
Introduction Wheelchair basketball participation has the potential to positively impact participants’ physical, social, and emotional well-being (Kirk et al., 2024). For young participants, parents play a key role in facilitating participation, especially when considering elite-level, U.S. national tournament participation. This study examined the experiences of parents of wheelchair basketball athletes who were participating in a national tournament.
Methodology These data were part of a larger dataset collected at the 2024 U.S. National Wheelchair Basketball Association national youth tournament. Parents were asked to participate in one-to-one or small focus group interviews about their experience as a wheelchair basketball parent. Data were thematically analysed to understand their experiences.
Results At present, data from 23 parents are still being analysed. Preliminary theme construction revolves around three concepts: 1) the experiences of being a part of a team, 2) the concept of family within an individual team and the NWBA network as a whole, and 3) opportunities for their children beyond basketball.
Conclusions While the results are preliminary, we believe the findings of this study highlight unique aspects of sport culture that are absent from nondisabled youth sport. In addition, parents discuss that while sport is a central component of why they attend, it isn’t necessarily the most important or impactful result of participation, which may actually be the community and opportunities presented to them.
Recommended Citation
Holland, Katherine E.; Holland, Steven K.; and McKay, Cathy, "“It’s like a big family reunion”: Parent experiences of a national wheelchair basketball tournament in the United States" (2025). International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness. 12.
https://sword.mtu.ie/isapa/2025/day4/12
“It’s like a big family reunion”: Parent experiences of a national wheelchair basketball tournament in the United States
Introduction Wheelchair basketball participation has the potential to positively impact participants’ physical, social, and emotional well-being (Kirk et al., 2024). For young participants, parents play a key role in facilitating participation, especially when considering elite-level, U.S. national tournament participation. This study examined the experiences of parents of wheelchair basketball athletes who were participating in a national tournament.
Methodology These data were part of a larger dataset collected at the 2024 U.S. National Wheelchair Basketball Association national youth tournament. Parents were asked to participate in one-to-one or small focus group interviews about their experience as a wheelchair basketball parent. Data were thematically analysed to understand their experiences.
Results At present, data from 23 parents are still being analysed. Preliminary theme construction revolves around three concepts: 1) the experiences of being a part of a team, 2) the concept of family within an individual team and the NWBA network as a whole, and 3) opportunities for their children beyond basketball.
Conclusions While the results are preliminary, we believe the findings of this study highlight unique aspects of sport culture that are absent from nondisabled youth sport. In addition, parents discuss that while sport is a central component of why they attend, it isn’t necessarily the most important or impactful result of participation, which may actually be the community and opportunities presented to them.