"I think as a wheelchair coach you have to have some comfort of being in the chair and understanding mobility patterns, understanding chair set up. That takes time."
USTA Wheelchair National Manager and Head Coach Jason Harnett is on the show this week to talk wheelchair tennis. Harnett has coached wheelchair athletes for over 20 years, and guides the World Team Cup and Paralympic squads.
Wheelchair tennis has been in the news recently after the US Open cancelled the 2020 event. Amidst backlash, some options were discussed and the USTA announced the wheelchair tournament will be held after all.
Harnett shares how he got into coaching wheelchair tennis and what it's like to be an able-bodied coach and player in his field. He dives into some of the issues facing wheelchair players while recognizing how far the sport, and its stars like David Wagner, Dylan Alcott, Mackenzie Soldan and Shingo Kunieda, have come.
Recorded before the COVID-19 outbreak, this episode is available to watch on YouTube and Facebook.
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