This is a fantastic innovation. It sounds like blind tennis is really popular already in Japan and getting ready to spread its wings and develop in other parts of the world.
I have a couple of questions for you about the way this new game is designed. I would have thought that the game of tennis would not need to be modified so much to enable people with visual impairments to play. I understand the marking of the courts with string so that players can know where they are. I am wondering why the size of the court and of the tennis racquets are smaller?
I imagine it would be easier to spread this game throughout the world if it can be played on existing courts (indoor and outdoor) with tennis raquets that are already available in many countries.
Also, I really like the inclusive aspect of this new game that enables anyone to play regardless of their ability to see. Are sighted players are also required to wear blindfolds?
Good with the international development of blind tennis!
Best regards,
Jackie
Jackie Lauff
Free University Berlin
University Challenge
Thank you for your comment.
Wheelchair tennis has spreaded all over the world as it is as same as mainstream tennis except the number of bounces.
But for the totally blind, a normal court is to big as they start to move after hearing the first bounce.
Short tennis (or mini tennis) uses a badmigton court and it is good size for the blind.
I think that the partially sighted player can play on the normal size court.
Because the court is smaller and the ball is lighter the the normal tennis, the racquet should be shorter.
If the racquet is longer, it would be difficult for the visually impaired to hit a ball in the air. The nearer the ball is , the easier they hear the sound of the ball.
It might be a good idea to use the lines of normal tennis. We have to think about it for the internatinal promotion.
The sighted players do not have to wear blindfolds. If everybody wears blindfolds, it would be dangerous.
The visually impaired and the sighted hit a ball in turns, and the sighted can tell the visually impaired to move right or left , front or back. The nice conbination is needed.
I am going to Korea with Miyoshi from 20th to 22nd . The first tournamet in Korea is going to be held.
Takei is going to play a match with a Korean player.
Miyoshi Takei is indeed a very determined individual, Ayako, and you've written a very eloquent proposal representing your efforts to make tennis accessible to the blind in Japan, elsewhere in Asia, and in Europe.
The Japanese Tennis Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired appears to have made great inroads in Japan and is ready to grow the sport internationally.
I appreciate your effort to mainstream blind players with the normally-sighted and imagine that playing doubles with two teams, each consisting of a sighted player and blind one, is both exciting and enjoyable. You're really mainstreaming visually-impaired players with sighted ones in admirable fashion.
How does a blind player know if the ball has been hit within the court boundaries or not? Are the court lines raised to indicate to a player that he or she is standing inbounds or out-? Does the ball sound differently when it strikes the net or outside of court boundaries than when it's in play? Or do you use line judges to advise the players?
Steve Byars
Marshall School of Business
University of Southern California
Dear Steve,
Thank you for your interest for blind tennis.
Players need a judge to tell them whether a ball is in or out. The sound is same.
The court is similar to a badminton court and is usually played indoors. Like goalball, string is taped to the floor to mark baselines and center marks. The recommended string/cord is 2 millimeter (1/13-inch). Players can determine the dimensions of the court by touching the taped string with their hands and feet.
I sent balls to American Printing House. They have written a booklet about this tennis.
I hope that blind tennis will be accepted in the USA.
It is indeed very cool to see the blind playing tennis, quite revolutionary really. I am wondering what the participants say about being able to play the sport. To promoting it to the blind around the world, what have been some of the benefits of the blind participating in this sport and does the organization provide other support or services to the blind? Thank you for the video, it's awe inspiring!
Dear Tyler,
Thank you very much for sending the comment.
It is a dream for the blind to hit a ball in the air. it is difficult for the totally blind people to move around freely by themselves and hit a ball in the air. So it is worth doing.
There are some sports that the visually imparied can play , but the rules are complicated and the able-bodied can not enjoy together. The rules for blind tennis is as same as mainstream tennis. That means everybody can join and share the experiences.
Our association has just started international promotion. We have a national tournamet once a year.
Mr. Miyoshi Takei goes to schools to talk about his experience and hisitory of blind tennis and show his play to children. It is a good education for the integrated society.
Best Wishes
Ayako Matsui
Thank you for your reply, it is indeed a fascinating project. There is an entry from Nepal that is seeking to launch a cricket program there for the blind and I think you have expertise that can help. I hope you will take a look at their entry and reach out to them. http://changemakers.net/en-us/node/3676
Hi Ayako Matsui,
This is a fantastic innovation. It sounds like blind tennis is really popular already in Japan and getting ready to spread its wings and develop in other parts of the world.
