What happened when I joined an able-bodied tennis league

I love playing tennis.

Tennis gives me a high and energizes me. I love the rush I feel when I have a good shot and how my brain and body work in sync. I love its social aspect, and it is a sport I can play with my wife! 

Since there are not many other wheelchair users around, and sometimes my wife wants to play up, I usually can't play until wheelchair tennis season. But I want to play tennis more often than that! So, I decided to join an able-bodied league here in Atlanta called T2Tennis.

There was nowhere on T2Tennis' page to say I was a wheelchair player, so I registered just like everybody else. I was assigned to a league, and I started playing.

So far, I've lost all my matches. But my game has improved, and I can play as much tennis as I want.

The interesting thing is that no one has had any problem with my disability. I simply tell them before the game that I am a wheelchair user and that the rules are the same, except that I get two bounces. I've never gotten any complaints - they always respond with a simple OK or a silent "who cares."

When I show up, they are very curious about the experience of playing with a wheelchair user. But it's great because everyone treats me just like anybody else.

Some of my fellow league players offer assistance, and I appreciate it, especially when it comes to courts that are up a hill! But I also appreciate those who don't ask if I need help. It makes me feel that I'm one of them and shows that they see me as any other competitor they are there to beat.

It's been a great experience

This experience has taught me a lot about what it means to be a wheelchair player. I've come to realize we can play in the recreational leagues we want and do not need to limit ourselves to disability-specific activities. I wonder why this would not apply to other areas in society.

It's true that nondisabled players have an advantage over me. But if I'm willing to play, then so what? Plus, I get two bounces to their one.

Of course, there might be sports where it's not safe. For example, ablebodied players would not be able to compete against wheelchair rugby players. It's too rough, and our players go at each other very hard with their chairs. The nondisabled players would get hurt. But in tennis, pickleball, ping-pong, and other sports of that nature, whether the player uses a wheelchair or not shouldn't matter.

I enjoy playing tennis in this league. It's been a great experience. My game has improved because I have had to become faster, but it also lets me reflect on our ability to participate in all aspects of our communities.

Playing sports we love with our non-disabled neighbors as equals may raise our comfort level around each other. It might remove some of that weirdness some people may feel when they're around us as we're doing something we all enjoy.

And if not, at least we're all having fun.

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