Wheelchair/Para Clinic

f Gluck, USPTA and Michael Friedman, USPTA were lucky enough to attend an event that we both felt was INSPIRING! Winnetka, IL, which has a wonderful wheelchair/para program, hosted a chair/Para Clinic ” The presenters, who were FABULOUS, were all from Michigan: Lynn Bender (USPTA), USTA Midwest-Wheelchair Tennis Committee chair; Jaime Oppenlander, USTA Midwest-Adaptive Committee chair; and Val Wallace, a wheelchair player and coach, and a tennis instructor. One of the organizers was Mary Beth Bowman, who is with the Chicago District Tennis Association (CDTA). The overall objective of the clinic was “to share best practices for teaching wheelchair and adaptive tennis at a recreational level with enthusiasm, innovation and relevancy ” What follows is a BRIEF summary of the activities that day

About 20 people attended The morning began with about three hours in a classroom setting, with Lynn, Jaime and Val discussing various aspects of wheelchair/para tennis (part of ADAPTIVE tennis classifications.) Some of the items covered included:

The 3 major categories of adaptive tennis: intellectual and developmental; physical and recovery; and emotional/social

The benefits of participating in these programs for the individual: physically, mentally emotionally The modifications that exist to address different disabilities

Suggestions for on-court activities.

Tips on “best practices for coaching wheelchair tennis.” A list of adaptive programs that currently exist.

Following the in-class portion, we went out to the tennis courts for two activities In one, we were asked to act as if we were para-athletes, with a physical disability but not confined to a wheelchair (e g , physical limitations, mobility issues and others). We were then asked to participate in tennis drills/activities under those conditions. In the other, we were placed in wheelchairs and, with racket in hand, asked to, again, participate in tennis activities (see pictures). These on-court activities were incredibly helpful in helping us to understand what being an adaptive tennis athlete is all about We have SO MUCH RESPECT for these athletes and the people who help coach/guide them!

Finally, as indicated earlier, the Nielsen Center has a program in place It is held from 2-4 on Saturdays Purposefully, the clinic ended at 2. We were then invited to stay on to observe, and even participate in, the established program. Many of us did, with some of us feeding balls to the players. We were in awe of the high level of play, as well as the enthusiasm they demonstrated. To paraphrase Paul Moran, who is a teaching pro at Nielsen AND a wheelchair athlete who has competed at a national level: “Wheelchair tennis provides a wonderful outlet for so many people The benefits are too numerous to count I am hoping that the number of wheelchair programs continues to grow It is a very rewarding activity to be involved in and I hope more individuals decide to do that.” We feel that this is something that the USPTA-Midwest Division should explore. Click HERE for more information.