Adaptive Tennis Serves Many Disabilities

Sport Accessible to the Blind, Amputees, and Those in Wheelchairs

Jun 16, 2009

Despite the sport's physical demands, tennis is popular and played at every level by persons with a wide range of physical and sensory disabilities.

Whether it’s a blind child tracking a bouncing, beeping ball in gym class, or a wheelchair player training for the Paralympics, tennis accommodates almost every disability, providing adaptive equipment and instruction to get people in the game.

Wheelchair tennis has grown since 1998 when the United States Tennis Association (USTA) became the sport’s governing body for the Paralympics, Para Pan Am Games, and the World Team Cup.

Wheelchair Tennis Camps, Clinics Popular from South Carolina to California

South Carolina promotes the sport statewide with camps and clinics, including a recent series in which Domino Boulware taught basic movement and turning skills every weekend from May through mid-June at Greenview Park in Columbia. USTA South Carolina recently participated in the Superintendent’s Cup (Charleston, May 2, 2009), which drew over 300 teachers and administrators for a team tournament and wheelchair exhibition, and provided the opportunity for new players to test their skills in sport chairs.

The ITF Cruyff Foundation Junior Wheelchair Camp (for players 12–18) takes place July 7–10, 2009 at the Felipe Tennis Center in Mission Viejo, Calif. The camp will have tracks for beginners and advanced players and is geared towards fun and camaraderie. Players will get to meet people from around the world; top national coaches will instruct and match players for participation in a tournament for ITF Junior Ranking points. The camp costs $175.00, which includes hotel, meals, transportation to and from John Wayne/Orange County Airport, and a day of fun at a southern California theme park. Application deadline is June 19, 2009. Call Jason Harnett (949.294.0300) for information.

Tennis Adaptations for Amputees

Adaptive equipment, including special socket devices with rings that attach to prostheses and which enable players to hold, toss, and serve balls, has made tennis a popular sport among amputees. Canada’s War Amps offers a wide range of adaptive products.

The Orthotic & Prosthetic Assistance Fund (Langhorne, Penn.) runs a clinic series called First Volley™, which introduces adaptive ambulatory tennis to amputees and those with physical challenges who elect not to play wheelchair tennis. In 2006, OPAF received a $200,000 grant from USTA’s Education Foundation to hold eight national clinics, and the organization has expanded to create adaptive programs in other sports, including golf. Call executive director Robin Burton (215.752.5756) for information.

Adaptive Tennis for the Blind

The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) offers 30-Love: Tennis Guidelines for Players with Visual Impairments or Blindness ($123.00), a kit that includes sound-adapted tennis balls, rackets, blindfolds, and guidebooks (braille and large print) to teach blind children tennis skills. The program meets national physical education standards and helps participants develop strength, coordination, and sound localization skills. Tennis is also seen as a great social activity for students, teaching teamwork, sportsmanship, strategizing, and managing stress.

Like many popular sports, tennis is extremely adaptable and provides a full range of opportunities for disabled players, from exercise and socialization to elite competition.

The copyright of the article Adaptive Tennis Serves Many Disabilities in Accessible Recreation is owned by Andrew Leibs. Permission to republish Adaptive Tennis Serves Many Disabilities in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.