Blind and visually impaired tennis
Tennis for blind and visually impaired players originated in Japan in the 1980s, where the first national tournament took place in 1990. Efforts began in 2007 to actively promote and develop the sport internationally, which included an exhibition in London.
The game is played on a court 13.4m x 6.1m, the same dimensions as a badminton court. Players work out their position on court by touching tactile lines on the court.
The one major rule difference is that players get either one, two or three bounces of the ball depending in their degree of visual impairment.
Mini tennis rackets, which have shorter grips, are used by the players, while the ball used is a mini tennis sponge ball that encases a table tennis ball with a bell inside it. This allows the players to hear the ball and therefore judge its height, direction and speed, although as the ball has a sponge exterior it is entirely safe, should it hit the players' bodies.
The sport was invented by Myoshi Takei, a Tokyo-based masseur. Myoshi lost his sight through cancer when he was 18 months old. He is totally blind, but as a high school student he decided he wanted to play tennis and therefore sought the help of a PE teacher to help develop the sport.
Transplant Tennis
There are thousands of people in this country waiting for organ transplants, some are lucky enough to receive transplants, some however never receive them. We aim to change that by using the popular sport that is tennis, combined with patients all of whom have had a transplant. Tennis is a great sport that brings many people together and is a fantastic way for transplant patients to keep fit whilst still being able to compete in competitions.
Transplantation
There are currently 7,698 people waiting for transplants (June 2008 figures) and almost a quarter of the population have registered their wish to donate organs on the transplant register. If you would like to find out more about transplantation and how you can register to become a donor and what it involves please visit UK Transplant.
Here's a case study which illustrates how transplant tennis can inspire people to play more: Andrew Knox, 36 years old from Warrington, Cheshire
Had his first transplant in Jan 1998, the kidney was donated by his mum, Teresa. This first transplant lasted just short of 8 years. Andrew then spent a further year on dialysis, before his second transplant donated by his dad, Fred in 2006.
Since his recovery Andrew has played tennis, including for David Lloyd teams in Warrington Dunlop league. At the transplant games he has achieved:
- Bronze Medal: Loughborough Singles Tennis
- Silver Medal: Norwich Singles Tennis
- Bronze Medal: Edinburgh Singles Tennis
- World Transplant Games Silver Men's Doubles...Thailand, Bangkok
Other disability groups
Tennis is a sport that can be played and enjoyed by all disabled people, enhancing health, fitness and general well-being. Specifically, tennis can help with co-ordination, motor skills and spatial awareness. Then, of course, there are the benefits of meeting new people and making new friends.
Amputees and people with cerebral palsy can enjoy tennis, playing stand up tennis, with friends and family, while some choose to integrate in to the current structure for wheelchair tennis. A number of the world's leading wheelchair tennis players are leg amputees.
If you would like more information about any aspect of disability tennis, please contact us
