New VI Tennis e-learn now available (15/3/24|)

A new course has been launched to help tennis coaches play their role in boosting the number of blind and partially sighted people participating in the sport.

Leading sight loss charity British Blind Sport has partnered with England’s national governing body for tennis, the LTA and coaching charity, UK Coaching, to create a bespoke online training package to give coaches at all levels more confidence at helping those with sight loss to pursue the sport as a hobby or career.

A bespoke tennis training session teaches coaches how to include those with sight loss in classes with their fully sighted peers - including the importance of providing detailed commentary on their surroundings and what is happening around them – from walking out of the changing room to stepping out on court and playing itself.

Access the course here (you will need to select ‘core module + tennis bolt on’): Coaching Blind and Partially Sighted People - UK Coaching

For more information about coaching blind and partially sighted people in tennis visit: www.lta.org.uk/play/inclusion-disability/visually-impaired-tennis/

Visual Impared (VI) Tennis Opportunities in Berkshire

Berkshire Vision - Cantley Park TC, Wokingham, Cantley Park, Twyford Road, Wokingham RG40 5QG.   Contact:  jade.cartwright@berkshirevision.org.uk

Berkshire Vision provides practical and friendly support, sport and activities to visually impaired children and adults, and their families in Berkshire.  Helping to develop confidence and independence and the skills to navigate the world with safety and ease.  To find out more click here

What is Visually Impaired Tennis?

The game of tennis was first adapted to be used for blind and partially sighted people in Japan in 1984 and has quickly grown in popularity.

This version of tennis is for blind (classified as a B1 player) or partially sighted people (dependent on the level of sight loss they are classified in the spectrum between B2- B5).

The game is adapted from the full court version to a smaller court, with lower nets and using an audible ball so players can hear it bounce and being hit. Depending on an individuals’ sight level they may have up to three bounces of the ball before they must return it back to their opponent.