STRIDE Adaptive Sports Receives Grant from U.S. Tennis Association
(West Sand Lake, NY, 05/05/2021) – STRIDE Adaptive Sports announced today that it has been awarded a generous grant from the United States Tennis Association (USTA) to send local adaptive tennis players to Special Olympics competition.
According to STRIDE Program Director, Megan Evans, STRIDE has integrated Special Olympics competition into several of its other adaptive sports programs for years including swimming, bowling, and its skiing race teams. “Special Olympics participation has been enthusiastically popular among STRIDE’s programs,” explains Evans. “We wanted to introduce our adaptive tennis players to the joy of this kind of competition and the thrill of victory. STRIDE is so grateful to USTA’s Eastern Division for making this possible.”
STRIDE Tennis Program Director, Dave Graham, added that Special Olympics goes out of its way to make the competition a positive experience for everyone. “We like how their division setting practices are based on age and skill level, so every match is close and fun. For beginning players, they even allow for shorter courts and slower tennis balls. Equally important, every participant gets some kind of medal and the recognition that goes with it. This is consistent with STRIDE’s emphasis on inclusion.”
STRIDE’s adaptive tennis program welcomes players with developmental and/or physical disabilities at Indian Meadows Park in Glenville this spring. Each participant receives instruction from trained coaches in a small-group, socially-distanced format that emphasizes fundamental skills and drills. Equipment is provided and includes tennis balls and rackets of varying speeds and sizes to ensure success and a rewarding experience. The program will be offered in one 20-week indoor session, and one 8-week outdoor session. Each session has room for up to 15 players.
Anyone interested in STRIDE’s adaptive tennis program, or any of STRIDE’s other adaptive sports programs, should contact Program Director Megan Evans at 518-598-1279, [email protected]. Information on sponsoring or donating to support these programs can be obtained from Patrick Hayslett, Development Director, at 518-598-1279, [email protected].
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ABOUT STRIDE ADAPTIVE SPORTS
Celebrating 35 years, STRIDE Adaptive Sports is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides over 11,000 adaptive sport and recreation lessons each year to individuals with disabilities, focusing on youth and Wounded Warriors. With a focus on individual life-time sports, STRIDE programs use specialized equipment or teaching aids for successful participation to “level the playing field” for all. STRIDE is a partner member of MoveUnited Sports (formerly Disabled Sports USA) and Professional Ski Instructors of America; a US Paralympic Sport Club; a training club for Special Olympics; and an official Red Cross provider. STRIDE is recognized as one of the leading adaptive sport programs in the Northeastern United States.
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