Name: Darren Parris
Coaching Certificate: Level 2
Classification: 3.0
Height: 5foot 10inches (before my legs were removed) 🙂
Mobility Aids: Prosthetic legs and Wheelchair user.
Also a Basketball Level 1 referee
Due to medical conditions, I was never able to be sportive from childhood.
I was stopped in the street by Stuart asking me if I wanted to go to Wheelchair Basketball, at the time I had a left leg amputation, and my right leg was fused straight at the knee, so therefore sticking out straight. In my opinion there was no way I could play Wheelchair Basketball. Or so I thought…..
A while later, in 2015 I had my second leg amputated, and a couple of months later, my wife told me she had heard about a wheelchair basketball team at the local university.
I went along and within minutes, I was hooked. Finally I was as competitive as everyone else, playing on an equal platform. I was not the best player (probably never will be) but enjoyed playing every minute of it and for the first time felt so competitive. (See the picture, this was my first taste at Wheelchair Basketball)
In 2017, I first became a level 1 assistant coach, then with further training (from a Paralympic Wheelchair Basketball player and coach), I trained and qualified to be a level 2 coach. I can now legitimately provide coaching to the rest of the team. This has been a phenomenal achievement for me, with which I am very proud.
Along with the other coaches at Northants Phoenix, we can provide an exciting experience for both ‘Able Bodied’ people and others that are less able, regardless of age.
Want to read my amputation stories? Click Here
I am also proud to be featured in the book by Wendy Smith (Paralympian and Author)
The Quickfix guide to Wheelchair Basketball