The Rules of Tennis
There is a elegant simplicity to the Rules of Wheelchair Tennis. The ITF Rules of Tennis are constructed in a way that makes it clear that everyone plays tennis under the same basic rules. The adaptations of those rules for Wheelchair Tennis players are codified in a separate section that only addresses those modifications. As we have been working through our sequential examination of the Rules of Wheelchair Tennis addendum, each section typically overrides or adapts a rule on the books from the main body of the ITF Rules of Tennis.
Today we are considering the rule that is specific to the material construction of the Wheelchair.
Wheelchairs used in all competitions played under the Rules of Wheelchair Tennis must comply with the following specification:
The wheelchair may be constructed of any material provided that such material is non-reflective and does not constitute a hindrance to the opponent.
The Rules of Wheelchair Tennis, Section e
The reason that there would be this constraint on the material used on the wheelchair is intuitively obvious. The wheelchair player’s opponent certainly does not want to be subjected to flashes of light or glare in the proximity of the body of their opponent. Consequently, there is a restriction on the reflective properties of the material. Additionally, the general statement that the material used in the wheelchair indicates that the material cannot constitute a hindrance outlines the rationale that an official could use as a basis for other material construction claims.
Something is missing with this adaptive rule. There is no equivalent rule in the main body of the ITF Rules of Tennis. For example, a player could wear a warm up jacket constructed of disco ball mirrors which would certainly be a distraction on sunny days. Or the player could wear neon yellow clothing to make it difficult for their opponent to pick up the trajectory of the ball when it traversed their body. In fact, a Wheelchair player could also elect those clothing options.
There is nothing in the main body of the rules that are specific to clothing as a hindrance. However, I am sure that Hindrance has probably been claimed by a player on that basis and upheld by an umpire. Should that transpire, a player can simply change attire to remediate the hindrance claim.
I am guessing that most Wheelchair Tennis players don’t arrive at the match with an extra wheelchair in their racquet bag. Consequently, a quick fix isn’t available. This rule is needed to inform equipment manufacturers of this simple constraint on wheelchair construction.
- United States Tennis Association (2021), Friend at Court: Handbook of Rules and Regulations, White Plains, NY
