Disability Tennis

I am a huge fan of the sport of tennis and I think it is one of the greatest games ever invented.  I used to play for a high school team and the sport really built my confidence in myself, made lasting friendships with teammates, and was able to keep my body physically fit.  The great thing about tennis is that it is a sport that can be played for your entire life.  Now wouldn’t it be great if people with disabilities could enjoy this same experience.  It is now possible for people with disabilities to join a tennis league and live the same experiences as other people. 

The other day while browsing the Internet I found a website that was entitled “Disability Sport-Tennis”.   This piqued my curiousity since it is one of my favorite sports and to my suprise wheelchair tennis is the fastest growing sport according to the article.  There are even special tennis courts that are specifically designed for individuals in wheelchairs which feature level courts with automatic doors in the entrances. 

An organization that is being proactive in providing tennis experiences for the disabled is the British Tennis Foundation.  Their main focus is on wheelchair tennis players, deaf tennis players, and players with learning disabilities.  They have even created a website that explains how to pick up the fundamentals of the game of tennis.  It elaborately explains the rules, eligibility, equipment needed, camps available, and different competitions that can be played.  This website can be found at http://www.tennisfoundation.org.uk/disabilitytennis/.

I also found it very interesting that they specially make wheelchairs for tennis competition.  Today, the most common design has either five or six wheels, consisting of the two large wheels used for pushing, with two small caster-type wheels at the front and either one or two small; caster-type wheels at the back called anti-tip wheels.  This design enables the players to move around the court while giving them the stability for the fast paced game of tennis. 

If you have any one of these disabilities that were mentioned and you have a love for the game of tennis there is no reason to wait around wishing that you could play a sport that you love.  Sign up for a league today and enjoy the game of tennis!