Region C Tennis

What Is Tennis?

A lifetime leisure sport, tennis provides athletes the opportunity to learn and perform a variety of sports skills. Tennis competition is offered in singles and doubles at various ability levels ranging from traditional tennis to Individual Skills Competition to develop basic tennis skills. Athletes also have the opportunity to compete with their non-disabled peers in Unified doubles.

As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped into competition divisions according to ability level, age and gender when appropriate.

Athletes in Illinois who participate in tennis compete locally at Region events. They are then eligible to advance to state championships at the State Tennis Championships held in Frankfort in August.

Tennis Events Offered in Illinois

Traditional

• Match Play in singles and doubles

Developmental

• Short Court Match Play in singles and doubles
• Individual Skills Competition (Forehand Volley, Backhand Volley, Forehand Ground Stroke, Backhand Ground Stroke, Serve Deuce Court, Serve Advantage Court, Alternating Ground Strokes)

Unified

• Unified Match Play in doubles

Competition Information

All Special Olympics Illinois Tennis competitions abide by USA Tennis Association rules. Any modifications to these rules done by Special Olympics Illinois can be found in the linked rules interpretation.

2023 Special Olympics Illinois Tennis Rule Interpretations

Tennis Skills and Match Play Competition.

Individual Skills: Athletes have been divisioned by combining gender to form combined (C) divisions.  Athletes’ nametags will include division and group number.  Skills players should report to the skills court (court 9) 15 minutes prior to their scheduled time.  Skills awards will be presented following the competition in the awards area.

Match Play:  Coaches/Athletes should check in at tournament central 15 minutes prior to the time listed.  Matches are being played back to back to avoid conflicts. We have built in 15 minutes for rest between each match.  

• Traditional Match Play: will consist of 2 full (6 game) sets using no-ad scoring with a 10 point Tie-break to determine the winner of the match. 
• Short Court Match Play: will consist of 1 full set, in which the first player who wins six games wins that set, provided there is a margin of two games over the opponent(s).  At 6-All, a 7 point tie-break is played to determine the winner of the match. 

All athletes should wear proper tennis attire-No jeans, no jewelry.

Facility Information

Outdoor courts will be utilized for tennis skills and match competition

Event Details

Team Registration: 7:30am

Matches Begin: 8:00am

Individual Skills begin: 9:00am – 11:30am

Weather Policy: If a cancellation decision has to be made, it will be done by 6a Saturday, June 25^th. 

Heat Guidelines for all one-day events:

If any of the following conditions are forecasted orare reached during the event, then the event will be cancelled:

1.   Temperature above 95 degrees

2.    Heat Index above 102 degrees

3.    The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory Warning for the time frame of the event.

If there has been rain Friday/Saturday and court conditions are questionable – you will receive updates by email.

Volunteer Information

Please check back closer to the event for more information.

Equipment

Athletes should bring their ownrackets.  Balls will be provided.  

Water bottles, sunscreen, umbrellas, lawn chairs, canopy tents as we will be outside all day. 

Please remind your Athletes to drink plenty of fluids.  Shade at Hinsdale South is limited.   

Awards

Awards will be present after divisions are finished.

Criteria for Advance To advance to the State Tournament (specific to 2023 ONLY):

• Match Play –  Advancement will be determined and communicated after summer games.
• All individuals skills participants must receive a GOLD medal.

Concessions

Lunch will be provided for all athletes, coaches and partners.

Supporting Documents

2023 Special Olympics Illinois Region C Tennis Results – Final

Who We Are

Special Olympics is a global organization that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sport, every day around the world.  Special Olympics Illinois is a not-for-profit organization offering year-round training and competition in 18 sports for more than 23,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities and 13,000 Young Athletes ages 2-7 with and without intellectual disabilities.  Special Olympics transforms the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, allowing them to realize their full potential in sports and in life.  Special Olympics programs enhance physical fitness, motor skills, self-confidence, social skills and encourage family and community support.