Wheelchair Tennis is a relatively new sport, and although it has been played in the past its development began in 1976 by a wheelchair tennis player. Mammoth efforts were put forth into the initial marketing and promoting of the sport. These efforts paid off when the IWTF (International Wheelchair Tennis Federation) was formed in 1988. As news of wheelchair tennis spread across the nation, and gradually the world, invitations from new countries wanting to establish wheelchair tennis programs began to come in. When the IWTF was formed in 1988 there were just eight member nations and now there are over 70 countries with memberships. Despite a great beginning, it wasn’t until the IWTF gained a full time officer in 1991 that the resources and structures were in place to allow for a decent worldwide development.
The IWTF's development programs are all about increasing awareness of wheelchair tennis around the world. "New" countries are constantly being encouraged to become involved while existing countries and established players are encouraged to assist. As the IWTF started to visit new nations, it became apparent very quickly that the biggest barrier for most new countries was lack of equipment. Over the years, many players have donated their old wheelchairs to new and developing countries to help them start a wheelchair tennis program.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is the governing body for Wheelchair Tennis and is advised by the International Wheelchair Tennis Association (IWTA). Both organizations have web sites which include current news relating to wheelchair tennis, tournaments and rankings. There is also information on getting started in the game, 2004 rules and regulations, a list of coaches and more. There are also many other websites to find information relating to wheelchair tennis such as: the United States Tennis Association, Worldwide Wheelchair Tennis Ladder, Tennis 101, and the Paralympics organization. Anyone interested in wheelchair tennis can also pick read magazines to learn more: Wheelchair Tennis Coaches Manual, Wheelchair Tennis Coaches Review, ITF World and More than Tennis.
GAME RULES
The game follows traditional tennis rules and maintains the same traditions of high levels of skill, fitness and strategy. The only difference in wheelchair tennis regulations is that players are allowed two bounces of the ball—the first bounce has to be within the bounds of the court. The player must return the ball before it hits the ground a third time.
The wheelchair is part of the body and all applicable ITF Rules which apply to a player's body shall apply to the wheelchair. The served ball may, after hitting the ground in the service court, hit the ground once again within the bounds of the court or it may hit the ground outside the court boundaries before the receiver returns it.
The service shall be delivered in the following manner: immediately before commencing to serve, the server shall be in a stationary position. The server shall then be allowed one push before striking the ball. Because the wheelchair is considered an extension of the player, throughout the delivery of service the server’s wheelchair cannot touch any area that an able-bodied player cannot touch with their feet.
The ball is in play until the point is decided. The ball must be returned into the opponent's court prior to it touching the ground a third time. The second bounce can be either in or out of the court boundaries. A wheelchair player loses a point if: he/she fails to return the ball before it has touched the ground three times; uses any part of his feet or lower extremities (defined as limbs—hip, thigh, leg, ankle, foot and buttocks) as brakes or as stabilizers while delivering the service, stroking a ball, turning or stopping; or, fails to keep one buttock in contact with his wheelchair seat when contacting the ball.
If a wheelchair player is playing with or against an able-bodied player in singles or in doubles, the rules of wheelchair tennis shall apply for the wheelchair player while the rules of tennis for able-bodied tennis shall apply for the able-bodied player. In this instance, the wheelchair player is allowed two bounces while the able-bodied player is allowed only one bounce.
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT
Wheelchair tennis can be played on any regular tennis court, with no modification to rackets and balls. However, there are special wheelchairs designed for players. These wheelchairs have wheels that are slanted outwards to provide speed and maneuverability and are more lightweight than traditional wheelchairs.
TIPS
A wheelchair player needs to work on upper-body strength rather than upper-body and legs such as able-bodies player might do. A wheelchair player will also have to practice the two-bounce rule and maneuvering the wheelchair with one hand while holding or swinging the racket with the other. This may be especially hard for anyone who was a tennis player before requiring a wheelchair. But, as with all things, practice and determination are they keys to being successful
ELIGIBILITY
In order to be eligible to compete in a sanctioned ITF wheelchair tournament or the Paralympic games, a player must have a medically diagnosed and permanent mobility-related physical disability. This permanent physical disability must result in a substantial or total loss of function in one or more lower extremities. If these functional limitations mean that a player is unable to play competitive able-bodied tennis (having the mobility to cover the court with adequate speed), then the player is eligible to play competitive wheelchair tennis in sanctioned ITF wheelchair tennis tournaments.
Examples of permanent disabilities that meet the eligibility criteria are: paralysis; amputation; radiological evidence of limb shortening; partial to full joint ankylosis or joint replacement. These disabilities must consistently interfere with functional mobility. Conditions such as soft tissue contracture, ligamentous instability, edema or disuse atrophy, or symptoms such as pain or numbness, without the other eligibility criteria listed above will not be considered a permanent physical disability. A quadriplegic division player shall be characterized as one who meets the criteria for permanent physical disability as defined above in at least three extremities. If conventional methods for the service are physically impossible for a quadriplegic player, then another individual may drop the ball for such a player.
Because wheelchair tennis integrates easily with the able-bodied game wheelchair players can easily play with or against able-bodied friends and family. And, in fact, there are tournaments called “Up—Down” in which a wheelchair player is pitted against an able-bodied player. This integration has allowed the game to grow much faster than other adaptive sports.
