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Like mainstream tennis, Special Olympics tennis gives athletes the opportunity to learn and perform a variety of skills that can be played throughout life. In addition to offering traditional singles and doubles events, Special Olympics offers individual skills competition to allow athletes to train and compete in basic tennis skills. The development of these key skills is necessary prior to advancing to match play. These skills include racket bounce, "ups," forehand volley, backhand ground stroke, serve-deuce court, serve-advantage court and alternating ground stroke with movement.
Athletes can also participate in Unified Sports® doubles events. Special Olympics Unified Sports is a program that combines Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (partners) on sports teams for training and competition. In Unified Sports tennis, a doubles team would consist of one Special Olympics athlete and one partner.
As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to ability level, age and gender.
Tennis Facts
- Tennis became an official Special Olympics sport in 1987.
- One-hundred and twenty-seven athletes from 29 programs competed in tennis at the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland.
- Today 3,703 Special Olympics athletes from 63 programs around the world compete in tennis.
- Tennis in Minnesota is offered at the area level by Area 12, who hosts a tournament each June.
Tennis Events
- Singles
- Doubles
- Unified Sports Doubles
The following tennis events provide meaningful competition for athletes with lower ability levels:
Individual Skills Competition
Racket Bounce
UPS
Forehand Volley
Backhand Volley
Forehand Groundstroke
Backhand Groundstroke
Serve Deuce Court
Serve Advantage Court
Alternating Groundstrokes with Movement
Sports Rules
National Govening Body: International Tennis Federation
Special Olympics Incorporated: Tennis Rules (updated January 2008)
Other Resources
Tennis Participation by Delegation, Area and Level – Use this link to find a delegation offering tennis in your area.
Tennis Tips at Knowledge Hound
Tennis Tips at eteamz
United States Tennis Association – The USTA Special Populations' mission is to promote and develop adaptive recreational tennis programs for those individuals with differing abilities.
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