SportsOrbit

This coming weekend at Hope College’s DeWitt Tennis Center in Holland, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Midwest Section will hold its seventh annual wheelchair tennis camp for young players, assisted by coaches and volunteers. Thirty-three players, ages 6 to 18, will be taking part; others will be learning tennis for the first time. The camp offers a special chance to learn a range of skills, including how to push the sports chair, and is made possible by grant money from the USTA at both the national and section levels as well as a few local, kind sponsors. Through a range of exercises and activities, there is a strong emphasis on improving mobility on the court. The course will conclude with a mini-tournament after learning how to score. “It’s simply an opportunity for kids to be kids and try a new sport, or see if this is an opportunity for them to take it to the next level,” Lynn Bender, the camp director, said. “We are always looking for that next Paralympian if that’s the route they want to go, or it can be as simple as letting a kid experience friendships, exercise and a normal camp experience to meet others with similar disabilities.” In addition to being a USTA National Regional Youth provider for the Midwest Section, Bender chairs the wheelchair tennis committee for the USTA Midwest Section. Four brand-new sports chairs, each worth $3,000, will be given away by USTA Midwest at the camp. Many children either borrow secondhand sports chairs from other organizations or don’t have their own. “We compare it to having the right size tennis shoe to play tennis,” Bender explained. “You need the proper gear and can’t play tennis in flip-flops or sandals. For our children to participate in tennis, they require seats that suit them properly. Please contact Bender if you would like to contribute to the purchase of a sports chair for a future camper. Many children’s insurance companies do not cover these expensive devices, leaving parents to pay for them out of pocket. On every court, an older wheelchair tennis player will assist in coaching and mentoring the younger players. Adult wheelchair tennis program participants make up a large number of the coaches, while local tennis professionals volunteered to assist and participate in this incredible event. To participate in this event, coaches and athletes travel from all throughout the Midwest Section. Bender stated, “We are in our seventh year, and the camp has expanded every year.” “Young athletes will have a fantastic opportunity to discover their abilities and how tennis is a sport they can play with their loved ones. They are permitted two bounces, which is the sole regulation that differs. Therefore, it’s a very simple game to integrate with the community and their classmates, and it gives these kids a lot of potential prospects to play wheelchair tennis in college, high school, and even the Paralympics if that’s their aim. Many children who want to learn new techniques and subsequently apply them to their own local wheelchair tennis programs will benefit from this event. The Midwest Section is home to campers from all over. You can learn more about wheelchair tennis events, training sessions, and camps by going to usta.com/midwest or the Wheelchair Tennis Facebook page of the USTA Midwest Section.