Inclusive Tennis Academy

Inclusive Tennis Academy Individualised tennis & gross motor programs for children & young people with disability & developmental delay.

Bridging the gap between early intervention & disability sport with a combined approach of Physiotherapy and specialised tennis coaching.

What is hypermobility and how does it affect tennis participation and performance? 🎾🤸🏼‍♂️Hypermobility is a common sympt...
11/06/2026

What is hypermobility and how does it affect tennis participation and performance? 🎾🤸🏼‍♂️

Hypermobility is a common symptom for many children with disability resulting in joints being able to move through a more than expected range of motion due to increased joint laxity.

This can cause reduced joint stability, increased fatigue, higher risk of injury, pain and discomfort, difficulty with balance and coordination, reduced body awareness.

Hypermobility can have a significant impact on tennis participation for children with disability.

While having flexible joints may look like an advantage, they can make tennis more physically demanding, leading to increased fatigue, pain, balance difficulties and reduced confidence.

Every child is different, particularly those with disability, so individual adjustments to physical activity and fitness programs are necessary to best support the child to achieve their goals and prevent risk of injury.

With the right support, tennis can help build strength, stability, coordination, body awareness, and self-confidence.

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Play On sports vouchers for children aged 5 to 17 years are now able to be used for all Inclusive Tennis Academy tennis ...
10/06/2026

Play On sports vouchers for children aged 5 to 17 years are now able to be used for all Inclusive Tennis Academy tennis services 🎾

Voucher information can be found at
https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/sports/funding/playon

For more information or to book a session with your voucher please contact us on 0400422492 or [email protected] 🎾

🎾 Supporting all children to learn, play and thrive 🎾
💙 Every child. Every ability. Every opportunity. 🩵

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Come join us for our first All Abilities Games these school holidays 🎾🎾🎾At Tennis Plus - 19 Queen St Southport9.00-10.30...
09/06/2026

Come join us for our first All Abilities Games these school holidays 🎾🎾🎾

At Tennis Plus - 19 Queen St Southport

9.00-10.30am
Friday 3rd July
Tuesday 7th July

Morning tea available at 10.30am

Small groups, ball skill games & gross motor activities. Participation awards for all the kids 🥇

Physiotherapist run and assistant support provided. Parent/carer involvement is welcomed but not necessary.

RSVP essential 0400 422 492

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Have you ever seen a child who loves sport one day but refuses to participate the next? Or a child who is so excited for...
08/06/2026

Have you ever seen a child who loves sport one day but refuses to participate the next? Or a child who is so excited for their sport, yet when they get on court seems like they no longer want to be there? For some autistic children, this may be linked to Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), also known as Persistent Drive for Autonomy.

PDA is a profile within the autism spectrum where everyday demands and expectations can trigger intense anxiety. What may seem like a simple instruction such as “It’s your turn to serve,” “Line up with your team,” or “Let’s start warm-up drills” can feel overwhelming and threatening to a child’s sense of control.

In sport, this can look like:
🎾 Refusing activities they previously enjoyed
🎾 Difficulty following instructions or routines
🎾 Appearing oppositional or defiant when anxious
🎾 Needing to negotiate, delay, or avoid tasks
🎾 Sudden emotional outbursts or withdrawal from participation
🎾 Repeating behaviours that are successful in avoiding or minimising the anxiety associated with the task

It’s important to remember that these behaviours are not about being naughty, lazy, or unwilling to learn. They are often a response to anxiety and a need for autonomy. Not a bad attitude or lack of effort.

So how can we support children with PDA in sport?

✅ Offer choices whenever possible
✅ Use invitations rather than direct commands
✅ Build strong, trusting relationships
✅ Allow flexibility and adaptation of activities
✅ Focus on connection before compliance
✅ Celebrate participation in all its forms

When sporting environments understand and accommodate PDA, children are more likely to feel safe, engaged, and successful. The goal isn’t to make children fit the sport—it’s to make sport accessible for every child.

Every child deserves the opportunity to experience the joy, friendship, confidence, and lifelong benefits that sport can provide.

When we understand the ‘why’ behind a child’s behaviour, we can replace frustration with support and create sporting environments where every child has the opportunity to thrive. 🎾

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🏃‍♀️⚽🎾🦽⛳️Every child deserves the chance to experience the joy, friendship and confidence that sport can provide. Yet fo...
08/06/2026

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Every child deserves the chance to experience the joy, friendship and confidence that sport can provide. Yet for many children with disability, participating in mainstream sports programs is far more challenging than it should be.

The reality is that most children with disability (up to 74% of autistic children) want to play sport. They want to learn new skills, make friends, be part of a team and enjoy the same opportunities as their peers. However, many face barriers that make participation difficult.

Some of the most common challenges include:
🎾 Coaches and volunteers who have limited training or confidence in supporting children with disability.
🎾 Programs that aren’t flexible enough to accommodate different learning, communication or sensory needs.
🎾 Inaccessible facilities, equipment or environments.
🎾 Higher costs associated with support needs, transport or specialised equipment.
🎾 Social barriers, including fear of exclusion or repeated “failures”, or lack of understanding behind behaviours being labelled as “bad attitudes”when adjustments are not met.

