Communiqué
Quad Rugby Blitzes into Athens on October 3
< < Back toBy Sydney Clancy
With the school year now in full swing, the College of Health Sciences and Professions and the Division of Physical Therapy are gearing up for their signature event, Fourplay! This is the ninth year Ohio University has welcomed the Buckeye Blitz Team, a semi-professional team out of Columbus, Ohio, for the annual Quad Rugby Tournament.
The tournament will be held on October 3 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Ping Center. Local teams, made up of those who are not currently experiencing disability, will pay $100 to take on the Blitz to raise awareness of adaptive sports and people with spinal cord injuries. The proceeds from the event will go toward raising money for equipment, tournament fees and travel costs for the Blitz.
Quad Rugby is a game created by five Canadian wheelchair athletes in 1976 to allow quadriplegics the opportunity to play offensive and defensive roles. Although it is known as Quad Rugby in the United States., it is still known as Wheelchair Rugby internationally. Countries from all over the world compete yearly in the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation World Wheelchair Rugby Championships.
According to the United States Quad Rugby Association, Quad Rugby is a simple game with complex strategies. It is played on a basketball sized court with a volleyball in hand. Although it is a full contact sport, there is no personal touching, such as slapping or punching, allowed. The object of the game is similar to football. You score a goal by passing the goal line with possession of the ball. The game of Quad Rugby is very aggressive and will leave you on the edge of your seat until the last second.
The annual event, led by Ohio University Physical Therapy students, was the first student-organized fundraising event for Quad Rugby in all of Ohio. Even if you aren’t quite brave enough to take on the Blitz, Ohio University students and community members alike are encouraged to come and support the players free of charge.
Fourplay is a can’t-miss event that brings the community together to support disabilities awareness and adaptive sports. Questions about the event should be directed to Brooke Vaughan at vaughanb@ohio.edu.