All of our I Play 30 sessions are adapted in ways that cater of all ages and abilities. Many of our participants have autism and tennis proves to be an effective tool for their physical, social, and emotional development. 

Tennis sessions have elements which require individual focus, structured routines, and social opportunities creating an ideal environments for our I Play 30 participants to thrive, supported by our wonderful group of coaches, teachers and volunteers. 

The positive weekly experiences highlight just how easily tennis can be adapted to meet the unique needs of children and adults with autism, offering them not only physical benefits but we have witnessed incredible improvements in communication, resilience, and self-confidence.

Here are some of the ways we adapt our sessions to ensure a safe and engaging environment for our I Play 30 participants:

Visual Aids: Coaches use visual schedules and clear step-by-step instructions to help participants understand the rules and sequences involved in activities.

Routine and Consistency: The sessions follow a structure, which provided a sense of comfort for participants. This is important to implement from the moment they arrive so they are familiar with their welcome, how they enter the courts, possible noise or distractions on the way, the accessibility, how the session begins whether that be with a warm up or fun game, the demonstrations and so on.

Focus on Motor Skills: The activities emphasize hand-eye coordination, balance, and fine motor skills, all areas where participants often need improvement. I Play 30 coaches are taught how to adapt the exercises to each player’s needs and be ready to switch things up whenever necessary.

We see so much growth and enjoyment during the I Play 30 term and it’s brilliant to watch the players’ development over the year.  Keep up the great work everyone!