Tennis Canada launches the Wheelchair Tennis Whole Player Development Pathway

Tennis Canada today unveiled the Wheelchair Tennis Whole Player Development Pathway (WTWPDP), a player development guide with the aim of fostering lifelong passion for and participation in wheelchair tennis. Following the launch of the Whole Player Development Pathway (WPDP) last November, the WTWPDP underscores Tennis Canada’s vision to be a world-leading tennis nation in all facets of the sport.

The pathway nurtures excellence both on and off the court, reinforcing that long-term development is important to sport performance and a commitment to physical activity, mental and physical health and wellness for life. Like the WPDP, it is built around seven distinct stages of development, acting as a blueprint for a user’s first experience on-court to the pinnacle of wheelchair tennis, all while facilitating a safe, positive and inclusive environment. The seven stages are:

1. Discovery: Building awareness of wheelchair tennis
2. Active Start: Trying wheelchair tennis
3. Fundamentals: Establishing the foundations to play and compete
4. Development: Fueling passion and developing sound technique
5. Consolidation: Emphasizing tactics and focusing on specific tasks
6. Performance: Training with intensity and emphasizing physical development
7. Life as a Pro: Achieving high performance and sport-life balance

“The Wheelchair Tennis Whole Player Development Pathway by Tennis Canada is the culmination of lots of hard work, dedication and passion for wheelchair tennis,” said Guillaume Marx, Vice President of High Performance at Tennis Canada. “This is an innovative, holistic pathway that aims not only to develop great athletes, but also great people. I would like to thank our national lead and national coaches of wheelchair tennis, the many world-class leaders, consultants and experts for their input, as well as acknowledge the private sector coaches, academies and our Provincial and Territorial Tennis Sssociations, wheelchair sport association partners and the Canadian Paralympic Committee.”

The WTWPDP launches at a time when Canadian wheelchair tennis athletes are excelling on the world stage. British Columbian and 2019 Parapan Am Gold medalist Rob Shaw is ranked No. 7 in the world in quad singles and reached the quarter-finals of the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, losing to eventual gold medallist and world No. 2 Niels Vink of the Netherlands. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Frederique Berube Perron of Quebec became the first Canadian ever to compete in a junior wheelchair tennis Grand Slam at the US Open, reaching the semi-finals in September.

“The Wheelchair Tennis Whole Player Development Pathway might be the most intriguing development that has occurred since I started playing the sport,” Shaw said. “This document will ensure that wheelchair tennis players in Canada have the guidance, structure, and support they need at the right times during their tennis journey. I anticipate that because of this document, we are going to have way more wheelchair tennis players fulfilling their potential which is extremely exciting.”

The rollout of the pathway coincides with this week’s 2024 Birmingham National Wheelchair Tennis Championships, Canada’s flagship national wheelchair tennis event, in Bedford, Nova Scotia from October 17-20. Click here to view the entry list.

THE FIVE ENTRY POINTS OF THE WTWPDP

A player’s journey through each stage of development is influenced by many factors, from the age at which they started playing wheelchair tennis to the level of their physical impairment and previous wheelchair sport experience. Other factors like intrinsic motivation, work ethic, goal setting, health, lifestyle and a players’ support system are also vital. The WTWPDP’s holistic approach, which identifies five entry points, ensures there is a route for anyone into the sport.

Its framework is also designed around the 5C’s of coaching that develop a well-balanced player and individual: Culture; Character; Confidence; Connection; Competence.

For more information about the WTWPDP, please click here.

To consult the WTWPDP in full, please click here.