Tennis

History & Development of the Wheelchair Tennis Sport

Originally it started in the year 1976 in the USA and than wheelchair tennis caught on in France in 1982 and spread throughout entire Europe. In 1985 the European Wheelchair Federation (EWTF) was founded, to realize championships throughout Europe.

In Switzerland wheelchair tennis surfaced for the first time in the east part of Switzerland, which was influenced through the contact with France in the eighties. In the German speaking part of Switzerland the first wheelchair tennis trainings took place in 1987, and during the same year the Swiss championship (SC) and inter club championships (SIC) took place. Considering these activities soon thereafter the TK Tennis as national association for wheelchair tennis was founded subordinate to the umbrella organization of the Swiss Paraplegics Association (SPA).

In October 1988 the International Wheelchair Tennis Federation (IWTF) was founded as the top most association on international level. The IWTF was immediately recognized by the International Tennis Association (ITA) with its home office in London: www.wheelchairtennis.ch and established its coordination center within the same building.

Fortunately the NEC which is one of the largest electronic manufacturers, decided since 1991 to support wheelchair tennis on the level of the IWTF and to also act as its tour sponsor. At this point it was clear that wheelchair tennis was not classified as a hobby, or just a sport for the handicapped, but that it was an integral part of tennis sport itself.

In years past and in an array of different countries many national wheelchair tennis associations were founded, and some of them were completely integrated in the national tennis association. This integration advanced the wheelchair tennis sport greatly and created a boom in the concerning nations as for example in Holland. In Switzerland contacts in regards to Swiss Tennis exist, but collaboration has ‘not yet’ taken place.

Since the beginning of 1998 the IWTF is dissolved and newly the ITF has taken over the existing duties of the ITWF as this again was a further step toward the future of wheelchair tennis sport. Amongst all these happenings we also have a new homepage: www.itfwheelchairtennis.com on which you will find any and all necessary information about tournaments, ranking lists, results, current events etc.

 

Training

Where to start first? Anybody interested in wheelchair tennis is best to just try it out.Contact one of the existing wheelchair clubs, the TK Tennis or one of the players directly to get information on where to find a trainings group, with or without tennis teacher that is actually training. This way you will also find a possibility to find a racket or to be able to possibly loan a wheelchair.
Another possibility is to observe as a spectator in on one of the many tournaments in Switzerland and to take a look up close.

Also you can just ask one of the existing tennis centers for training possibilities. There are many centers and mostly all the tennis courts are conveniently built on floor level VS the changing rooms as well as the tennis restaurants where restrictions apply.

After all on Wednesday evenings you may also go to the Swiss Paraplegic Centre in Nottwil to familiarize yourself. Where form April to October during the hours of 5pm – 8pm, as allowed by the weather, on both beautifully located outside courts, practice takes place including the supervision of a tennis instructor.

Essentials of Training:To be able to learn wheelchair tennis two things have to be trained and developed simultaneously:

 

a.) Inherent Tennis Basics (Technique & Tactic)

Of course if played prior to injury there is an advantage. Otherwise there will be no exception to have to practice and learn the technical requirements with an instructor or player such as: forehand, backhand, serve, ball control etc. Once the technical requirements are present the tactical elements can be integrated.

 

b.) Wheelchair Handling

The best way to learn how to use the wheelchair is truly during the training itself. Whereby during a serve or other practices wheelchair mobility can be combined and learned keeping the racket close at hand, which especially in the beginning, is only a matter of adaptation. During wheelchair tennis one mainly requires speed and strength, and therefore basketball complements this sport working as a great entry way. During its practice as well, arms and upper body musculature are trained including the handling of a ball, the assessment of a throw and its observation. If basketball is not a possibility, wheelchair mobility practice has to be empathized and trained even more, possibly also through handbike, weight training etc. to increase fitness.

Both of these components are to be complementary in order to have continual improvement. Participation on tournaments is very important, even if first successes are slow, but only the one will lean to know the ‘scene’, the sports possibilities and its development.

One should be aware that wheelchair tennis is a very demanding and complex sport but nonetheless incredibly fascinating. It can take years to develop a certain level of play.