An exciting and groundbreaking afternoon of wheelchair basketball took place at the Trinity Sports Centre on Tuesday 6 May. For the first time, Trinity students and staff were invited to experience the sport, with the chance to try out wheelchair basketball firsthand. The session was coordinated by Trinity Sport scholar Melanie Griffith, Trinity Sport and Trinity disAbility service. Melanie Griffith shared her delight at the well-attended event, "It was amazing to see so many students turn up and get involved in wheelchair basketball and experience just how fun and competitive it can be."
Two wheelchair basketball sessions were facilitated on the day with wheelchairs kindly made available by Leinster Wheelchair Rugby League Club and Killester Wheelchair Basketball Club. The first session was attended by fifteen people with a mix of staff and students connected with Trinity disAbility service. The second session was also attended by fifteen people including Trinity Sport staff, scholarship students, Trinity Women's Rugby Club and Trinity’s Basketball Club.
The session was hands-on from the start. After a brief introduction to the sport and a tutorial on how to manoeuvre the wheelchairs, participants jumped straight into action. They began by practicing basic skills such as pushing, turning, stopping, and dribbling—skills that require significant upper body strength and coordination. Players then went on to practice shooting for the first time, quickly realising the challenge of aiming from a seated position. Laughter and sounds of determination filled the court as students and staff tested their accuracy and adjusted to the new perspective.
Small-sided games followed, with teams playing fast-paced matches of 4v4 and 5v5. As the games progressed, participants picked up key rules of wheelchair basketball - like the ‘two-push’ rule which limits how many times a player can push their chair while holding the ball; the importance of maintaining position; and how contact is regulated. Despite many players being completely new to the sport, the matches were competitive, energetic and full of spirit, giving everyone a real appreciation for the skill and strategy involved in the game!
Melanie Griffith began her basketball journey playing running basketball with Old Leighlin from a young age. After a motocross accident in 2022 resulted in a spinal cord injury, she was introduced to wheelchair basketball during her rehabilitation. She quickly progressed, joining a club the week she left hospital and soon training with the Irish women's academy team and competing in high-performance camps and the GB Women's League. Now playing for Killester and balancing her main sport, rugby league where she represents Leinster, Wigan Warriors, and Ireland, Melanie remains committed to increasing access to sport. Unable to compete for Trinity in her usual disciplines, Melanie makes it her mission to bring wheelchair basketball to campus.
The session on 6 May 2025 marks a major milestone, giving students of all abilities the chance to play together on a level playing field. With her degree just completed, Melanie hopes the event sparks lasting change and leads to more wheelchair sports in Trinity’s future: “As both a player and organiser, it means a lot to help break down barriers and raise awareness of inclusive sport."
Eithne Coleman from Trinity disAbility Service added, “I’m incredibly grateful to Trinity Sport and Melanie Griffith for creating such a fun and energetic experience. Playing wheelchair basketball for the first time was both humbling and inspiring and gave myself and my team a real appreciation for the skill and teamwork the sport demands. Having worked with Melanie last year during the Inclusive Internship programme, it was a privilege to see her in action outside of the office and on the court, bringing her expertise and insight to the game. Most of all, I really valued the spirit of collaboration between services, staff and students - it was a fantastic way to connect, learn from each other, and celebrate inclusivity through sport."
Michelle Tanner, Director of Sport and Physical Activity at Trinity College, welcomed the event as a reflection of Trinity’s ongoing commitment to inclusion, commenting: “The 'Come & Try Wheelchair Basketball' event is a fantastic example of how Trinity Sport is delivering on our mission to inspire, engage and connect people through inclusive and supportive opportunities. As part of our ‘Realising Potential: A Strategy for Sport and Physical Activity at Trinity 2022–2026’, we are committed to fostering a welcoming environment where everyone, regardless of ability, can experience the benefits of sport and physical activity. Events like this bring our strategy to life and with the support of the University, our team hopes to deliver more inclusive sporting events like this in the future. I would like to thank everyone involved for their support for this event."
Photographs: Jimena Alverez and Luke Patzold