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.
Michael Mercier
Head Tennis Professional, Harvard University
Vice President, USPTA New England
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