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Wheelchair Tennis is Fundamental Tennis The 2011 New England Wheelchair Tennis Camp, held at Harvard University in August, was not only a great time for wheelchair tennis players, but for teaching professionals as well. A half dozen professionals successfully completed a USPTA Wheelchair Certification session during the course of the camp, and came away with new teaching skills and a deeper connection to tennis. Over the course of many years of directing Wheelchair Certification sessions, I've seen that certification can help professionals improve their teaching skills, inspire more passion and commitment to teaching tennis, and help them to better connect their students with some of the core principles of successful tennis. Some of the key areas of focus for wheelchair tennis instruction include: • Balance. All pros know that keeping your weight balanced and centered under your feet is key to producing a strong and effective stroke. It’s also essential to stay upright, in order to quickly move around the court. Wheelchair players are no exception to this—hitting a good shot while seated requires a balanced and upright position, with weight centered above the wheels. • Preparation. To successfully move your wheelchair so that you’re always in position to hit the ball, you need to pay careful attention to good preparation. Able-bodied players can often make up for a lack of readiness in ways that a wheelchair player cannot—it’s a good way to unlearn bad habits on the court. • Point construction. Anticipation and planning are even more crucial for the wheelchair player than the able-bodied player, given the added challenge of maneuvering the chair into position. So it becomes even more important to think about not just the shot you’re trying to hit, but the shots you plan on hitting for the entire point. • Closing to the net. Moving forward is crucial for winning points in tennis, and wheelchair tennis in particular emphasizes this strategy. A player moving to the net is in control of the point, something that is true whether you’re playing for fun in a park or on the ATP tour. • A different perspective. Pros who spend time teaching and practicing wheelchair tennis have the opportunity to see the court from a new angle, which can only improve your ability to reach your students. It’s a reminder of what is important to know in order to play and teach tennis well. In my opinion, every teaching professional should consider Wheelchair Certification. Wheelchair tennis is a fantastic sport played by people with courage and passion, and is inspiring to be a part of. But beyond that, being certified to teach wheelchair tennis can help bring a tennis professional’s entire game to a new level.
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