Recently, adapted or inclusive youth sport has garnered increased scholarly recognition as an avenue to healthful physical activity and psychosocial growth for disabled young people. One such sport is wheelchair tennis.
Competitors are classified by the International Paralympic Committee into two classes, open class and quad class. Open class players have significant and permanent impairment of one or both legs while still possessing normal arm function.
Rules
Wheelchair Tennis is one of the fastest-growing adaptive sports worldwide, integrating seamlessly with traditional able-bodied competition and requiring almost no modifications to equipment or court surfaces. As well as being an enjoyable social activity, wheelchair tennis enhances tactical thinking skills, builds confidence, improves hand-eye coordination and provides aerobic exercise benefits.
Wheelchair tennis rules are similar to able-bodied tennis, except that wheelchair players are given two bounces of the ball before returning it, including at least one bounce within or outside court boundaries – giving wheelchair players more time to hit over the net into their opponent’s court and return it successfully.
Paralympic Games also host wheelchair singles and doubles competitions, played over best of three sets with tie-break deciding any tied sets. There are two sports classes for wheelchair tennis: Open (for athletes with permanent impairment of lower extremities); and Quad (new division including those with cerebral palsy and other forms of disability).
Played using a standard tennis racket and standard tennis balls, but modified with special wheels for increased stability, as well as a strapping system to secure player chairs during intense movements, tennis ball roller hockey is designed to improve mobility and stability by featuring cambered wheels for better balance, as well as anti-tip wheels to provide mobility and stability enhancements. Players may use either their regular everyday chair or one tailored specifically to sports.
Adaptive Tennis has grown increasingly popular over time and now features multiple tournaments both domestically and abroad, such as Grand Slams and Paralympics, local/regional wheelchair tournaments held each year, as well as players without disabilities who enjoy competing against more skilled opponents. Furthermore, adaptive Tennis has emerged as an invaluable social movement, helping disabled people lead active lives.
Equipment
Tennis wheelchair players require a special sports chair with two large rear wheels and one or two smaller front wheels for playing this popular adaptive sport. A racket and tennis balls are necessary as well. Tennis has become one of the world’s most cherished adaptive sports – it requires power, speed, finesse, precision and strategy which can be played against and with able-bodied opponents alike.
This paper’s purpose was to investigate whether and how the hand rim of a wheelchair influences propulsion technique in Wheelchair Tennis. A literature search was performed using keywords ‘wheelchair mobility performance, propulsion technique (technique), and wheelchair tennis’ from PubMed and Web of Science databases, while articles were excluded based on criteria such as focus on wheelchair racers, research on able-bodied people or the use of non-sport chairs; search was limited only to English written articles published before November 2019.
Wheelchair mobility performance can be defined as what an athlete can and cannot do with his or her wheelchair in the field (De Witte et al, Citation 2018). As such, most measurements take place either during matches and training sessions or with specific field tests like using a velocimeter (De Witte et al, Citation 2018).
Hand rims for wheelchair tennis are integral parts of its functionality and performance, directly impacting its functionality and performance. Thus, developing new wheelchair tennis specific hand rims should have an impact on physical strain as well as propulsion techniques in wheelchair tennis. Results from this study have indicated that this new hand rim leads to lower peak power output as well as reduced mechanical load on upper extremities during propulsion of wheelchair tennis games.
USTA Southern California works closely with providers who host instructional, social and competitive wheelchair tennis programs throughout our section – these dynamic programs demonstrate that tennis truly is a sport without barriers and that everyone can join the fun! Join the movement today and discover everything wheelchair tennis has to offer!
Training
Adaptive Tennis is an inclusive form of tennis designed for people living with physical or cognitive impairments who wish to enjoy its game, such as cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis muscular dystrophy amputations or limb differences. All regular rules of the regular game apply in this version with two additional bounces on each ball being permitted in Adaptive Tennis games.
At Boston’s Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, wheelchair tennis lessons are provided for novice, intermediate, and tournament-level athletes who use manual or power chairs. Classes take place every Tuesday and Friday evening with instruction provided by professional wheelchair players who compete at national and international tournaments while also trained to assist other wheelchair players advance in their game.
Wheelchair tennis requires that participants possess a mobility-related disability diagnosed by medical practitioners and meet age-specific classification requirements to participate. There are two categories available for competition – Open and Quad.
Wheelchair Tennis offers more than athletic opportunities. It also encourages socialization, self-esteem and physical activity – it has quickly become one of the fastest-growing adaptive sports around the globe and is suitable for players at every level of ability, from recreational to competitive.
Within USTA Southern California’s region are numerous organizations that provide programs for wheelchair and able-bodied players alike to learn how to play the game of tennis. One such program, STRIDE Adaptive Sports, works toward increasing availability in Orange County; their Tennis Director Dave Graham himself has competed on both high school and collegiate tennis circuits himself.
STRIDE’s aim is to introduce children aged 8-12 to the fundamentals of tennis in a fun and inclusive environment with low coach-to-player ratio. Class consists of drills, field balls and one-on-one technique work to introduce kids to this wonderful sport that fosters tactical thinking while building hand-eye coordination and hand-eye coordination as well as confidence and self-esteem!
Competition
Wheelchair tennis is played by people of all ages and abilities who use wheelchairs, with competition taking place in tournament play, team competitions and singles and doubles matches.
Competitive Wheelchair Tennis follows the same rules as able-bodied tennis, except that players are permitted two bounces of the ball. It can be played both sitting in wheelchairs and standing with modified equipment (such as ramps or tennis nets). Tournaments are divided into two divisions – paraplegic and quadriplegic; within paraplegic tournaments subdivisions include beginners (C), intermediate players (B), advanced players (A), and elite (U.S. Open).
Adaptive Tennis is an inclusive program that makes the sport of tennis accessible for everyone by teaching basic and advanced skills to both standing and wheelchair players. It is an incredible opportunity for individuals with disabilities to meet new friends, increase socialization, and enhance quality of life. The USTA Adaptive Tennis Committee works tirelessly to promote adaptive tennis across the country by writing coaching curricula and registering programs to guarantee everyone accesses this great sport!
JTCC also hosts various team tennis and individual competitive opportunities, such as the Run ‘N Roll Tennis Tournament and UC Irvine Wheelchair Championships, both held this year within one venue allowing participants to attend both tournaments on one day.
At the UC Irvine event, there will also be a “Court of Dreams,” where community members can come together and enjoy tennis alongside family, friends, and supporters. Activities and demonstrations throughout the day range from wheelchair racing to wheelchair basketball demonstrations; ultimately the day will culminate with an exhibition match between teams from Houston and Junior Tennis Champions Center featuring amputees, military veterans, people with all kinds of disabilities and others from Houston – making for an unforgettable event that helps carry on the legacy of National Tennis Center.