Wheelchair Tennis/Adaptive Programming

USTA Wheelchair Tennis

USTA Wheelchair Tennis is one of the fastest growing and most challenging of all wheelchair tennis sports. To meet this demand, USTA Tennis offers programs geared towards the wheelchair player.

Rules are the same as stand-up tennis, except the wheelchair player is allowed two bounces of the ball. USTA Wheelchair Tennis provides persons with disabilities the opportunity to share in activities with their peers, whether able-bodied or disabled. Playing USTA 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. A wheelchair tennis player must have a medically diagnosed, mobility-related disability, with a substantial or total loss of function in one or more extremeties. In USTA Wheelchair Tennis, the player must master the game and the wheelchair. Learning mobility on the court is exciting and challenging, and helps build strength and cardiovascular ability.

Useful Links
USTA National Wheelchair Site
Wheelchair Tennis Resource Reference Guide
How to Start A Wheelchair Tennis Program
Wheelchair Integration Ideas
USTA Wheelchair Tennis Survey
Tournament Links for USTA Wheelchair Tournaments
Wheelchair/Adaptive Handbook

Jon Rydberg, of Oakdale, Minn., played in the 2008 Paralympics and was ranked #1 in the United States.

Did you know that USTA Northern did boast the #1 wheelchair player in the United States and also the current United States Paralympic Coach?

Jon Rydberg of Oakdale, Minn., was ranked #1 in the United States. Rydberg played in the 2004 and 2008 Paralympic Games. Recently, Rydberg has decided to get involved in tennis in other ways including playing USTA League Tennis at the 8.0 mixed level. He also was just named the head girls tennis coach at the new East Ridge High School in Woodbury, Minn., becoming what is believed to be the first wheelchair bound coach leading able-bodied players in the state of Minnesota.To read more about Rydberg, click here.

Dan James, also of Oakdale, Minn., has served as the United States Paralympic Tennis Coach in 2000, 2004 and 2008. James is the USTA's National Manager of Wheelchair Tennis and is the only American on the ITF Wheelchair Committee. He also was named the 2007 IWTF Wheelchair Coach of the Year.

USTA Adaptive Tennis
The USTA Adaptive Tennis mission is to provide opportunities to all populations to enjoy the sport of tennis, and to realize the benefits of the sport and its life changing opportunities.

Adaptive Tennis' goal is to promote and develop recreational tennis opportunities for individuals with differing abilities and circumstances through inclusion, knowledge, and support, and by providing, where needed, adaptive programming, equipment, and teaching techniques.

Tennis benefits both mind and body. Physically, playing tennis helps to improve balance, mobility, agility, strength, fitness, and to burn calories. Mentally, tennis works on one's focus, concentration, and reactive and problem-solving behaviors. Emotionally it can promote self-confidence, instill feelings of success, relieve stress, and provide social outlets to meet new friends, enhance relationships, or experience great family outings. These benefits are so much more important for those with disabilities, in special life situations, or with special circumstances.

Benefits of Adaptive Tennis
For people with special circumstances or disabilities, these benefits are enhanced with new elements added to success as typically defined. A different way of looking at some benefits is as follows:
* Tennis is for everyone and the game of tennis can be adapted to accommodate any age, environment, condition, or disability.
* Tennis is fun.
* Tennis provides a venue for positive social interaction.
* Tennis participation enhances self-esteem and self-confidence.
* Tennis is good exercise and improves overall fitness.
* Tennis improves flexibility, strength, and weight control.
* Tennis helps develop eye-hand coordination and body control.
* Tennis can be played for a lifetime.

USTA Adaptive Tennis recognizes four main categories of disabilities:
1. Developmentally disabled (learning disabilities, autism, Down Syndrome, mental retardation)
2. Physically disabled (birth defects, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, muscular dystrophy, hearing impaired, stroke, etc.)
3. Consumers of mental health services (psychiatrically disabled, emotionally disturbed)
4. At-risk/environmentally disabled (substance abusers, mentally and physically abused, homeless, HIV positive individuals, persons within the juvenile justice system, etc.)