USTA hosts annual wheelchair tennis camp at Hope College as event grows
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HOLLAND - The USTA/Midwest Section, with the help of volunteers and coaches, hosted its eigth annual wheelchair tennis camp for junior athletes this past weekend at the DeWitt Tennis Center on the beautiful campus of Hope College in Holland.
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More than 20 players participated, ranging in age from 5-18 years old, some learning the sport of tennis for the first time. Across the country this year the USTA and proud to celebrate 50 years of wheelchair tennis by hosting additional events in local communities, more camps, more exposure and gaining traction for the future wheelchair athletes within our own section and district.
Made possible by a grants from the USTA/Midwest Section and a few local generous sponsors, the camp provided a unique opportunity to learn a variety of skills including how to push the sports chair, how to execute forehands, backhands and serving. There was a great focus on enhancing mobility on the court through a variety of drills and games. And after learning how to score, the camp ended with a mini tournament.
"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," camp director Lynn Bender 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 as every kid uses a wheelchair.
"This year we were able to give away four new sports chairs to the campers of the weekend valued at $3,000. Many kids do not have their own sports chair or borrow used ones from other programs, we compare it to having the right size tennis shoe to play tennis, you can’t play tennis in sandals or flip flops, you must have the right equipment. For our kids, they need tennis chairs that fit them properly so they can play the sport. Many kids do not have these large ticket items covered by insurance companies and parents are left with many out-of-pocket costs they have to pick up.
The campers came from all over the Midwest section, including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. More information can be found about camps, training sessions and tournaments who may be interested in learning more about the sport. Visit the USTA/Midwest Section’s Wheelchair Tennis Facebook page or visit the USTA Midwest section website at midwest.usta.com.
There was an adult wheelchair tennis player on each court, helping coach and mentor these young players. Many of the coaches were adult players from the local wheelchair tennis program; others are local tennis pros who offered to help coach as well as many local tennis volunteers from Holland whether it was local HS tennis players, local college tennis players and adult travel team ladies, people stepped up to make this camp an amazing experience for these kids and be a part of this amazing experience. Coaches and players came from all over the Midwest section to be a part of this event.
“This is our 8th year and the camp has grown each year,” said Bender, USTA/Midwest Section’s Wheelchair Tennis Committee Chair. “This was a great opportunity for young athletes to learn what they can do and how tennis is a sport they can play too with their friends, family and the only different rule is they are allowed two bounces so it's such an easily integrated game to be inclusive with the community and their peers and opens the door for many future opportunities for these kids from playing HS tennis, collegiate wheelchair tennis and even Paralympics if that’s their goal. This event helped prepare many kids who would like to gain some extra skills and then take it back to their own local summer wheelchair tennis programs.”
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’[email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: USTA hosts annual wheelchair tennis camp at Hope as event grows