APPENDIX II
Rules of Wheelchair Tennis
The game of wheelchair tennis follows the same rules as able-bodied tennis as endorsed by the International Tennis Foundation except the wheelchair tennis player is allowed two bounces of the ball.
1. The Competitive Wheelchair Tennis Player. The only eligibility requirements for an individual to become a competitive wheelchair tennis player is that he must be medically diagnosed as having a mobility-related disability. In other words, he must have substantial or total loss of function in one or more extremities. If, as a result of these functional limitations, this person would be unable to play competitive able-bodied tennis (that is, having the mobility to cover the court with adequate speed), then the person would be eligible to play competitive wheelchair tennis in sanctioned IWTF tournaments.
(a) Quadriplegic division players shall be characterized as one who has limited mobility, power and strength in at least three limbs due to accidents, spinal cord injuries and other related diseases. Also included in this division are walking quadriplegics, power wheelchair-users and triple amputees. Players who cannot use both arms to move the chair are allowed to use their legs. In case of doubt it is up to the IWTF to make a decision if the player is allowed to use his legs.
If there is reason to doubt an individual’s eligibility to participate as a competitive wheelchair tennis players, the IWTF rules committee reserves the right to screen any player being considered for ranking. A verification of quadriplegic status may be required, when in doubt.
2. The Ball In Play
In wheelchair tennis the ball is allowed to bounce twice before being returned.
(a) If the ball is taken on the first bounce, it must bounce within the bounds of the court.
(b) If the ball is taken on the second bounce, the second bounce can hit the ground either within the boundaries of the court or outside the court boundaries before being returned.
3. The Service
(a) The ball served may, after hitting the ground in the service court, hit the ground once again within the bounds of the court or outside the court boundaries before being returned.
(b) The server shall throughout the delivery of the service:
— Not change position by rolling or spinning. The server shall not by slight movements of the wheels which do not materially affect the location originally taken up by him, be deemed “to change his position by rolling or spinning.”
— Not touch, with any wheel, any area other than that behind the baseline within the imaginary extension of the center-mark and sideline.
(c) If the player deliberately uses any part of his lower extremities as brakes or as stabilizers while delivering service, the service is deemed a fault.
(d) If conventional methods for the service are physically impossible for a quadriplegic player, then another individual may drop the ball for such a player.
4. Player Loses Point. The wheelchair is part of the body. All applicable rules apply. A player loses the point if:
(a) The ball in play touches him or his wheelchair or anything he wears or carries, except his racket in his hand(s). This loss of a point occurs regardless of whether the player is inside or outside the bounds of his court when the ball touches him.
(b) A served ball hits him or his wheelchair or anything he wears or carries, except his racket in his hand(s). If the server hits his own partner with the served ball, then it is a fault.
(c) He deliberately uses any part of his feet or lower extremities as brakes or as stabilizers while delivering the service, stroking a ball, turning or stopping.
(d) He fails to keep one buttock in contact with his wheelchair seat contacting the ball.
It is legal for a player to hit a return, fall out of his chair and then get back into his chair to make the next return.
5. Wheelchair/Able-Bodied Tennis. Where a wheelchair player is defined in Rule 1 above is playing with able-bodied persons, then again the rules of tennis shall apply.
In this instance, however, the wheelchair player is allowed only one bounce and Rules 2 and 3 above shall therefore not apply.