Wheelchair tennis rules

RULES OF PLAY

The game of wheelchair tennis follows the ITF Rules of Tennis with the following exceptions.

a. The Two Bounce Rule

The wheelchair tennis player is allowed two bounces of the ball. The player must return the ball before it bounces a third time. The second bounce can be either in or out of the court boundaries.

b. The Wheelchair

The wheelchair is considered part of the body and all applicable rules, which apply to a player’s body, shall apply to the wheelchair.

c. The Service

The service shall be delivered in the following manner:

i. Immediately before commencing the service, the server shall be in a stationary position. The server shall then be allowed one push before striking the ball.

ii. The server shall throughout the delivery of the service not touch with any wheel, any area other than that behind the baseline within the imaginary

extension of the centre mark and sideline.

iii. If conventional methods for the service are physically impossible for a quad player, then the player or another individual may drop the ball for such a player and allow it to bounce before it is struck. If this is the case, the same method of serving must be used for the entire match.

d. Player Loses Point

A player loses a point if:

i. The player fails to return the ball before it has bounced three times; or

ii. Subject to rule e) below the player uses any part of his feet or lower extremities against the ground or against any wheel while delivering service, striking a ball, turning or stopping while the ball is in play; or

iii. The player fails to keep one buttock in contact with his wheelchair seat when contacting the ball.

e. Propelling the Chair with the Foot

i. If due to lack of capacity a player is unable to propel the wheelchair via the wheel then he may propel the wheelchair using one foot.

ii. Even if in accordance with rule e) i. above a player is permitted to propel the chair using one foot, no part of the player’s foot may be in contact with the ground:

a) during the forward motion of the swing, including when the racket strikes the ball;

b) from the initiation of the service motion until the racket strikes the ball.

iii. A player in breach of this rule shall lose the point.

f. Wheelchair/Able-bodied Tennis

Where a wheelchair tennis player is playing with or against an able-bodied person in singles or doubles, the Rules of Wheelchair Tennis shall apply for the wheelchair player while the Rules of Tennis for able-bodied tennis shall apply for the ablebodied player. In this instance, the wheelchair player is allowed two bounces while the able-bodied player is allowed only one bounce.

Note: The definition of lower extremities is: the lower limbs, including the buttocks, hips, thighs, legs, ankles and feet

Source: http://www.itftennis.com/wheelchair/organisation/rules-regs.aspx