APTA Approved Rules of Wheelchair Platform Tennis (TRIAL PERIOD)
1. RULES OF PLAY
The game of wheelchair platform tennis follows the Official Rules of Platform Tennis with the following exceptions:
a) The Two Bounce Rule The wheelchair platform tennis player is allowed two bounces of the ball. The player must return the ball before it bounces a third time. The second bounce can be either in or out of the court boundaries and can be after the ball hits the screen.
b) The Wheelchair The wheelchair is considered part of the body and all applicable rules, which apply to a player's body, shall apply to the wheelchair.
c) The Service The service shall be delivered in the following manner:
i. Immediately before commencing the service, the server shall be in a stationary position. The server shall then be allowed one push before striking the ball.
ii. The server shall throughout[...]
How do you get platform tennis going in an area where there is so little opportunity? You make the most of every opportunity! The Albany, New York, area is not quite known as a platform tennis hot spot. But since Joan O'Connor entered the game there, things have at least gotten warmer.
If you play in Region I or Region II, you probably have met Joan O'Connor by now. She has been "bitten by the bug" and has a blast traveling from tournament to tournament with a band of like-minded women—to name a few, Kathy Kulig, Tracy Welling, Sharon Edwards and Leslie Haskins. The group is somewhat geographically challenged. They hail from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and the Albany area, so obviously league partnerships are out of the question. But they meet up at events as often as possible and have attended some of the renowned platform tennis camps in Nantucket and Telluride togeth[...]
Technology has been wonderful to our under-known sport. With the advent of the computer, communication has become more cohesive and streamlined. Archived photos reappear for the world to see. And the history of the game, previously existing in just a few books and deep memories, has been given a new place to live. The virtual Platform Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame has breathed new life into the dusty chronicles and is now welcoming visitors.
The backstory of The Platform Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame Foundation sits on a few shoulders. Bob Brown and Chuck Vasoll were important cheerleaders for a Hall of Fame museum. In 2002, under the guidance of then APTA President John Horine, The Platform Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame Foundation finally became a registered 501 (c ) (3) non-profit that has the mission of capturing the history and the great camaraderie of the game and celebrat[...]
Tim Mangan
Residence: Bayville, New York
Occupation: Director of Racquet Sports at Nassau Country Club, Glen Cove, NY. I've been teaching platform tennis, tennis, and squash for 34 years.
Years of Service on the APTA Board: Six years as of 2014; previous term 1999-2004
Family: Wife Tonia Mangan holds a few national titles; children Brooke (20), Jack (16), and Caroline (13) all have played at the junior level. My sister, Bobo Delaney, holds many national titles and my niece, Corey Delaney won Junior Nationals a few times. My mother, Nancy, and my uncle, John, were both inducted into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame. [A bit of a dynasty.]
Years Playing: 46
How did you get started playing? I was introduced to the game by family friends in Short Hills, New Jersey. And I was taught by the best, Hank Irvine.
Contribution to the APTA Board/Contribution to theplatform tennis[...]
Standing out in a sea of Chicago Volunteers
Volunteering in Chicago is rather easy these days. With the largest platform tennis league in the United State with a great number of tournaments, people are needed! Robyn Cohn loves how many people are willing and able to help. But what makes Cohn such a fabulous Chicago-area volunteer? Because she leads well, she finds the time to be thoroughly involved, and she makes good decisions….[click image to read more]
Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 15, Issue 1 Sept./Oct. 2013
There are certain names in the platform tennis world that everyone recognizes. Bob Brown is one. His staying power is impressive—the oldest player to win a National title—but it is his ability to foster growth and change in the sport that is just as impressive. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993 but has been accruing so many titles since then he may need to be inducted again. But just as impressive as his 21 gold and 18 silver National Championship medals is his service and commitment to the game.
Brown has always been affiliated with the sport and the APTA in one way or another since he started playing over 40 years ago. His time as the Chair of the APTA Hall of Fame Committee and the Platform Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame is worth noting. All told, Brown has been at the helm of the committee for 20 years total. He spent ten years as the Chair of the Honor Award Commi[...]
"How cool was that!" Two club players in the Boston area, at different times in one weekend, both used that same expression when they tuned into Live Streaming of the Chicago Charities tournament.
Live Streaming
For some fans, watching video and listening to the commentary offered access to the best players in the nation playing the best paddle. For some viewers, it was the first time they had ever seen the game. For anyone who tuned in, watching the late rounds of one of the top tournaments of the season provided great entertainment and some education.
While this isn't the first time the APTA has used Live Streaming, the quantity and quality of the production was much better and more comprehensive than ever before. Viking's Cort fish connected Charities Chairman John Noble with ENetTV, a St. Louis-based company that has expertise in producing other similar-sized sporting even[...]
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was the biggest winner of all. The tournament brought in over $3,000 for the cause.
The stars of the platform tennis world descended into Chicago for the annual Chicago Charities tournament the first weekend of November. This tournament usually boasts one of the strongest men's and women's fields of any tournament after the Nationals. Last year, Hurricane Sandy laid waste to that claim, but this year the draw was back to its former stellar status. Many new combos were there to compete and the resurrection of some old partnerships created some pop.
The women began their play on Friday, and finished up just as the men's round of 16 was shaking out. For the women, it was the story of the inexorable march to victory by National Champions Ana Brzova and Viki Stoklasova. This was their third title in three tournaments this fall and they did not lose a set i[...]
There is an adage, "The time to make hay is when the sun is shining." Right now, the sun is shining on junior platform tennis, so get out your tractor and baler because the APTA is making some hay.
For starters, in September, the APTA appointed Kathy Cramer of Darien, Connecticut, to the newly created position of APTA Junior Tour Coordinator. Kathy will work closely with the tournament directors, tour sponsor Viking Athletics, and the APTA Board to ensure that the numerous events, Junior Nationals, and the year-end ranking process all run as smoothly as possible. The growth in platform tennis among juniors in recent years, along with the renewed marketing partnership with Viking, makes this an excellent time to bring on an individual with Cramer's talents, experience, and passion for our game.
A self-described "club player," who was introduced to the game by her father in the 1970s[...]
John Y. Noble
Residence: Lake Forest, Illinois. John Noble was born in Berkeley, California, grew up in Lake Forest, and graduated from Lake Forest High School and Ball State University.
Occupation: Noble works, as an Owner and Vice President of Sales, with his brother in a unique healthcare company—PathFinder Health LLC—that focuses on connecting people with doctors, so that more people can engage and follow through to improve their health.
Family: He has three beautiful daughters, Susanna, Sarah and Catherine, and a wonderful wife, Susan, who has been and continues to be of great support. Tennis and service have been major influences in his life; his grandfather presided over the Westerns for many years and his father served as president of the Chicago District Tennis Association.
Getting into the game: Being friends with a good number of the Chicago-area tennis pros, who t[...]
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