LITM, Bethpage Park Tennis Center Team Up For Annual Free Clinic For Special Needs Individuals

Special needs athletes of all ages were treated to a free clinic at Bethpage Park Tennis Center. The annual event is run by Long Island Tennis Magazine’s (LITM) event staff, as well as staff from the Special Olympics and Bethpage Park Tennis Center. 

The athletes, who consisted of individuals from the Special Olympics, kids with down syndrome from local school districts and adults with various disabilities from EPIC LI were provided a fun and exciting afternoon while surrounded by supportive people. The event staff organized drills and games on court to keep all the kids and adults active and happy, while helping to teach and, in some cases, introduce tennis to many of these athletes of all ages.

“The event was great,” said Gavin Costanzo, who coaches the Special Olympics tennis players. “The athletes have fun at every one of our sessions and being able to share that with new volunteers and additional athletes each year keeps it new and exciting.”

The 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 event staff to compete in doubles play. 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.

At the end of the on-court portion, players enjoyed pizza courtesy of Mike Pavlides and USTA Eastern Long Island to cap off a fun afternoon.

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.

“Over 50 special needs athletes, along with over 40 amazing volunteers and 12 high school and college coaches showed up to learn, laugh and compete in a supportive and inclusive environment,” said Steve Kaplan, Founder and Owner of Bethpage Park Tennis Center. “This is what tennis is truly about.”

Throughout the year, Bethpage Park hosts weekly programming for special needs individuals, and events such as these serve as a pathway to added programming, more players and a way to showcase all that these athletes can do.

Costanzo added:

“We practice in the fall through the spring and take off during the summer months. We take on special needs athletes at any level. Sometimes parents are reluctant for their children to try tennis but I am well trained in advancing their coordination and learning the great game of tennis with my assistant coaches. We focus on safety and fun, and improving every week.”

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. This event gives everyone a chance to give back. The energy from our event staff combined with the passion of the athletes creates a connective atmosphere. It’s a tough event to put together and manage, but seeing the end result makes it all worthwhile. We have seen the progress in the level of these athletes and are excited to host more events like this in the future.”

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS YEAR’S SPECIAL NEEDS CLINIC