Special Olympic athletes along with autistic and other special needs individuals were treated to a free clinic at Bethpage Park Tennis Center. The event was run by Long Island Tennis Magazine’s (LITM) event staff, as well as additional staff from the Special Olympics and Bethpage Park Tennis Center, in what was a collaborative effort between Grow Tennis New York and Serve and Return, two local non-profit organizations.

The athletes were provided a fun and exciting afternoon filled with tennis and pizza, while surrounded by supportive people. The event staff organized drills and games on court to keep all the kids active and having fun, while helping to teach and, in some cases, introduce tennis to many of these young kids. All the players practiced their serves, forehands, backhands and volleys, as staff guided all the kids through the basic fundamentals of the sport.

“Working with special needs individuals and athletes from the Special Olympics to share and teach tennis was incredibly rewarding,” said LITM event staff member Raina Shah, who plays for Wheatley High School. “It was enlightening to see their enthusiasm and determination, which was a powerful reminder of the universal joy that sports can bring. I was also impressed by their skill levels, as many participants displayed remarkable coordination and a keen understanding of the game, exceeding my expectations.”

Victoria Wroblewski, another member of the LITM event team, who plays for Commack High School, added:

“Working with everyone and sharing the love for tennis was truly rewarding. I enjoyed watching the smiles on their faces and seeing them have fun while learning new skills was heartwarming!”

The Special Olympics athletes competed in King and Queen of the Court towards the end of the clinic, where the players in the programs teamed up with local varsity high school tennis players who are also

Long Island Tennis Magazine interns to compete in doubles. While the activity was a fun one with tons of laughs, it also brought out the competitive side in everyone, especially the special needs athletes.

This clinic was unique in the fact that it consisted of special needs individuals from multiple local organizations and those with a variety of needs.

Throughout the year, Bethpage Park hosts weekly programming for special needs individuals, and this clinic in partnership with Grow Tennis New York (LITM’s 501c3 organization), serves as a pathway to added programming, more players and a way to showcase all that these athletes can do.

“My charity Serve and Return has provided programs for Special Olympics and veterans for over 20 years,” said Bethpage Park Tennis Center Founder and Managing Director Steve Kaplan. “More recently, we have added programs for those with autism. It’s wonderful to help those groups learn, laugh, have fun and share the love of tennis with the help of so many volunteers.”

Long Island Tennis Magazine looks forward to continuing to partner with local organizations and groups to maintain its objective of providing tennis opportunities to all.

“We were thrilled to once again team up with Steve Kaplan to host this free clinic and share the love of tennis with these deserving individuals,” said David Sickmen, Publisher of Long Island Tennis Magazine. “It’s our goal to continue to grow the game of tennis, and that means bringing the sport to as many people as possible. We have seen the progress in the level of these athletes and are excited to host more events like this in the future. We also want to thank USTA Eastern for their support for this event.”

Click Here to see more photos from the Free Clinic for Special Needs Individuals