I have a couple of questions for you about the way this new game is designed. I would have thought that the game of tennis would not need to be modified so much to enable people with visual impairments to play. I understand the marking of the courts with string so that players can know where they are. I am wondering why the size of the court and of the tennis racquets are smaller?
I imagine it would be easier to spread this game throughout the world if it can be played on existing courts (indoor and outdoor) with tennis raquets that are already available in many countries.
Also, I really like the inclusive aspect of this new game that enables anyone to play regardless of their ability to see. Are sighted players are also required to wear blindfolds?
Good with the international development of blind tennis!
Best regards,
Jackie
Jackie Lauff
Free University Berlin
University Challenge
Dear Jackie,
Thank you for your comment.
Wheelchair tennis has spreaded all over the world as it is as same as mainstream tennis except the number of bounces.
But for the totally blind, a normal court is to big as they start to move after hearing the first bounce.
Short tennis (or mini tennis) uses a badmigton court and it is good size for the blind.
I think that the partially sighted player can play on the normal size court.
Because the court is smaller and the ball is lighter the the normal tennis, the racquet should be shorter.
If the racquet is longer, it would be difficult for the visually impaired to hit a ball in the air. The nearer the ball is , the easier they hear the sound of the ball.
It might be a good idea to use the lines of normal tennis. We have to think about it for the internatinal promotion.
The sighted players do not have to wear blindfolds. If everybody wears blindfolds, it would be dangerous.
The visually impaired and the sighted hit a ball in turns, and the sighted can tell the visually impaired to move right or left , front or back. The nice conbination is needed.
I am going to Korea with Miyoshi from 20th to 22nd . The first tournamet in Korea is going to be held.
Takei is going to play a match with a Korean player.
Best Wishes
Ayako
Miyoshi Takei is indeed a very determined individual, Ayako, and you've written a very eloquent proposal representing your efforts to make tennis accessible to the blind in Japan, elsewhere in Asia, and in Europe.
The Japanese Tennis Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired appears to have made great inroads in Japan and is ready to grow the sport internationally.
I appreciate your effort to mainstream blind players with the normally-sighted and imagine that playing doubles with two teams, each consisting of a sighted player and blind one, is both exciting and enjoyable. You're really mainstreaming visually-impaired players with sighted ones in admirable fashion.
How does a blind player know if the ball has been hit within the court boundaries or not? Are the court lines raised to indicate to a player that he or she is standing inbounds or out-? Does the ball sound differently when it strikes the net or outside of court boundaries than when it's in play? Or do you use line judges to advise the players?
Steve Byars
Marshall School of Business
University of Southern California
Dear Steve,
Thank you for your interest for blind tennis.
Players need a judge to tell them whether a ball is in or out. The sound is same.
The court is similar to a badminton court and is usually played indoors. Like goalball, string is taped to the floor to mark baselines and center marks. The recommended string/cord is 2 millimeter (1/13-inch). Players can determine the dimensions of the court by touching the taped string with their hands and feet.
I sent balls to American Printing House. They have written a booklet about this tennis.
I hope that blind tennis will be accepted in the USA.
Besat Wishes
Ayako Matsui
It is indeed very cool to see the blind playing tennis, quite revolutionary really. I am wondering what the participants say about being able to play the sport. To promoting it to the blind around the world, what have been some of the benefits of the blind participating in this sport and does the organization provide other support or services to the blind? Thank you for the video, it's awe inspiring!
Tyler Ahn
Changemakers
Dear Tyler,
Thank you very much for sending the comment.
It is a dream for the blind to hit a ball in the air. it is difficult for the totally blind people to move around freely by themselves and hit a ball in the air. So it is worth doing.
There are some sports that the visually imparied can play , but the rules are complicated and the able-bodied can not enjoy together. The rules for blind tennis is as same as mainstream tennis. That means everybody can join and share the experiences.
Our association has just started international promotion. We have a national tournamet once a year.
Mr. Miyoshi Takei goes to schools to talk about his experience and hisitory of blind tennis and show his play to children. It is a good education for the integrated society.
Best Wishes
Ayako Matsui
Thank you for your reply, it is indeed a fascinating project. There is an entry from Nepal that is seeking to launch a cricket program there for the blind and I think you have expertise that can help. I hope you will take a look at their entry and reach out to them. http://changemakers.net/en-us/node/3676
Best, Tyler Ahn