Wheelchair rugby is officially in Red Deer for the first time after a new resident took the initiative to launch the new program.
The full-contact, high-paced sport was brought to Red Deer in March of this year to form the Reapers.
Founder Gerry Kress has been involved in the sport since the late 1990s but in the 2000s he helped form the Edmonton Steel Wheels wheelchair rugby team.
A little over a year ago Kress moved to Red Deer and recently developed an interest to start a team in the area. They have aspirations to potentially form a league in Alberta alongside the Steel Wheels and a program in Calgary called the Inferno.
Eventually, they hope to expand further to compete across Canada and internationally.
“We’re just trying to build a team and get people out that have disabilities that can qualify to play. Hopefully, we can get a league going here in Alberta,” he said.
The not-for-profit organization has held multiple practices since March and has seen strong interest from local residents.
They even received a few donations of wheelchairs from the clubs in Edmonton and Calgary for people to try. Kress added through Wheelchair Sports Alberta they’ve also secured funding which will be used to fund travel, gym time, as well as more wheelchairs which can cost as much as $12,000 each.
Kress explained they hope to have a team of established athletes by the end of May to get ready for the season that begins in the fall.
The rugby chair is not built like typical wheelchairs. They’re specialized chairs for full contact and go through significant punishment.
The game used to be called “murderball” due to its physical nature.
Wheelchair Rugby he said is actually not very similar to classic rugby and combines the rules of basketball and hockey in some ways.
The goal of the game is simple.
Two teams of four players each compete to score goals by carrying the ball across the opposing team’s goal line. The players move around the court while carrying the ball and while doing that their teammates block for them while getting hit. You also have to either bounce the ball or pass it within 10 seconds and can only have four players on the court at one time.
“It’s a very strategic game,” he said.
Those hoping to play rugby must have a physical disability, such as spinal cord injuries, amputations, or cerebral palsy to meet the classification.
It’s a mixed sport so both male and female competitors are welcome to play and must be at least 18 years old to compete. Those who are interested can contact Kress at Reddeerreapers@gmail.com or on their Facebook page. They’ll also be holding a practice on Friday evening at Red Deer Polytechnic in the gym on the main campus at 6:30 p.m.
“It’s a game changer in terms of a person with a disability. You get so much more than just a game, there’s just so much camaraderie. When you get together with a bunch of people that have disabilities you learn so much from each other.
“It actually gives a person a good sense of purpose and it’s a very exciting game.”
