About Us

Standing Adaptive Tennis (Para Standing Tennis) is for people with physical disabilities who want to play tennis without using a wheelchair.

This includes but is not limited to, people with amputations, acquired brain injuries, cerebral palsy, people who are short statured etc.

For many Australians’ living with a physical disability, sport can present a range of challenges, not least of these is finding social and community sport opportunities which allow for play with like abilities.

Equally the pathways that lead from social sport participation to elite competition and representation are not always available until a sports community is ready and capable to fill the gaps in opportunity and delivery new and progressive programs.

We are here to help you discover Tennis for Everybody. But don’t just take our word, hear it from Adam Hills, an Aussie Standing Adaptive Tennis Player himself.

True Tennis inclusion

Australian Standing Adaptive Tennis exists to develop adaptive programs and adaptive standing players, bringing “lived experience to the court”, to foster growth In Tennis for physical disabilities and provide for current and future players across Australia.

Helping to bring true Tennis inclusion, this growing international movement is aimed at recognising and providing for the diversity of standing tennis in the disability community.

This pathway is now recognised by the ITF and various national tennis federations, with players in over 21 different countries and an increasing list of tournaments all over the world.

GETTING STARTED


Whether a New Player or an Existing Player, the Standing Adaptive Tennis journey starts with getting connected with our lived experienced team and joining in through:

  • Adaptive Programs & Hubs

  • Come N Try Events

  • Participating Clubs

  • Participating Tournaments



Contact us for more information or via the expressions of interest form

HOW TO PLAY


The rules for Standing Adaptive or Para Standing Tennis are the same as normal tennis except we have extra rules to help with your mobility and how it is restricted. Depending on your mobility restrictions you can have one, two or even three bounces.

To help everybody get on the court and compete with similar abilities, we also have designed in classifications:

PST 1: Upper limb disability or similar (1 bounce)

PST 2: Below knee amputation or similar mobility competency (1 bounce)

PST 3: Above knee amputation, double arm impairment, cerebral palsy or similar mobility competency (2 bounces)

PST 4: Short stature or similar mobility competency (2 bounces)

PST 5: Severe muscular control and mobility restrictions, cerebral palsy or similar mobility competency (3 bounces)

Not only does this allow for a player’s participation in Singles match play but it also allows for Doubles match play with combined classifications. Each player having their own respective bounce limits.

TOURNAMENTS


We are now in full swing with our second year of tournament inclusions for our Standing Adaptive players, with events this year in NSW, QLD and VIC.

Smashing on the international stage this year was the Oceania Para Standing Tennis Championships, sponsored by Ossur Australia and coinciding with the Australian Open 2024.

This event saw both national and international players showcase fantastic standing play on the courts of Grace Park Hawthorn.

Planning is currently underway for the even larger Oceania Para Standing Tennis Championships 2025.

Contact Us

So what are you waiting for! Reach out and start your Standing Adaptive Tennis Adventure Today!