Wheelchair Tennis

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Wheelchair Tennis
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USA Tennis Association

• Wheelchair tennis provides persons with
  disabilities the opportunity to share in
  activities with their peers and family, whether
  able-bodied or disabled. Playing wheelchair
  tennis adds to socialization and the
  normalization of life after sustaining a
  disabling injury. Proficient wheelchair users can
  play and actively compete against stand-up
  players.

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How did it begin?

• Founded by Brad Parks in 1976
• Brad received spinal cord injury during freestyle
  skiing competition when he was 18 years old.
• Brad met rec therapist Jeff Minnenbraker
  (wheelchair athlete from L.A) who was also
  interested in wheelchair tennis
• The two began setting up camps exhibitions
  across the west coast

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Advancement of wheelchair tennis

• 1980- National foundation of wheelchair tennis
  was formed (NFWT)
• 1986- Womens wheelchair tennis was included
• 1988- International Wheelchair Tennis Federation
  was formed. Brad Parks elected as first
  president
• 1992- Wheelchair tennis becomes full medal sport
  in paralympics in Barcelona. Randy Snow (USA)
  was the first double gold medalist.
• 1998- A quad division was included in the World
  Cup
• 2004- Paralympic games in Athens Greece. First
  time quad singles and quad doubles event was
  included.
• 2005- First wheelchair tennis tournament on grass
  debut at Wimbledon

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Where is it played?

• Can be played on any regular tennis court
• No modifications to rackets or balls
• players with impaired grip strength may tape
  racket to hand

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Rules/Regulations

• Wheelchair tennis follows the same rules and
  regulations as able-bodied tennis with the
  exception of allowing the ball to bounce twice
• Can be played on asphalt, clay and grass courts

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Who can play?

• To compete in ITF sanctioned wheelchair tennis
  tournaments and the paralympics the player must
  have a medically diagnosed permanent mobility
  related disability which must result in a
  substantial loss of function in one or both
  extremities. Must also meet one of the
  following eligibility criteria
• 1-A neurological deficit at the S1 level or
  proximal, associated with loss of motor function,
  or
• 2- Anklosis and/or severe arthrosis and/or joint
  replacement of the hip, knee or upper ankle
  joints, or
• 3-Amputation of any lower extremity joint
  proximal to the metatarsophalangeal joint, or

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Who can play? cont.

• -A player with functional disabilities in one or
  both lower extremities equivalent to 1,2, or 3
  above.

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Players with Quadriplegia

• Quad tennis is for those players with limited
  mobility, power and strength in both lower
  extremities and at least one of their two upper
  extremities.
• Included in this category are walking
  quadriplegics, power wheelchair users and triple
  amputees.
• Persons with little or no gripping ability use
  athletic tape or specially made devices to hold
  the racquet.
• Quad players may serve with a bounce or have
  someone toss the ball for them.
• http//www.norcal.usta.com/communitytennis/custom.
  sps?iType1948icustompageid4802quadriplegic

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Power Wheelchairs

• Players with severe limitations that prevent them
  from using a manual chair (and use a power chair
  for everyday mobility) may use a power wheelchair
  to play.
• Once a player decides to use a power chair they
  must do so in all events sanctioned by the ITF.

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Recreational Competitive Divisions

• There are several divisions that identify the
  levels of play in wheelchair tennis. wheelchair
  tennis players play in able-bodied events with
  two bounces and can be rated according to NTRP
  characteristics.
• OPEN This player has had intensive training for
  tournament competition at the national and
  international levels. Excellent chair mobility.
• A This player has good shot anticipation and has
  developed power and/or consistency as a major
  weapon. Can vary strategies and styles of play in
  a competitive situation. Hits dependable shots in
  a stress situation. Solid chair mobility.
• B This player has begun to master the use of
  power and spins is beginning to handle pace and
  vary game plan according to opponents. Good chair
  mobility.

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Divisions cont.

• C This player has achieved improved stroke
  dependability with directional control on
  moderate shots, but lacks depth and variety.
  Learning consistent chair mobility.
• D This player is learning to judge where the
  ball is going although court coverage is weak.
  This player can sustain a short rally of slow
  pace with players of the same ability. Slow,
  inconsistent chair mobility.
• Tournaments are held in every major region of the
  USA, in all sections of the USTA, and in over 70
  foreign countries. US national Championships are
  held on clay and indoors and outdoors on hard
  surfaces.
• http//www.norcal.usta.com/communitytennis/custom.
  sps?iType1948icustompageid4802

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Champions on Wheels

• A documentary film on wheelchair tennis by Grace
  Shafir
• http//www.wheelchairchampions.com/index.html

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Wheelchair tennis in Sacramento/Northern CA

• Del Norte Country Club
• -offers wheelchair tennis lessons with a
  certified USPTR coach and assistant coach.
• Upcoming events
• -June 16-18Sacramento Capitals Wheelchair Tennis
  Tournament at Johnson Ranch Racquet Club in
  Roseville
• -Sep. 2-3 Golden State Wheelchair Challenge in
  Los Gatos
• Sep. 29-Oct. 1 21st Tahoe Donner International
  Wheelchair Tennis Section Championships in Tahoe
  area