Research shows that Australians with disability participate in sport at significantly lower rates than those without disability, despite the same benefits to physical, social/emotional and mental health. Disability Sports Australia reports that participation is limited not by interest, but by barriers such as inaccessible facilities, limited programs and a lack of local opportunities.

The Australian Sports Commission has also identified costs, transport, accessibility and a lack of awareness of available programs as major barriers to participation.

Research has found that 75% of people with disability are not satisfied with the types and frequency of sporting opportunities available to them.

We need to create environments where every child can participate, learn and thrive. When we adapt our programs, educate our coaches and welcome children of all abilities, we create stronger clubs, stronger communities and more opportunities for every child to succeed.

Because sport should be for everyone 💙

When children are having fun, they are more likely to:* Participate willingly* Stay engaged for longer periods* Try new ...
07/06/2026

When children are having fun, they are more likely to:

* Participate willingly
* Stay engaged for longer periods
* Try new skills without fear of failure
* Build positive relationships with coaches and peers
* Return to lessons consistently
* Develop confidence and independence

For many children with disability, traditional coaching methods that focus heavily on technique, competition, or performance can create anxiety, frustration, or sensory overload. A fun, play-based environment allows children to learn at their own pace while experiencing success.

For children with disability, tennis may include activities like :

* Balloon rallies
* Target games
* Obstacle courses
* Animal movements
* Music and movement activities
* Adapted equipment
* Creative challenges and imaginative play
* Celebrating effort rather than results

Children with disability are far more likely to develop a lifelong love of tennis when they experience joy before performance. Skills, technique, and competition can all come later, but enjoyment is what keeps children engaged long enough to learn and grow.

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New 1:1 and small group availability for inclusive tennis and physiotherapy including limited afterschool times! Contact...
27/04/2026

New 1:1 and small group availability for inclusive tennis and physiotherapy including limited afterschool times!

Contact us now to secure your spot

📞 0400 422 492
📧 [email protected]

Tennis is for everyone!
ITA supports tennis opportunities for all kids 💙🩵

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🎾 Tennis is for every child, especially those with autism 🎾Tennis is more than just a sport — it can be a powerful tool ...
27/04/2026

🎾 Tennis is for every child, especially those with autism 🎾

Tennis is more than just a sport — it can be a powerful tool for supporting children with disability such as autism to grow, connect, and thrive 💙🧡💛💚

Some of the incredible benefits include:

✨ Improves coordination & motor skills
The structured, repetitive movements in tennis help develop balance, timing, and overall body awareness.

✨ Builds routine & predictability
Tennis sessions often follow a clear structure, which can be comforting and help children feel safe and confident.

✨ Supports social connection
Whether working one-on-one with a coach or in small groups, tennis creates opportunities to practise communication and build relationships in a low-pressure environment.

✨ Enhances focus & emotional regulation
Tracking the ball and following simple instructions can improve concentration, while physical activity helps manage stress and energy levels.

✨ Boosts confidence & independence
Learning new skills, achieving goals, and experiencing success on the court can have a huge impact on self-esteem.

✨ Adaptable for every child
Tennis can be modified to suit individual needs — from slower balls to smaller courts — making it effectively inclusive.

Every child deserves the chance to play, learn, and belong. 💫

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Tennis is more than a sport — it’s a powerful tool for inclusion, confidence, and development 💙🎾Children with disability...
17/04/2026

Tennis is more than a sport — it’s a powerful tool for inclusion, confidence, and development 💙🎾

Children with disability can benefit from:
✔️ Improved physical health & coordination
✔️ Increased confidence & independence
✔️ Stronger social connections
✔️ Enhanced cognitive & motor skills

Research consistently shows that participation in sport improves wellbeing, inclusion, and overall development for children with disabilities.

Let’s create opportunities for every child to play, grow, and thrive 💙



🎾 References 🎾

https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/121/5/1057/73486/Promoting-the-Participation-of-Children-With

https://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ijps/article/view/0/51366?utm_source=chatgpt.com

🎾 Teen Tennis Homeschool match play & social group 🎾Increasing the opportunities for our homeschooling teens to play mor...
13/01/2026

🎾 Teen Tennis Homeschool match play & social group 🎾

Increasing the opportunities for our homeschooling teens to play more tennis and meet some likeminded friends

Southport based

Low cost $5/hr participation fee to cover court hire and balls only

BYO racquet but if you don’t have one let us know and we have some options to borrow

Supervision provided (not coaching)

Variety of structured games and free play for all abilities, but ideally some tennis experience preferred so the kids can have some rallies and games.
We do also have lessons for kids who would like to learn tennis before joining this group.

We are scheduling Term 1 now so please reach out if interested to advise of your best availability so we can schedule times to suit as many kids as we can

0422 492 492

[email protected]

Address

Southport
Gold Coast, QLD
4215

Telephone

+61400422492

Website

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