Wheelchair Tennis is a fast paced sport that requires a key combination of speed, agility, quickness, strength, power and endurance. Good training must be planned and have an approach that builds from one phase to the next. Not only must an athlete have all these abilities, they must be able to sustain a high level of play over a long season. Injury preventative exercises and methods for recovery must be implemented for long term success.
Tapering
Each athlete is unique as to how they prepare leading into a tournament. There are some things that are a must, such as lowering volume, maintaining intensity, but the exact layout of a taper is individualized and you must learn to utilize these tools and then determine what works best for you.
Specific Prep
The Specific Prep Phase is a prep phase occurring in between tournaments. This phase is designed to help you recover from prior tournaments, work on weaknesses found in prior tournaments, and prepare for the next tournament with regard to surface changes opponents etc.
Warm-up
A proper warm-up will prepare the body both physiologically and psychologically for an event. This process is also believed to reduce the chance of joint and muscle injury. The warm-up should be gradual and sufficient to increase muscle and core temperature without causing fatigue or reducing energy stores.
Four Categories:
- General Warm-Up
- Dynamic Flexibility
- Activation
- Specific Warm-Up