ADAPTIVE TENNISMISSION

The mission of the USTA Adaptive Tennis program is to provide opportunities to all populations to enjoy and realize the benefits of tennis and its life changing opportunities. The Adaptive Tennis goal is to promote and develop recreational tennis opportunities for individuals through inclusion and support by providing programming, equipment, and teaching techniques.

Tennis benefits both mind and body. Playing tennis helps to improve balance, mobility, and fitness. Mentally, tennis works on one’s focus and concentration. Emotionally it can promote self –confidence, instill a feeling of success, and relieve stress. It also provides an outlet to meet new friends, enhance relationships, or experience great family outings.

BENEFITS OF ADAPTIVE TENNIS

For people with special circumstances or disabilities, the benefits are enhanced with new elements for success as typically defined.

  • The game of tennis can be adapted to accommodate any age or disability.
  • Tennis is fun
  • Tennis provides a venue for positive social interaction
  • Tennis helps develop eye-hand coordination

ADAPTIVE TENNIS RECOGNIZES FOUR

CATEGORIES OF DISABILITIES

1.)Developmentally disabled (learning disabilities, autism, Down Syndrome, intellectually disabled)

2.)Physically disabled (birth defects, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, muscular, visually impaired, hearing impaired, stroke, etc.)

3.)Consumers of mental health services (psychiatrically disabled, emotionally disturbed)

4.)At risk / environmentally disabled (substance abusers, mentally and physically abused, homeless, HIV positive individuals, persons within the juvenile justice system, etc).LINKS OF INTEREST

See

Adaptive Tennis Homepage

Fundamentals of adapting the game

Program Registration and Applications

Program Resources

Adaptive Tennis Contacts

ADAPTIVE GRANTGrant Purpose

The USTA Texas Section is committed to promoting Adaptive Populations at the local level. To that end, the USTA/Texasoffers grants to assist not-for-profit organizations initiate or expand their Adaptive Population tennis programming activities. Program grants may be used to start instructional programs and/or leagues for players of all ages and abilities.

GRANTS

USTAawards grants to non-for-profit organizations (501c3 status), that support efforts in tennis and education to help disadvantaged, at risk youth and people with disabilities. Click 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.

PROGRAM RESOURCES

  • USTA Manual for teaching Adaptive Tennis

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED