Program Resources
First Volley YouTube Video
Tennis is a sport without boundaries. Yes, there are lines on a court, but they aren't there to exclude anyone, regardless of disability.
What is USTA Adaptive Tennis (formerly Special Populations)?
The USTA Adaptive Tennis mission is to provide opportunities to all populations to enjoy the sport of tennis, and to realize the benefits of the sport and its life changing opportunities.
Adaptive Tennis’ goal is to promote and develop recreational tennis opportunities for individuals with differing abilities and circumstances through inclusion, knowledge, and support, and by providing, where needed, adaptive programming, equipment, and teaching techniques.
Tennis benefits both mind and body. Physically, playing tennis helps to improve balance, mobility, agility, strength, fitness, and to burn calories. Mentally, tennis works on one’s focus, concentration, and reactive and problem-solving behaviors. Emotionally it can promote self-confidence, instill feelings of success, relieve stress, and provide social outlets to meet new friends, enhance relationships, or experience great family outings. These benefits are so much more important for those with disabilities, in special life situations, or with special circumstances.
Benefits of Adaptive Tennis
For people with special circumstances or disabilities, these benefits are enhanced with new elements added to success as typically defined. A different way of looking at some benefits is as follows:
- Tennis is for everyone and the game of tennis can be adapted to accommodate any age, environment, condition, or disability.
- Tennis is fun.
- Tennis provides a venue for positive social interaction.
- Tennis participation enhances self-esteem and self-confidence.
- Tennis is good exercise and improves overall fitness.
- Tennis improves flexibility, strength, and weight control.
- Tennis helps develop eye-hand coordination and body control.
- Tennis can be played for a lifetime.
USTA Adaptive Tennis recognizes four main categories of disabilities:
- Developmentally disabled (learning disabilities, autism, Down Syndrome, mental retardation)
- Physically disabled (birth defects, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, muscular dystrophy, hearing impaired, stroke, etc.)
- Consumers of mental health services (psychiatrically disabled, emotionally disturbed)
- At-risk/environmentally disabled (substance abusers, mentally and physically abused, homeless, HIV positive individuals, persons within the juvenile justice system, etc.)
Grants
USTA Serves awards grants to not-for-profit organizations (501c3 status), that support efforts in tennis and education to help disadvantaged, at-risk youth and people with disabilities. Click here to learn more about the guidelines and requirements for these grants. The Foundation also provides college scholarship opportunities for tennis players through the USTA Tennis & Education Foundation.
There are specialty grants such as, The Donnelly Award, established by Billie Jean King in 1998 to encourage diabetic children to lead an active life and compete in tennis. The two awards each year provide $5,000 scholarships to young tennis players suffering from diabetes.
Click here for a comprehensive listing of all USTA funding opportunities and deadlines
Competitive Play: Tournaments and League Resources
Special Olympics
Special Olympics National Games
USA Deaf Federation’s National Games & Deaflympics
World Team Tennis