Special Olympics Illinois Tennis Wraps Up Area Tournament

The H-F Racquet & Fitness Club (the Club), located at 2920 W. 183rd St., Homewood IL hosted the Special Olympics Area Tournament for Tennis June 21 and 22. This year, 2014, marks the 25th year the Club has hosted Special Olympics Illinois tennis both at the local and state level. Special Olympics, a worldwide non-profit organization, affords players with intellectual disabilities opportunities to learn and compete in a variety of sports, including tennis.

This tournament is the first step to qualify for the Special Olympics North American National Games. Of the 18 different areas in Illinois, six offer tennis training including the H-F Racquet & Fitness Club, which began holding adaptive tennis classes in 1989.

Introduced in 1987 at the Special Olympics International Games held at Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, tennis is now an integral part of the Special Olympics. Special Olympics Tennis is comprised of 5 Levels. SOILL offers 4 of the 5 levels for athletes to compete in and are divisioned by a Special Olympics Tennis Rating.

This year there were more than 50 participants. Athletes and partners came from across Illinois including Bloomington, Frankfort, Homewood, Joliet, Orland Park and Palos Heights. Following this area tournament, the athletes will progress to the Special Olympics Illinois State Tennis Tournament to be held at Lincolnway North High School. The rain venue will be the H-F Racquet & Fitness Club.

In addition to local Special Olympics volunteers who ensure the tournaments success as ball shaggers, escorts, awards presenters, photographers, hospitality and general helpers, the matches are overseen by USTA officials who also volunteer their efforts.