BLIND TENNIS

Did you know that blind people CAN play tennis in very nearly the same way that anyone else does?  It’s a fantastic sport.  And it’s just getting started.

HISTORY
Given the long history of tennis, Blind Tennis is a relatively new sport. It was originally created by Miyoshi Takei in 1984 in Kawagoe, Saitama prefecture, Japan. At the time, Miyoshi was a blind high school student at the Saitama Prefectural School For The Blind & Visually Impaired and he had a dream to hit a tennis ball.

Visually impaired versions of various other sports such as volleyball, table tennis and baseball already existed at the time. But, in these ball games, a ball was rolled on the floor rather than bounced. This was not what Miyoshi was looking for. He wanted to play tennis in three dimensions with a ball bouncing. He went to see his physical education teacher and asked for advice. The teacher was interested in his idea and they started to experiment together at the gymnasium in Saitama prefectural school for the blind and the visually impaired.

The first and most important task was to make a special ball that would allow visually impaired players to locate its position by the sound it emitted as it bounced or was hit. At first, they tried to use a toy plastic ball, in which they put some lead balls. It rattled and the sound was good. But the height of the bounce was not appropriate. They continued to experiment with various other materials but it was proving very difficult to make the perfect Blind Tennis.

After graduating from school, Miyoshi entered a special education course in Tokyo to learn physiotherapy. He took his original ball to the Tokyo Sports Centre For The Disabled. He asked an instructor to play tennis with him. At first, the instructor was uncertain about Miyoshi's idea, but he was deeply moved by his enthusiasm.

At that time, short tennis came from Sweden. A sponge ball is used for short tennis. One day a man who works for the wheelchair tennis association showed a sponge ball to Miyoshi. He had an idea of using a sponge ball. Then he went to a shop to find a ball, and he got a larger sponge ball. He cut it in half and put a table tennis ball for the blind and visually impaired in the middle.

It was very challenging for Miyoshi to make contact with the ball at first but it was also a huge step forward for three dimentional sports for the blind and impaired. With its sponge exterior and a rattling table tennis ball at its core the National Rehabilitation Center For The Disabled (NRCT) in Tokorozawa in Saitama started a project to manufacture the special tennis ball for the blind and set the rules.

Miyoshi's dream was coming true. The visually impaired people, who were studying there, lent good advice. Furthermore, with the help of The Japanese Disabled Sport Association, a yet-unknown sport was about to be born. It was on the 21st of October in 1990 that Miyoshi's dream was realized at last. The first national tournament was held in NRCT. Miyoshi stood on the court feeling very excited and happy. He had accomplished his goal.

Japan is divided into 47 regions. Sound ball tennis is now played in over 30 of these regions. It is estimated that about 300 players are now enjoying it regularly. The racket, being short and light, everybody from infants to the elderly can play it. And best of all, both challenged and able-bodied can play Blind Tennis together, either as opponents or in a mixed-doubles format with visually impaired player partnering someone with normal eyesight.

Our goal is to make Blind Tennis a Paraｌympic event and a sport which is played far and wide around the world.

Court
The size of the court is that of a badminton court. The sound of the ball being so important, Blind Tennis is usually played indoors.
A special sticky tape with a string under it is used to make lines. The visually-impaired players can ‘feel’ the dimensions of the court by touching the tape and string with their hands and feet. The height of the net is 80cm at the center and 85cm in the sides.

Racket
A shorter junior-sized racket is used. The length of the racket should be under 22inches. (about 56cm)

Ball
A special type of sponge ball is used for Blind Tennis. Being soft and light, it is safe for the visually impaired when the ball hits their body. The size of the ball is 9cm in diameter. In the middle of the ball, there is a plastic tennis ball which contains five steal balls.
It produces a nice, audible sound when it bounces and allows the visually impaired player to judge the approximate height, direction and speed of the incoming ball.
Each ball is specially manufactured and costs 945yen (Approx. US$12)

If you would like to order the balls, please e-mail Ayako Matsui

.
One box contains 12 balls. (11,340yen including tax)
(more than 60 balls (5 boxes) one ball costs 900yen
more than 300 balls (25 boxes) one ball costs 840yen




Shoei-Industry Co., Ltd has developed a new ball.
It is an official ball of Japan Blind Tennis Federation(JBTF) from April , 2011.
It is robust. And it has a better sound and less irregurlar than the old ball.


Classes
There are presently four classes for Blind Tennis.  (NB: B stands for blind)

NB:  One may play in an upper class, if one so wishes.


Written by Ayako Matsui    Proofreader Phillip Azar