Last November, NWABA hosted our first-ever blind adaptive pickleball clinic at Cascade Athletic Club in Gresham, Oregon—and it was a smash hit. The clinic introduced blind and low vision athletes to accessible pickleball through sound cues, tactile court boundaries, and one-on-one instruction in a welcoming, community-centered setting.
Ten athletes, ten volunteers, and tennis/pickleball pro Anders Bergkvist came together for a day of learning, laughter, and adaptive gameplay. For many of our athletes, it was their first time trying pickleball, and their excitement was contagious from the first rally.
Pickleball moves fast—so we used adaptive techniques to help athletes track the ball, understand the court layout, and build confidence in gameplay. Key adaptations included:
Foam balls with rattles so athletes could hear when the ball was in motion
Tactile court maps to help athletes learn the court layout before stepping on
Cords placed along court lines so athletes could feel boundaries under their feet
Bells on the net to create an audible landmark at center court
Volunteer call-outs describing where the ball was coming from and where it was going for consistent verbal guidance
Throughout the clinic, athletes practiced racket skills, learned the basics of serving and rallying, and played pickleball drills and modified gameplay with volunteers and each other.
Watch how NWABA adapted pickleball for blind and low vision athletes using rattle balls, tactile court lines, and audible cues—plus tips from pro Anders Bergkvist and athlete feedback from the clinic.
This clinic also moved NWABA’s education mission forward. Staff filmed a new instructional video for the Blind Athletes Academy channel and gathered real-time feedback from athletes to refine future coaching content and adaptive techniques.
Check out Blind Athletes Academy on Youtube
We’re also seeing how far accessible sports resources can travel. After our pickleball video was posted on NWABA’s social media, consultation inquiries for our team came from as far as London and Hong Kong. Both discovered NWABA through that social post—an exciting reminder that adaptive sports education can reach athletes and communities around the world.
Adaptive sports are about more than learning a new game—they’re about building community, independence, and confidence through movement.
“I love the exercise I get when I do this, and I definitely need that,” said Rick, a NWABA athlete and first-time pickleball player. “The people I met along the way… propels this organization from something that is interesting to something that is life-changing.”
That sense of connection showed up everywhere: athletes encouraging each other after a great hit, volunteers learning new ways to support accessible play, and shared laughter between drills as everyone settled into the rhythm of the sport.
Many members of Cascade Athletic Club volunteered with NWABA for the first time during the clinic. By the end of the day, they weren’t just learning about adaptive equipment and sound cues—they were seeing firsthand how inclusive sports can be transformational for everyone involved.
One Cascade Athletic Club member Sharon, said, “I had a hard time learning pickleball myself, and I’m not a teacher, so this is going to be challenging for me to try and learn how to adapt the sport! I am learning just as much as [my athlete partner] Rick, trying to figure out how to play this game. It took me a long time just to learn how to serve, and I cannot believe how quickly everyone is picking up on it!”
One note we received afterward captured what the clinic meant to families, too. Here’s what youth athlete Olivia’s mom shared:
“I just wanted to share how much Olivia enjoyed pickleball last Sunday! The volunteer she worked with was amazing and engaged and we really saw Olivia come out of her shell, which can be difficult for her to do! Thank you for this workshop and we look forward to more in the future!”
Our first blind adaptive pickleball clinic in Gresham, Oregon proved what we already believe: when sports are accessible, athletes thrive—and everyone learns something along the way.
We’re excited to build on this momentum with more clinics, more adaptive equipment, and more opportunities for blind and low vision athletes to discover new ways to play.
Volunteer at an upcoming clinic or event in your area. Click here for information on how to become a volunteer.
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Subscribe to Blind Athletes Academy on YouTube for more adaptive sports instruction