15 December 2020 | Tennis West

Hitting the courts of the Geraldton Tennis Club for a five-week modified tennis program during term four, were students from Holland Street School (Geraldton).

As part of Tennis Australia’s three-year partnership with the Movement Disorder Foundation (MDF), the program aims to provide students with a direct link and experience of tennis at a tennis club environment.

With Holland Street School catering to the needs of students with a variety of intellectual and physical disabilities, sensory impairments, challenging behaviours and autism spectrum disorders; coaching sessions were carefully modified to cater to the varying learning needs and abilities of the students.

Delivered by Natalie Lama of Dynamic Tennis Coaching, the coach of more than 20 years says the highlight of the five-week program was seeing the students’ enjoyment on court which she hopes they will carry forward with them.

“The students had a lot of fun across the five weeks and it was so nice to see them smiling and enjoying themselves,”

“To see the students’ skills progress so they were able to hold a decent rally with each other was really something else,”

“I hope from this experience that tennis is something they want to play again,” Lama said.

A talented junior player who went on to pursue a professional playing career before injury halted her plans prematurely, Lama turned to coaching and says the thing she most enjoys is working with people of varying ages, skills and abilities.

“Regardless of ability or skill, I really love seeing people give 100% of themselves and doing the best that they can,”

“Over my twenty plus years of coaching I’ve really come to appreciate the whole experience,”

“And then there are coaching moments that really standout and that happened on the last day of the Holland Street School program when one of the girls, who was incredibly shy and who hadn’t participated in any of the previous sessions, finally picked up a racquet and stepped on the court to play with her peers,”

“That was really special,” Lama said.

Committed to ensuring the delivery of inclusive programs across Western Australia, Tennis West continues to champion for tennis opportunities for all ages and abilities with Tennis West Regional North Lead Craig Vinci, saying that the five-week program at Holland Street School was a great success.

“Tennis West remains committed to the delivery of inclusive programs and taking tennis to the students of Holland Street School was a wonderful example of what’s possible when programs are tailored according to the needs and abilities of the students,”

“To see the growth in the students’ engagement and in the development of their skills across the five weeks proves the importance of these programs,”

“Helping to create that important link between Natalie and the Geraldton Tennis Club and the students of Holland Street School was a key element of the program which aims to instil an ongoing connection to the sport and how to access ongoing participation,”

“Natalie did an outstanding job moving the students through the program which culminated with simulated match play and the students having a lot of fun out on court,”

“By providing a tailored and enjoyable program the end result is that the students have been equipped with the confidence and skills to now continue their own journeys in tennis,” Vinci said.

Thanks to the MDF funding Holland Street School received a schools tennis pack, including additional modified equipment, which will allow for the continued delivery of tennis.

The Movement Disorder Foundation partnered with Tennis Australia in 2019 in a bid to get kids across Australia with disabilities more active.

To find out more about how Tennis embraces diversity and aims to make the sport welcoming, safe and inclusive for everyone, head to www.tennis.com.au/play/inclusion-and-diversity