Introduction to Wheelchair Tennis
Wheelchair tennis is a sport that has been adapted from traditional tennis to accommodate players using wheelchairs. It is an incredible sport that has been adopted by wheelchair users around the world. It is a great way for wheelchair users to stay active and enjoy the thrill of competition. Wheelchair tennis is a great way to stay in shape, meet new people and challenge yourself.
Rules of the Game
Wheelchair tennis is governed by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and shares the same basic rules as traditional tennis. The two main differences between traditional tennis and wheelchair tennis are that the ball is allowed to bounce twice and the player is allowed two bounces of the ball to return it. The wheelchair player must stay seated in the wheelchair for the duration of the match.
Scoring
The scoring system for wheelchair tennis is the same as traditional tennis. A match is won by the first player to win two out of three sets. A set is won by the player who wins six games with a two-game lead. Games are scored from 0 to 40 and a game is won when one player has a two-point lead.
Wheelchair Dimensions
The dimensions of a wheelchair for wheelchair tennis must meet the standards set by the ITF. The wheelchair must be a minimum of 75 cm wide and 85 cm long, with the back 30 cm high. The wheelchair must also have a minimum of four-wheel brakes, two of which must be locked when the player is in the wheelchair.
Court Dimensions
The court dimensions for wheelchair tennis must meet the standards set by the ITF. The court must be a minimum of 10.97m long and 5.48m wide. The net must be 1.07m high and the wheelchair player must be able to reach the net without leaving the wheelchair.
Equipment
The equipment for wheelchair tennis must meet the standards set by the ITF. The racquet must be a maximum of 68cm long and must weigh no more than 350g. The ball must be a lightweight, pressurized tennis ball and must be a minimum of 6.35cm in diameter.
Serving
The server must be seated in the wheelchair for the duration of the service motion. The server must have both feet on the ground and must have one hand on the racquet. The ball must be tossed or dropped and the server must hit the ball before it hits the ground. The server must keep the ball in the service court and if the ball hits the net, the server must re-serve.
Wheelchair Movement
The player must stay seated in the wheelchair for the duration of the match. The player is allowed to move the wheelchair in any direction but must not move the wheelchair while the ball is in play. The player must also use the brakes on the wheelchair when moving it.
Rally Point System
The rally point system is used to determine the winner of a match. If a player wins a rally, they receive one point and if the opponent wins the rally, they receive two points. The winner of the match is the player who reaches a total of seven points first.
Handicapping
The ITF has developed a handicapping system for wheelchair tennis players. The system assigns a number to each player based on their ability level. This number is used to determine the winner of a match between two players with different levels of ability.
Conclusion
Wheelchair tennis is an incredible sport that has been adapted from traditional tennis to accommodate players using wheelchairs. It is a great way for wheelchair users to stay active, meet new people and challenge themselves. It is governed by the International Tennis Federation and shares the same basic rules as traditional tennis. The main differences between traditional tennis and wheelchair tennis are that the ball is allowed to bounce twice and the player is allowed two bounces of the ball to return it. The wheelchair player must stay seated in the wheelchair for the duration of the match. The scoring system, court dimensions, equipment, serving, wheelchair movement and handicapping are all governed by the ITF. Wheelchair tennis is a great way to stay in shape, meet new people and challenge yourself.
Keywords: Wheelchair Tennis, International Tennis Federation, Scoring System, Court Dimensions, Equipment, Serving, Wheelchair Movement, Handicapping