Introductory tennis programme serves up success

As previously reported, a group of RNC students took to the court in January for a six-week introductory tennis programme designed specifically for visually impaired (VI) young people. Led by coach Steve Barnett from Activate Sports Education, the sessions proved a resounding success, introducing 14 students to the fundamentals of the sport.


The programme, funded by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and Herefordshire & Worcestershire LTA under the Open Court Initiative, aimed to break down barriers and increase accessibility to tennis. VI tennis uses modified equipment, including a smaller court, lower net, and audible tennis balls.

For many participants, this was their first experience of tennis, and Coach Steve is delighted with their progress, commenting:

'Many of the students hadn't picked up a tennis racquet before. So throughout the six weeks we've had lots of orientation around the feel and touch of the equipment, getting used to judging distances, listening for the audible bounce of the ball, and understanding the space of the court.

'They've not only learned the technical aspects of the game, including court orientation and scoring, but they’ve also developed their competitive spirit. It's been great to see their progress from struggling to hit the ball over the net to now being able to have a full competitive rally.'

While the initial six-week programme has concluded, the momentum continues. Steve, along with Head of Sport Aaron Ford, is exploring further opportunities to ensure the students can continue playing, including the possibility of attending some sessions at Bishops Meadow Community Sports Park in the summer, allowing students to experience playing on grass courts during Wimbledon season.

To keep the students active, Steve also hopes to introduce Pickleball to them at some point. It's another inclusive sport with similarities to VI tennis - it has similar court dimensions and a distinct audible bounce from a plastic ball.

Huge thanks to Steve for his time and dedication. The success of this programme underlines the power of inclusive sports, which has helped students develop their co-ordination, mobility, confidence, communication, and social skills.

Read previous article here.