Free Special Needs Clinic Hits Bethpage Park

April 28, 2023 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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Special Olympic athletes along with other special needs individuals were treated to a free clinic at Bethpage Park Tennis Center which was run by Long Island Tennis Magazine’s (LITM) staff and intern team, as well as volunteers from the Special Olympics and Roslyn High School’s boys varsity tennis head coach KerriAnn Jannotte.

With the Special Olympics set for early May, local athletes are deep into their preparation for the annual games. And on one recent Sunday, those athletes along with other local organizations, were provided with a fun and exciting afternoon of tennis.

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LITM staff and interns organized drills and games on court to keep all the kids active and having fun, while helping to teach and introduce tennis to many of these young kids. All the players practiced their serves, forehands, backhands and volleys, as staff and interns guided all the kids through the basic fundamentals of the sport.

“It was an amazing opportunity to work with kids and to help teach them how to play tennis,” said Kayla Castellano, an intern who plays for Garden City. “Working with my fellow interns to help give back to the community was an amazing experience.”

Andrea Vases, an intern who plays for Manhasset High School, added:

“It was such a great experience. We were able to help the kids and saw them get more comfortable and enthusiastic as we continued to play with them. The athletes hit some great shots and we were able to rally long points which was amazing to see.”

The Special Olympics athletes competed in King and Queen of the Court towards the end of the clinic, with 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 pairings. 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.

“We strongly believe that all special athletes, just like everyone else, needs to learn the basics of the sport and its fundamentals,” said Valerie Slonecki, one of the coaches of the Special Olympics athletes. “The difference with our group is there are more allowances for skill increases, repetition, and a little less pressure on competition. That being said, they clearly do enjoy competition.”

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. Jannotte, who runs a group called Roslyn Buddies in addition to our high school coaching, is a strong proponent of using tennis as a way to provide fun but also help build self-confidence.

 “Tennis is for everyone at every level. Sometimes the goal is a win or a championship and sometimes it’s just watching someone try something new,” said Jannotte. “I love tennis and have been playing since I was a kid and want to get rackets into the hands of as many people as possible. The USTA Long Island Junior Council was thrilled to be a part of this great event and I was proud to be there with them.”

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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.

 


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Century
Bethpage

March/April 2024 Digital Edition