TENNIS FOR BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED PEOPLE

TENNIS FOR BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED PEOPLE

ADAPTED RULES

Tennis for blind and partially sighted people is played using the International Tennis Federation’s Rules for Tennis with the exception of the following:

The court

The game is played on a standard badminton court.

The measurements are:

Length 13.40m
Width: 6.1m.
Service line is parallel with the baseline; it is 1.98m from the baseline and joins both sidelines.
These lines can be clearly defined by drop down lines which also act as tactile guidelines.
The net is 80cm high in the centre and 85 cm high at the sides.

Equipment

A ‘short tennis’ or junior racquet is used. The length of the racket should be less than 56 cm. The use of an altered full-sized adult racket is not permitted. There is no regulation determining the surface area of the racket.

A standard soundball is used. Balls come in different colours (usually yellow or black) and the player who is serving chooses the colour of ball to be used during their serve.

The serve

The server calls: “ready” the opponent replies “yes”, the server then has 5 seconds to play the serve. If the server does not say “ready” or the opponent does not say “yes”, and the server hits his serve, the service is a let.

A player can ask the umpire the nature of his service fault (i.e.: how far out, wide, etc) so that they can rectify their next attempt.

Play

Players who are B1 are allowed up to 3 bounces at all times.

Players who are B2 or B3 are allowed up to 2 bounces at all times.

Players who are B4 or sighted are allowed only 1 bounce at all times.

At all times the first bounce must be within the court, any additional bounces can be in or outside the court.

Both a server and a receiver can ask an umpire or ball person their own positions on court.

When a ball breaks in the course of play, the point is replayed.

Mixed doubles (VI and sighted)

Sighted players are not allowed to volley.

A sighted player is to serve to the opposing sighted player, and a visually impaired player serves to the opposing visually impaired player.

(Last updated July 2008)