A comparison of wheelchair tennis
player development pathways,
focusing on changes in regional
representation
ITF Wheelchair Tennis
Vista 2013 Sport Science Conference
Bonne
Player pathway
• A player pathway is the route that someone
takes in order to compete for their country, or
they need to go on to get to the level they
want to participate at.
(Lincolnshire Sports Partnership ,2013)
Player pathway
• Many different factors contribute towards
sports participation and athlete development.
• Biological eg. Player power, strength, agility etc.
• Psychological – eg. Mental and tactical strength, mental
toughness
• Social * - eg. Local training opportunities, national
programme
• Wheelchair sports – start time influential on
pathway
Long Term Athlete Development
Model (LTAD)
(Stafford 2005 cited in Bailey et al. 2010)
Fundamentals
Learning to
train
Training to win
Training to
compete
Training to
Train
• The progression of a player to the elite level is quicker than that of an ND competitor
• Often regional/national playing opportunities do not exist and from training locally
players progress to competing internationally
ITF player pathway
ITF touring team
NEC tour events
BNP Paribas
World Team Cup
ITF International
Junior Camps
National
Camps
National Junior
Camps
Local/Regional/
Tennis play+ stay
/ Tennis Xpress
WTDF
Continents in World Top 10
10
9
8
7
North America
6
Australasia
5
South America
4
Africa
3
Europe
2
Asia
1
0
Men
Women
1993
Quads
Men
Women
2003
Quads
Men
Women
Quads
boys
girls
2013
• Shift in countries dominance with North America having reduced presence in top 10
• In last 10 years Africa (South Africa) and South America (Argentina) have emerged
• Africa dominate the Junior rankings.
• Asia presence predominately Japan, in Junior’s Iraq is now emerging.
• WTDF countries largely present in the Junior rankings
Global Tournament Distribution
2012
2003
• Increase in tournaments in
Africa, South America, Asia and
Europe
• Draws in Africa some of the
largest on the tour
Ranking numbers by country
Men
Juniors
50
• RSA largest number of
Juniors and women on
Ranking.
• France only has 4 male
players born in 1985 or later
despite highest no. males.
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
2
0
0
USA
USA
GBR
NED
RSA
ARG
AUS
FRA
• ARG lacks depth of other
nations
Women
18
GBR
NED
RSA
SRI
ARG
AUS
FRA
SRI
Quads
12
10
16
14
8
12
10
6
8
4
6
4
2
2
0
0
USA
GBR
NED
RSA
ARG
AUS
FRA
SRI
USA
GBR
NED
RSA
ARG
AUS
FRA
SRI
National programmes
• RSA and GBR: local, regional and national camps/set up –
reflects traditional ND set up: some of few countries to have
regional development officers/coaches
• USA: local and national set up – USTA tournaments to lead
into ITF but run alongside ITF events
• ARG: strong local and national level – predominately based
within one region. Focus on Juniors and integrated training.
• FRA: little for Juniors, trying to start developing this
presently.
• SRI: Local and national/international training
• AUS: Regional development officers but increased activity
required to give support to players. Few Juniors taking part
on an international level
• NED: Strong performance academies, local and grass root
programmes exist.
Number of tournaments in countries
4
USA
*
11
13
GBR
NED
RSA
ARG
*
7
* *
3
* Junior draws
held at NEC Tour
6
1
7
AUS
FRA
SRI
• Those holding Junior
tournaments have highest
number of Juniors on ranking
• AUS and USA despite holding
more tournaments than RSA
still have fewer men and
women.
• NED only hold one
tournament a year, reflects
number on ranking compared
with other countries.
• All countries with adults
players in top 10 host a
tournament
Male case studies
Jul-05 Jan-06 Jul-06 Jan-07 Jul-07 Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12 Jan-13
0
27
25
50
23
Ranking
100
150
21
FRA
19
SRI
17
AUS
15
ARG
13
11
200
9
7
250
ARG
FRA
SRI
AUS
5
3
1
300
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
• ARG, FRA, AUS participants 1990- 1994 birthdays.
•ARG highest ranking at transition from Juniors to Seniors – strong Junior programmes,
participate in International camps/ tournaments (including adults) and travel.
•SRI predominately ex-military – funding restrictions to travel.
•Number of tournaments influential but not only factor (FRA). Results and tournament
grade also affect ranking.
Female/ quad case studies
0
27
10
25
20
23
USA
21
RSA - W
19
RSA - Q
40
17
GBR
50
15
USA
13
RSA - W
11
RSA - Q
9
GBR
Ranking
30
60
70
7
80
5
90
3
100
1
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
• Appears correlation with number of tournaments played and ranking
• USA - playing the least number of tournaments, RSA the most
• GBR quad was playing in men’s division previously before being classified (320 at
point of introduction into quads)
Conclusion
• Shift in dominance of countries – Africa/South America now
emerging with the founding countries eg. North America becoming
less successful.
• Reasons for success: - Increased focus on Juniors by the nations
(Junior camps, host Junior tournaments etc.)
- Increased competitive play inter/national
- strong leaders in countries are vital
- Clear player progression: local, regional,
national and international camps/programmes exist
- Location benefit (Europe)
d
References
• Lincolnshire Sports Partnership (2013) Player
pathways in disability sport. Available
from:http://lincolnshiresports.com/sport/inclusiv
e-sport/player-pathways-in-disability-sport/
• Bailey R., Collins D., Ford P., MacNamara A., Toms
M. And Pearce G. (2010) Participation and
development in sport: An academic review.
Available from:
http://www.sportscoachuk.org/sites/default/files
/Participant%20Development%20Lit%20Review.p
df