Phys. Ed students at the SRSS had the chance to experience a familiar sport from an unfamiliar perspective last week.

In an effort to do introduce his students to new ideas, Phys. Ed. Teacher Jamie Peters says he has been trying to offer wheelchair basketball in the school for the past couple of years. Finally, during the recent SRSS Innovation Week, that dream came true.

According to Peters, the Manitoba Wheelchair Sport Association made the chairs available for his classes over a period of a few weeks. Students were given a brief introduction to the sport before being allowed to get onto wheelchairs of their own.

“One thing I learned from the presenter who came and talked to us was that there is actually wheelchair basketball for fully able-bodied people as well," comments Peters, "apparently it’s a really good upper-body workout.”

As students began wheeling around the gymnasium, they practiced moving, turning, shooting and dribbling the basketball all while staying seated. Then….the game was on!

“It was something different for the kids to try where they all started at ground zero,” explains Peters. “None of the students had any prior experience with the chair, so it was nice to see how they all progressed within that hour-long session.”

Peters says wheelchair basketball put all students on the same playing field.

Student Philip Giesbrecht says playing wheelchair basketball gave him a greater appreciation for those who are physically disabled.

“It showed me how fast they can go for one,” laughs Giesbrecht, “but it also shows how much they actually have to do while on wheelchairs... my perspective is a bit different now.”

Though it was not the sole purpose of Innovation Week, Peters says the wheelchair exercise did seem to give students a unique insight into how life looks different from a chair. He feels this activity proved to be a refreshing change from regular classes.

“Moving around in a chair was a totally new thing for students are used to walking around and being able to control things,” notes Peters. The gym teacher is glad his students were able to have fun from the experience and gaining a greater appreciation of their own mobility at the same time.