Norfolk Tennis is committed to providing inclusive and accessible tennis opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. Through close collaboration with Norfolk LTA and the LTA’s Open Court programme, we support a continually expanding range of disability tennis initiatives across the county.

For more information, please contact Kathy Lofthouse at
📧 inclusivetennis@norfolktennis.org

You can also visit the LTA website for national information and resources on inclusive tennis.

Norfolk Tennis boasts among its number, World No. 1 wheelchair star Alfie Hewett, world-ranked players Ben Bartram and Ruby Bishop. In 2024, Georgia Routledge became the first winner of the Para Standing World Championships.

Tennis Able – Leading the Way In Inclusive Coaching
Based in Norwich at the East Anglia Tennis & Squash Club, Tennis Able is a highly respected coaching organisation specialising in disability tennis. Named the LTA Disability Club of the Year in 2018, Tennis Able offers coaching and playing opportunities for a wide range of participants.

The programme has earned numerous accolades:

- Norfolk Tennis Disability/Inclusive Tennis Award – 2021, 2022, 2024
- LTA East & Central Region Disability Award – 2021

Individual volunteers have also received recognition, including:

- LTA Young Person of the Year (2021)
- LTA Central & East Region Rising Star (2022)

Current coaching programmes include:

- Special Olympics
- Wheelchair Tennis
- Para-standing
- Visual Impairment
- Mental health programmes
- Headway Gorleston (brain injury support)
- Several local Special Schools
- 1-to-1 coaching tailored to individual needs

👉 For updates and more details, visit the Tennis Able website or Facebook page.

Easton Tennis Centre – LTA Centre Of Excellence For Wheelchair Tennis
Located on the campus of Easton College, Easton Tennis Centre is an officially designated LTA Centre of Excellence for Wheelchair Tennis. The centre runs weekly junior wheelchair sessions led by Chris Lambert, an LTA Level 3 Accredited Coach and the lead wheelchair tennis coach at Easton.

These sessions offer a welcoming, inclusive environment for new and returning players — whether for fun, fitness, or competitive development. Participation can also lead to opportunities on the LTA Performance Pathway, including:

- Regional and national training camps
- Competitive tournaments
- Talent identification and progression

📧 Contact: eastontennis@ccn.ac.uk for session information or to get involved.

Norfolk venues have a number of clubs/venues with inclusive programmes, including:

Easton Tennis Centre – LTA Performance wheelchair tennis hub
Cromer Lawn Tennis & Squash Club – adult learning disability group and walking tennis
East Anglia Tennis & Squash Club - award-winning specialist coaching
Gorleston Tennis Club – well being tennis and  visually impaired tennis
Loddon Tennis Club – walking tennis, Parkinson’s UK tennis
North Elmham Tennis Club – award-winning learning disability & visually impaired groups, individual lessons (teenager and adult), plus support of underprivileged children in local community

Learn More About: Different Impairment Groups & Competition Pathways

WHEELCHAIR TENNIS

Talent Spot
Getting Started One of the fastest growing wheelchair sports in the world, wheelchair tennis integrates very easily with the non-disabled game since it can be played on any regular tennis court, with no modifications to rackets or balls.

Wheelchair tennis players are allowed two bounces of the ball and can easily play against other wheelchair tennis players, as well as alongside or against non-disabled friends and family.

One of the biggest myths about wheelchair tennis is that you have to use a chair in your everyday life in order to be eligible to play. In actual fact, the game is open to anyone with a physical disability including, but by no means limited to, spinal injuries, spina bifida, limb loss, hyper mobility and cerebral palsy.

Have you been inspired by our elite wheelchair tennis players? Maybe you saw them at Major Events, such as Wimbledon and aspire to represent Great Britain at Major Events and become a future Grand Slam and/ or Paralympic Champion?

The LTA deliver wheelchair initiatives with the ambition of finding, developing, and supporting the next generation of wheelchair tennis stars. Our aim is to provide inspirational experiences and showcase the amazing benefits our sport has to offer from grassroots development to elite performance. 

VISUALLY IMPAIRED TENNIS
Visually impaired tennis is one of the newest versions of the game and is played on a smaller tennis court using smaller rackets, an audible ball and raised lines.

Players who are totally blind are allowed three bounces while partially sighted players are allowed two bounces. Tape can be put on the court to create raised lines and players communicate at the start of each point to make sure their opponent is ready.

New online course to help coaches working with blind/partially blind players

Learn More About: Learning Disability Tennis | Deaf Tennis