Vision impairment should never stop anyone from having a crack at sport.
That’s the sentiment of Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria, which is busting out the racquets and balls for a come-and-try tennis day for blind and low-vision players in Shepparton next week.
The equipment and rules are slightly different; foam balls with rattles, more bounces and tactile line markings for sensory spatial judgment.
But the end game is the same — to have fun, and bundles of it.
Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria assistant program co-ordinator Tegan Allen explained what will happen on October 17 at McEwen Reserve Tennis Club between 10.30am-1pm.
“We’re going to be having a come-and-try event for people with vision loss, but we’re also inviting their friends and family,” she said.
“We’re going to have two players that play blind tennis professionally come along and they’ll be just back from playing in France.
“They’ll be talking about their experience of playing professionally and they’re also coaches, so they’ll give a bit of a talk and helping introduce the game to people that come along.”
Pros Rob Fletcher and Adam Fayad will arrive fresh off the International Blind Tennis Tournament in Paris, spreading the word of a sport that keeps vision-impaired players on the court.
“Blind tennis changed my life,” Fayad said.
“Playing blind tennis gave me the opportunity to play a sport I love, travel and contribute to the sport as a player, coach and volunteer.”
Blind tennis is still growing within Victoria and Shepparton is among the first to welcome a come-and-try day to town.
Melbourne-based Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria is trialling the sport through these sessions and Allen is hopeful they will knock down the first domino and create a real buzz on courts across the state.
“We’re just starting in the north east and Goulburn Valley areas at the moment just because we’ve got a few staff that live in the area,” she said.
“Hopefully over time we’ll be able to fully roll it out, but we’re sort of using the north east and the Goulburn Valley as a bit of a pilot to see how things go.”
The upcoming event is open to children and adults with vision loss, their families and support workers, while children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
A complementary barbecue lunch will also be provided.
To learn more about Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria and the sports it offers, visit the website here.