Para Standing and Adaptive Tennis

Tennis is a great sport:

and one of its largest qualities is versatility. Tennis is open to people of all ages and abilities and can be played competitively or recreationally. A movement known as Adaptive Tennis is focused on making tennis more accessible and inclusive for individuals with physical disabilities. The movement has garnered great success within the Special Olympics and wheelchair tennis in recent years. While the sport is progressively becoming more accessible, para-standing players are largely left out, proving a lot of work still needs to be done. 

More about Para-Standing tennis:

Para-standing tennis players are people with physical disabilities who prefer to play standing up rather than in a wheelchair. Until recently, all players with physical disabilities were encouraged to use wheelchairs, even if that person did not use one in their daily lives. Players with prosthetic limbs, cerebral palsy, TBI, and other physical disabilities should have the opportunity to play standing. Coordinating and fostering this community is a critical next step for the sport as a whole.

Adapting rules and equipment:

The rules and equipment used in adaptive tennis are adjusted to accommodate players of differing levels of mobility and types of disability. Para-standing tennis can be played in singles, doubles, team competitions, and other tennis formats. The game may be played on a smaller court with modified equipment (including lighter or larger balls and modified racquets) to suit the unique needs of players with disabilities. Adapted rules include the “bouncing” rule which allows the ball to bounce twice before the player returns it. Accommodations aid players who may have difficulty moving quickly or reaching the ball.

Currently, there are formalized efforts to support programs for wheelchair tennis and tennis for people with intellectual disabilities, however, there are many tennis players who do not fit these categories. Ambulatory physically disabled players have a different set of needs and requirements. Para-standing players benefit from a different set of regulations and accommodations and they need to be given the same opportunities to play.