Fourteen football teams from the Down's Syndrome Association's DSActive programme got the chance to try out tennis as they took part in the third annual Premier League's Down's Syndrome Football Festival at West Bromwich Albion's Foundation last weekend.
The event, which brings teams from across England and Wales together to take part in a series and fun games and a tournament, featured over 150 players and 700 spectators, making it the biggest festival yet.
The event began with a joint warm-up, before many of the players took part in a series of fun-games and a tennis demonstration from the Tennis Foundation, before being separated into three groups. The three groups took part in a round-robin football tournament, with one team from each group picking up the winners' trophy.
"Everyone seemed to really enjoy the tennis sessions and had a lot of fun as well as picking up some new skills which they can take away with them and use on their local courts with friends and family," said the Tennis Foundation's Disability Development Manager Daniel Absolon.
"We're delighted to be working with the Down's Syndrome Association to provide tennis opportunities at events like these all over the country. We are also working with a number of football clubs as youngsters in particular really seem to enjoy having the chance to play both tennis and football."
In 2013, the DSActive programme was successful in a funding proposal to Sport England that will facilitate the launch of nine football and tennis sessions across England and Wales for players aged 18 and above. The growth of the programme, which will take place over a period of three years, will also include the appointment of a DSActive Sports Officer to assist the DSActive Sports Manager, both set to take post in April 2013.
Having worked with the DSA and Fulham FC Foundation since 2010, the Tennis Foundation is now working in partnership with many local and national organisations to ensure tennis sessions are available all over the country for learning disability players.
Find out more about learning disability tennis here.
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