Wheelchair-specific Faults

2026 Rules:

25.A Wheelchair Play. Section 25.A Applies to wheelchair players and events that include one or more wheelchair players. Wheelchair players must comply with Rules 25.A.1 through 25.A.12.

25.A.1 Player Eligibility. An eligible wheelchair player is any person, with or without a disability, who plays the game in a wheelchair.

25.A.2 Doubles. Players in doubles who use a wheelchair may play with a standing partner, an adaptive standing partner, or a partner who uses a wheelchair, except as provided for in Rule 25.A.12 for tournaments.

25.A.3 Power Wheelchairs. Players unable to propel a manual wheelchair for the duration of an entire match are permitted to utilize wheelchairs powered by electric motors. Power wheelchairs must be controlled by the player only and cannot exceed ten miles per hour.

25.A.4 Part of Body. A player’s wheelchair is considered part of the player’s body. The large rear wheels are treated like a standing player’s legs for positioning.

25.A.5 Contact with Seat. A wheelchair player must have at least one buttock in contact with the wheelchair seat when they strike the ball.

25.A.5.a Fault – Failure to Contact Seat. When a wheelchair player does not have at least one buttock in contact with the wheelchair seat when they strike the ball, it is a fault against the player.

25.A.6 No Ground Contact by Lower Extremities. Except as provided for in Rule 25.A.7, a wheelchair player’s lower extremities, which are the buttocks, hips, thighs, knees, calves, ankles, and feet, must not contact the ground or any wheelchair wheel while the ball is live, regardless of intent.

25.A.6.a Fault – Contact with Ground or Wheel. When a wheelchair player’s lower extremity contacts the ground or any wheelchair wheel while the ball is live, it is a fault against the player.

25.A.7 Propelling Wheelchair with Foot. A player who is unable to propel their wheelchair with one or both upper extremities (arms) for the entire duration of a match is permitted to propel the wheelchair using a single foot against the ground. The player is then subject to the following restrictions for the entire duration of the match: 1) The player must not utilize their upper extremities for propulsion. 2) The player’s foot must not be in contact with the ground when the player strikes the ball to make a shot. 3) The player’s lower extremities must not contact any wheelchair wheel.

25.A.7.a Fault – Prohibited Actions. For a wheelchair player who is allowed to use a single foot against the ground for propulsion, when any upper extremity contacts a wheelchair wheel, their foot is in contact with the ground when they hit the ball, or any lower extremity contacts any wheelchair wheel, it is a fault against the player.

25.A.8 Serving. The moment the ball is served, both large rear wheels must be on the playing surface behind the baseline and must not touch anywhere outside the correct serving area. The front (smaller) wheels are allowed to extend into the court when the serve is hit.

25.A.8.a Fault – Wheel Not Grounded. If either or both large rear wheels of a server’s wheelchair is off the playing surface when the serve is hit, it is a fault against the server. (Modifies Rule 7.A.1.a)

25.A.8.b Fault – Wheel Contacting Court. If a large rear wheel of a server’s wheelchair is in contact with the court when the serve is hit, it is a fault against the server. (Modifies Rule 7.A.2.a)

25.A.8.c Fault – Wheel Outside Serving Area. If a large rear wheel of a server’s wheelchair is in contact with the playing surface outside the correct serving area when the serve is hit, it is a fault against the server. (Modifies Rule 7.A.3.a)

25.A.9 Two-Bounce Allowance. A wheelchair player may allow the ball to bounce twice before returning the ball. The second bounce can be anywhere on the playing surface. (Modifies Rule 10.B)

25.A.9.a Fault – Failure to Return Ball Before Third Bounce. When a wheelchair player does not return a ball before it bounces three times, it is a fault against the player. (Modifies Rule 10.B.1)

25.A.10 Volleying. The front (smaller) wheels and the rear stabilizing wheels may contact the non-volley zone at any time. (Modifies Rule 11.A)

25.A.10.a Fault – Non-Volley Zone Contact While Volleying. When a large rear wheel of the player’s wheelchair, or anything that has contact with the volleying player (including the player’s partner) contacts the non-volley zone, it is a fault against the player. (Modifies Rule 11.A.1)

25.A.10.b Fault – Non-Volley Zone Momentum. When a volleying player’s momentum causes a large rear wheel of the player’s wheelchair to contact anything (including the player’s partner) that is in contact with the non-volley zone, even after the ball becomes dead, it is a fault against the volleying player. (Modifies Rule 11.A.2)

25.A.10.c Fault – Failure to Exit the Non-Volley Zone Before Volleying. After contacting the non-volley zone, when a player volleys a ball before both large rear wheels of the player’s wheelchair contact the playing surface completely outside the non-volley zone, it is a fault against the player. (Modifies Rule 11.A.3)

25.A.11 Playing Surface Dimensions. The recommended playing surface area for wheelchair play is 44 feet (13.41 m) wide and 74 feet (22.55 m) long. The recommended surface area for wheelchair play in a stadium court is 50 feet (15.24 m) wide by 80 feet (24.38 m) long. (Modifies Rule 3.A.3)

25.A.12 Tournament Events. Wheelchair players may compete in any tournament event, other than an adaptive standing-only event, and may partner with or compete against either standing players, adaptive standing players, or wheelchair players. Only wheelchair players are allowed to play in wheelchair-only events. In all cases, the specific rules governing wheelchair players apply to any player who uses a wheelchair, regardless of the event format or the classification of their opponents or partners.

25.A.12.a Transition Between Standing and Sitting. When playing in a non-wheelchair event, a player is permitted to transition between rallies from being a standing player to a wheelchair player, or from a wheelchair player to a standing player, but only once per match. The transition will be treated as an equipment timeout.

25.A.12.b Replay – Questionable Wheel Contact with Serving Area. When it is questionable whether both wheels of the server’s wheelchair were in contact with the serving area when the serve was hit, the referee may call for a replay. (Modifies Rule 20.E.2.d)

25.A.12.c Replay – Questionable Wheel Contact Outside the Serving Area. When it is questionable whether a large rear wheel of the server’s wheelchair was in contact with the playing surface outside the serving area when the serve was hit, the referee may call for a replay. (Modifies Rule 20.E.2.e)

During a live rally, a fault is committed if:

• A player fails to keep at least one buttock in contact with the wheelchair seat upon the strike of the ball.

• A player’s lower extremity contacts the ground or any wheelchair wheel, regardless of intent. A player’s “lower extremity” is defined as the buttocks, hip, thigh, knee, calf, ankle, and/or foot.

No existing rule

Many players in wheelchairs have the ability to utilize their lower extremities. Because of this, nearly all adaptive sports, including wheelchair tennis, have adopted these rules to prohibit lower extremity-related actions that result in an unfair physical advantage.

A proposal requiring belts was discarded due to the fact that precedent in other sports has shown that belts can be abused by being loosened to still allow a player to elevate, and some individuals aren't able to utilize belts at all, i.e., high double amputees.

This rule would most commonly apply when:

• A player elevates from their seat in an effort to strike a ball which would be otherwise unreachable.

• A player attempts to gain additional power/leverage when making a typical strike of the ball.

• A player utilizes a lower extremity in a direct effort to stabilize, accelerate, decelerate, or alter the direction of their wheelchair.

• A player’s wheelchair tips over and they attempt to utilize their lower extremities to reestablish upright positioning.